as good as it gets

despite being billeted for mess cooking duties while afloat, there were countless other opportunities to perform and actually feel like a guardian. being a part of the special sea detail (mooring evolutions) and lowering small boats to the water, from one of the two contraptions on both the port and starboard side; both were welcome changes of pace from having been keeping it real on the mess deck for far too long. some days seemed endless and tested the mettle of even the more experienced deckies.

on our way back to Wilmington, Diligence had to make a pit stop just south of home in Sunny Point. there we picked up North Carolina's seventh district congressman, his family, as well as some family members of the crew... including Adriana. it was called a dependent's cruise and those who chose to join us sailed up the Cape Fear River for about two hours and were aboard when we reached the moorings in downtown Wilmington... home. Adriana got to see some of the stuff that we had been doing for the previous three weeks, including some of the not-so-glamorous things... mess cooking. it was an unreal feeling as she crossed that brow onto the port main deck. truly as good as it gets.

we had escorts sailing around us that consisted of Coast Guard Auxiliary and a 47 ft motor life boat from a nearby small boat station. we passed the shipyard near our house and seeing it from the river side was like nothing else; giant ships that had just sailed from all over the world were offloading right there before our eyes and do so every day right near our home. as we transited under the bridge into our home port, the river walk was littered with spectators anxiously awaiting Diligence's return. among them were newscasters and VIPs from around the area, fancy huh? Wilmington was dubbed the nation's first Coast Guard city some time ago and that label certainly fit the welcome that we received upon our return, it was breathtaking and made me feel proud to be one of her crew.

there was then an awards ceremony and a picnic on the flight deck, everyone ate and was merry... that's just speculation though, Adriana and I jetted rather quickly in search of a change of clothes and a good meal.