We all have a story to tell. Mine is a sea story that started in 1948 when I turned 14 and no further education was available to me. My father gave me two choices: stay home and fish or ship out. For the next 48 years, I sailed the world carrying cargo from one country to another. The ships became my home and floating workplace. When I went ashore in foreign ports, I never felt that I was more than a taxi ride away from home. I learned at an early age to respect different people and their cultures, and I witnessed their struggles firsthand. Being a merchant seaman is not for everyone, but once it's in your blood, you don't want to do anything else. When I was at sea, I always felt I had one of the best and most exciting jobs, whether I was the deck boy or captain. I served on 62 different ships and visited 173 ports in 73 countries, some many times over. When I began, the world was busy rebuilding after World War II. It was a great time to be young, single, and adventurous. It was a time that can never be repeated.