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respectfully request permission to come aboard, What a pleasure and a blast
from the past it was to find and explore your website. Memories of my days in
the Sea Scouts are some of the best of my life. From the moment we cast off on
that first cruise on the "Stranger" at night out of the Cocoanut Grove
Marina in 1968, I was hooked. I often try to explain to friends what it was like
growing up under the influence of Mr. Wood, the rest of the guys, and the vessels
from Ship 520. I start by telling them about the "Stranger" with its
flying bridge and twin 427's , and the Ten-Bees with its round bottom and 440,
and the 32-foot Islander with its Balloon Spinnaker and auto-pilot. They usually
comment that it must have been nice being brought up as a rich kid. My response
to that is yes, I was rich. However, not with money, instead I was blessed with
being rich with fellowship and brotherhood. Then I tell them the stories about
Wood standing on the aft deck in his boxers with a stogie barking orders, Saunders
and I stripping to our skivys and life jackets and bailing for a man overboard
drill, giving Sean a red-belly for cussing, throwing Mike in the stream at Deep
Creek for being last out of the bunk, scaring the bear-crap out of the newbees
at night along a mountain trail, choosing sides for king-of-the-dock at Rathman's
Marina, sailing all night and watching the sun rise through the waves while at
the helm in the middle of the GulfStream, and diving at night to clear an intake
for an overheated starboard engine. Then, if they're still listening they'll say
we must have been crazy or stupid, and I'll say "No, you just had to be there",
You just had to experience that fellowship, that brotherhood, that influence,
that..., that..., lasts a lifetime. My life since those times with SSS-520
includes: graduating from the University of Florida in 1977 with an Engineering/Surveying
Degree; moving to Daytona Beach in 1979; getting registered as a Professional
Land Surveyor and a Certified Diver in 1980; moving to Orlando in 1981; becoming
a Surveying Department head in 1986; getting married to Geralyn Moughan in 1987;
losing my Mom and Geralyn's Dad in 1990; buying a Pet Store in 1992; closing the
Pet Store and going to work for PBS&J in 1995 where I still work as a Project
Manager today. Geralyn and I will be married for 18 years this August 15th. We
don't have any kids, just a lot of pets. My Dad remarried and lives in Sebring.
My sister and brother and their families still live in Miami. Geralyn and I have
a passion for cars and we spend a lot of our vacations on the East or West coast
with our 18-foot bay boat. Thanks to all again for the memories, I'll
stay in touch, Vance | |
