A voyage is a powerful word and concept, probably because it works on so many levels; big picture (life), smaller picture (traveling, working, competing in sports) and everything in between. The term is also captured as a journey, kicking off with fanfare, traveling to and through way points, both planned and unplanned, and culminating at a target destination with memories and potential profit for the traveler. The Japanese capture this concept in their maritime culture through language with the term "maru," symbolic of the completion of a voyage, often captured simply with the image of a circle and interestingly (to me), most Japanese merchant ships include the term "Maru" appended to the name.
As a college student at the US Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point and as a mariner post graduation, I had a rare opportunity to travel abroad extensively and complete voyages that helped form who I am, or at least add a few sea stories to my repertoire. As a cadet on one of my first sea year trips, typical voyages included trips down the US East Coast through the Panama Canal, up the West Coast and out to the Far East and back. My best friend Chris and I got to work, travel, play and experience life together in our early twenties as we pulled in and out of port in all kinds of places, essentially on our own, figuring it out on our own. What a gig.
Where's my current voyage taking me? I guess I have a few way points mapped out but in general, I'm winging it. I did recently notice that my 5th grade daughter Ailish's English class is now studying Robert Frost's The Road Not Taken and after taking that one in again, it reminded me why classics are read by each new generation of learners. They're damn good. As life marches on, my three little ones are rapidly becoming my big ones and remain my focus, but what lies ahead for me and my desires, my dreams, my goals, and ultimately my voyage? Will I look back and be proud of the lines I drew on my charts and the deeds, legacy and memories that they produced? Unfortunately, work is just a job and a small part of the journey. Striving to be a better person, strong both physically and mentally is the key to my journey and along the way, I am taking lots of little but important snapshots.
With the reality of the brief and precious nature of this life becoming more obvious by the day, I've found that living healthy is prudent, desirable and makes for an enjoyable journey. Races, buoys and mile markers seem to be my new currency and I think that's a very good thing. Maybe it's a bit egotistical and self-centered but this path produces too many long-term benefits to be wrong. Another cool thing is the opportunity to become faster, stronger, better as you get older, especially if you weren't that fast, strong or good in your younger days is pretty appealing. I'm enjoying passing mile markers, cyclists and other runners but probably more importantly I'm learning to slow down and find time to enjoy running alongside the right people.
To better enjoy the journey, music is a great accompaniment and since I am completely incapable of making my own, I've turned to seeking out good music and compiling songs that work well together. The AquaTerraMaru mix contains lots of vibrant, relevant and fun-to-listen-to music, including track 8 on the third disc, MM17 by Bob Mould. The former lead man from Husker Du and Sugar beautifully puts powerful ideas to words succinctly and captures the journey concept, neatly intertwined with relationships, longing and memories wonderfully in this awesome tune. Enjoy.
MM17 by Bob Mould
no idea where I’m going
here’s a road to lead you there
you were riding by my side
roll the windows tight
star crossed, solar system
another neighborhood
mile marker seventeen
fading from memory
hoping for a better ending
choice you made the one depending
taste mixed with melancholy
bitter sweet goodbye
memory begins to fade
letter never replicated
mile marker seventeen
fading from memory
sometimes in dreams your reappear
stay in dreams
and everything you meant to me
will stay in dreams
a memory to replicate
pure in essence, pure and vain
wrong sign post flying by
kept safe in memory
fade erase replay
my failing memory
everything you say
sometimes in dreams you reappear
stay in dreams
and everything you meant to me
will stay in dreams
flame burning incandescent
replaced by pure and essence
wrong sign post flying by
goodbye to innocence
farewell to all your friends
age weathered memory
mile marker seventeen
mile marker seventeen
mile marker seventeen
