ELISSA ~ Is it worth it?

Is it worth it?

Last week I was walking down the ramp outside the Texas Seaport Museum and was slowed down by a knot of people chatting and blocking the walkway. In front of them, I saw an older gentleman and his family walking up from the front gate. As I tried to move past them, I overheard a question from the older gentleman as he approached the group of tourists chatting. He asked this group “Is it worth it?” I paused for a moment to try and eavesdrop on the response but could not hear the reply and carried on my way. Throughout the day, I thought about this man’s question, “Is it worth it?“. It might be the most productive time I have spent as Director reflecting on why ELISSA is important to me and “Is it worth it?”

Yes.

Yes, it is worth all the early morning long drives to Galveston, the sweaty and aching muscles, the long and sometimes soul numbing staccato of the vital act of rust busting, the disappointment of cancelled daysails, and all the other large and small difficult trials, tasks and challenges we all perform in our courtship of a queen. For ELISSA is royalty. From her comely and arching cutwater to her supple and flowing lines she evokes the regal grace and beauty of sailing royalty. Was it worth all the toil, dirt, sweat and Ρετσίνα (Retsina) to the original restoration gang in Piraeus? Was it worth the financial gamble of Peter Throckmorton and Karl Kortum securing the funds that first assured her future other than dying in the knackers’ yard? Is it worth our efforts today in the sacrifices we give to ensure there is an ELISSA in our world? Well?

I think we all voice the same answer to this gentleman’s question “Is it worth it?” and should pause to reflect from time to time on such a simple query. ELISSA is a most rare and precious gem with ever accumulating facets to her beauty and brilliance. This Saturday is the orientation and welcoming session for the new 2012 Sail trainees and volunteers – even though we will not be getting hours at orientation unless we are doing maintenance, we all have the wonderful and vital task of welcoming new potential crew members…new facets to add to ELISSA’s sparkle. I hope as many of ELISSA’s crew and volunteers can be at the ship this Saturday, 27 August for this orientation. It is very important for potential new volunteers to experience some of the magic first hand that we have all felt over our voyage with ELISSA.

Speaking of our voyage with ELISSA, I am very hopeful that funding will be secured for a project that has been very dear to my heart – creating an oral history archive of the ELISSA’s crew, volunteers, and admirers throughout the years. Shannon Guillot has requested funding for this digital storytelling project that will collect stories and combine them with other media, photos, drawings, even possibly a chantey or two. Our vision with this project is to have a place where we can reflect on how ELISSA has changed our lives and how we have been an agent in ELISSA’s ongoing voyage. These stories are so essential and necessary to tell ELISSA’s story. Every one of us is a color on ELISSA’s palette and a vibrant and valuable element of the whole picture. This oral history archive could be hosted on GHF/ELISSA’s web site or an outside server. Richard Michael and Eli Kuslansky are working on bringing together ELISSA‘s Stockholm tar stained Diaspora and I think this would be a good step in that direction. Your stories are as much a part of ELISSA’s history as every seagoing gouge and weathered scar in her iron hull plating and original teak deck furniture… what a wonderful lead in to the celebration of the 30th anniversary of her original restoration. Your stories are very important and with the passing of each shipmate, all the more poignant. I am sure that Don Birkholz is regaling the gang at Fiddler’s Green with stories of Greece and a barque named ELISSA.

If you can, please join me in welcoming our potential new crew members into ELISSA’s family this Saturday at 1:30 PM. You can earn hours for doing maintenance and at the same time earn my gratitude by sharing sea stories with the potential new greenhorns.

Full and Bye,

Jamie