i have been commenting here on numerous occasions about writing a book. Perhaps i was bragging, or attempting to motivate myself. In truth, i was staring at the elephant wondering how to eat it. Not quite half way through, i got hung up for a number of different reasons.

i have wanted to tell this story because i believe it might be a turning point for some people, might make them think a little bit differently, better, than what they have considered in the past. i am not a campaigner. Never have been. i don’t even consider myself as someone who thinks he is right. i simply don’t know a lot of things. Many people seem to believe their beliefs are infallible — when you think about that, people believing their beliefs are infallible, such reasoning seems illogical, at least to me — but not me. i may not be logical, but i don’t believe i’m infallible either.

So i wanted to tell this story. i saw something work well for all concerned in a contentious, political situation because it was kept simple: Our captain was the guiding light doing it the “Navy way,” the right way. i think it’s a good story about the right way to approach contentious, political situations.

More importantly, i wish to leave a legacy for my grandson if he cares to read it. There are numerous reasons why, most expressed here before, so i will leave it at that.

Then, i considered another way to make this story available. Then, i forgot about it. But fortunately, i have Martina Clarke, an Irish lass and a wonderful counselor who is insightful and keeps me thinking. This past week, she suggested i write the story as posts. i think it will work. i mean, after all, i am comfortable with print journalism.  I have been involved with newspaper writing for twenty something years, almost as much time as i spent in the Navy.

Beginning within the next week or two, i will be posting my experience of being the executive officer of the USS Yosemite (AD 19) during her 1983-1984 eight-month deployment to the Indian Ocean. i guess if Charles Dickens could do it with David Copperfield, Great Expectations, and A Tale of Two Cities, i can do this one.

i will be posting my story under the category reflecting the name of the intended book: Steel Decks and Glass Ceilings: An Executive Officer’s Memoir. It is my story about the destroyer tender’s  deployment, the first Navy ship to spend extended time at sea time with women as part of ship’s complement (excluding hospital ships).

i hope you find it interesting.

Stand by to get underway.