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Adagio - Hazardous Duty Pay



Doing the dishes after a meal is a noble cause. Trying to save water, minimize trash and waste and making sure things get clean are all in the forefront of consideration when taking on the daily task. Without getting in to any 'discussion of 'roles' aboard, I do a lot of dishes. I figure it's only fair-share tasking for the great meals I enjoy aboard.

Last night was a bit different for me as I started the post-meal cleanup chores. Most of the dishes were cleaned and racked for drying and I reached for the big pot as the last item of the evening. Just about then I hear from the helm "here comes a good one" ....

Even when properly braced and secured there are times when it would be best to simply be sitting down. This was one such time, and when Adagio tilted over my downhill foot, even though pretty well braced, started sliding out from under me. I immediately dropped the ladle I had been washing, even managing to stick it back in the pot from which it came, and grabbed for the nearest handhold; a fiddle on the counter. Rats ... bad time to have wet, soapy hands ... From there I managed to miss or lose my grip on two additional handholds on my way athwarthships and ended up seated unceremoniously next to the wet locker on the other side of the boat. On my way across I tangled with the companionway stairs and the handhold, neither of which lent a helping hand to keep me upright.

Sitting down hard, it was apparent that the only thing injured was my pride except there will for sure be a couple of bruises on the elbow that me the stairs, the hip that met the floor at just the precise place where there is a raised edge and some sore fingers from trying to hang on to things as they went past.

Just my lesson in humility. Don't get too comfortable with the sea state .. it can surprise you without warning. The crew checked me over and pronounced me unable to shirk further duties so, sore spots and all, I'm back on watch and will likely do the dishes tonight as well ... maybe with a bit wider stance than yesterday.

Gary, on Adagio and on Ibuprofen :)

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