N. Jay Young

After 40 plus years in the music business as a songwriter, producer, and engineer I decided to write down some of the many stories that have been in my mind. Sometimes writing takes on a life of its own, and I suppose this one was unique. This story started as a maritime adventure, and then comedy grew through the interactions of the characters, with a touch of romance. I found it was like taking down gold and platinum records and replacing them with pictures that I enjoyed looking at, and the memories that went with them.

Most of the characters in this story are people I met around different waterfronts. I consider myself lucky to have been able to learn about ships and the sea from those individuals with actual nautical experience. They helped me 'learn the ropes' and gave me some of the best firsthand experience with different shipboard situations. Some served during actual wartime across the North Atlantic and throughout the area I describe here.They were some of the most resourceful scavengers "liberating" whatever was needed to keep their ships going. They were multi-ethnic sailors with the ability of insulting one another without the use of profanity. That was one of their many specialty.Of course profanity was always an option. Much of what is written here are taken from actual events. Now that they have passed into history; I feel they are still alive between these pages.