A Pirate's life for me ...

 

Ah, New York!  So good to see you again.  And then you throw the Pirates into the mix, and it doesn't get much better!

 

When you visit the Pirates of New York, you need to be ready for anything.  There will always be laughter and a feeling of home, and you will find yourself revisit the time together with many smiles and happy memories ... this time was all of that.

 

Visiting different departments, we had a number of them in mind for special honors for the way they had stepped up and represented ... and taken great care of us on the road.  When we were choosing which would be honored, the Pirates were one of our first calls.  Then we needed to decide what the honor item would be. 

 

It only made sense that they be given a sword!  And so, our great friends and supporters the Fort Lewis Army Museum stepped up once more, and gave us a replica 1860 Cavalry sword ... Perfect!

 

Next, we needed the sword engraved.  So we were off to Chris' in Tillicum.  We knew they would do the perfect job ... and they did!

 

The inscription reads:

 

Presented to FDNY's Jolly Rogers

"Every Pirate should have a sword!"

HeroToHero.US 2007

 

And so, we wrapped it carefully, and drove it cross country.  Then the morning we woke at Banzai's home, we made the initial presentation to him, before the house would receive it.  Look closely at his face, and you'll know we made the right choice.  If we didn't already love him, he would have stolen our hearts in that moment!  Banzai's face was all the thanks we could have asked for, and you could feel every emotion as he held it for the first time.

 

Later, at their house, we presented it officially to all of the Pirates.  Again, their faces showed their emotions ... and it was all good.

 

It was fun though to watch they way they quickly took control of the presentation.  When you see a military unit receive a sword or saber, you watch them unsheathe the sword, they inspect it, they pose for photos, etc.

 

When Pirates do it their way, their eyes get big with the surprise of it, then their smiles widen.  Next they unsheathe it and read the inscription.  As their eyes get a tad moist, they seize control, assuming a very swashbuckling stance, and yell "Toss me an apple!" 

 

Three apples flew through the air as they tried to stab them on sword point.

 

Then came the offer of shearing one of them for "Locks of Love".  And though we gave it a shot, we decided to let the barber take that one.

 

We will never forget this particular presentation ... but then, these are the Pirates ... we'd expect nothing less!

 

Now, as for giving these guys a sharp object ... We assume no responsibility once the presentation was made ... I mean, c'mon, these ARE Pirates!  ( ;

 

Love you guys!  Thank you for everything ... Even the bruises-- we wore them proudly. 

 

See you next year

 

lj & the road crew

 

PS ... Kelly has not yet earned her stripes for the ride, so she'll have to come back!