Swiss Mariners in Ribeauvillé, France
7th of September 2008

Jaybird-Day

Ribeauvillé, France - 7th of September 2008 (Jaybird-Day)

Some impressions from the Swiss Mariner trip to Ribeauvillé, France.

One of my favorite pastimes as a younger Mariner was visiting older Mariner’s houses and, beer in hand, staring at the ‘Family Photos’ of Deep Rivers, Westbrooks and Guilfords past.  Some went back to the sixties, some of the faces I’d recognize, most aged since then, some gone to the great Muster beyond.

The Mariners, time and technology march invariably onward, and somewhere on this march, the Family Photo tradition died.  Professional photographers couldn’t cover costs doing it in the digital age, and I hear, that someone, somewhere building bonehenge out of the photographer’s staging one drunken night didn’t help.

Proudly, this year, The Mariners managed to loosely organize ourselves and a camera at Westbrook.  Here’s the result, and here’s to future generations of Mariners wondering what happened to Dan’s hair between the last family photo and this one and whose face is behind Woody’s Ale, if they can figure out who’s who at all.

The remnants of Tropical Storm Hanna passed through Guilford Saturday night, but were no match for the revelry, hawaiian prints and margarita machine at Clint and Carlye’s wedding. 

The bride and groom were beautiful, Dick was properly attired in foul weather gear, and Rogi and Daniel had a scantily clad dip in the pond.  Nuptials and a Hurricane Party all in one.

Congratulations, and Thanks!