Ahoy Mateys!

For those
of you looking for a way to emerge from the doldrums of realizing that summer
is almost over, let me suggest that you circle Wednesday, September 19 on your
calendar. No, it isn’t the first day of Fall which by the way is September 22.  And of course the colorful changing of leaves,
cider, and caramel covered apples in the Fall are certainly high points but I
think there is something more important occurring, at least in my warped mind –
it is International Talk Like A Pirate Day! 
Now what could be more exciting than that!

For you
landlubbers who have been unaware of this Holiday, this year will be the 10^th
anniversary of Pirate Day.  It is now
considered an international event and if  you search the “Talk Like A Pirate Day”
website, you will quickly discover that pirate wannabes are celebrating this
day in as faraway places as Rome, Auckland New Zealand, Tokyo and of course
numerous locations in the United States. 
Many of these towns are featuring costume contests and pirate
sailings. 

Now before
we get sidetracked concluding that pirates are evil, “Talk Like a Pirate Day”
is dedicated to the friendly pirates found in most children’s movies.  Film flicks such as “Muppet Treasure Island”,
or “Scooby-Doo In Pirates Ahoy”, or any of the “Pirates of the Caribbean”
adventures present the friendly side of these sea goers.   So having said that let’s return to what
makes this day so special.

First of
all it gives us pirate wannabes an opportunity to inject some swagger in our
conversations.  Who can resist greeting
friends either on the phone or in person with words such as “ahoy” – “avast” –
or “arrr”.  So for all you swashbucklers
out there, this is a time to maybe don an eye patch and assume a new identity
for just a day.  What could be more fun! As
an added bonus, the “Talk Like A Pirate Day” website also features Pirate
Pick-Up Lines, pirate advice from Cap’n Slappy and of course an opportunity to
subscribe to the Poopdeck newsletter.  And what with all the confusion we are
undergoing in a troubled world, isn’t a little silliness most welcome.  I sure think so!

So now I’m
off for a swig of grog along with a pirate’s favorite cookie – Chips Ahoy -  while I prepare to scrape the barnacles off
the rudder of my skiff.  And just for the
record, I am almost 98% chum free.  So
shiver me timbers!  ARRR!

Bill Kalmar