15 more days

So I have 15 more workdays, or 3 weeks exactly, left out on the Ships. I have mixed feelings with that.

Some of the highlights of my summer with "The Obnoxious Ignorant Tourist" and how I dealt with them:
- the man who comes aboard in his huge muscle shirt that allows me a full view of his hairy beer belly, telling his 10 year old son, That there is the captain's wench. You better not mess with her. Damn right you better not mess with me.
- the people who ask, What year did you arrive here? and How was the voyage? 1985, and I don't really remember much of my arrival, sorry.
- the comments (in a thick southern drawl) of These ships are ce-mented to the floor or Do these boats look like what would have brought the Pilgrims over? Actually that would be an enormous waste of time and money to have ships that don't DO anything, and why the heck are you asking me about Pilgrims?!
- a man who looked intelligent, was well-dressed, even provided proof that he watched the short film in the gallery to introduce the story of Jamestown, but lost it all when he told me, John Smith is one of my ancestors. Okay, but not OUR John Smith who was most likely castrated.
- a little Spanish boy sums up the last month and a half. He looked up at me and said, Your nose is red. I know. **for those of you who don't know, check a later blog when I finally bring myself to talk about it*

But there have been some really wonderful moments with some really fantastic people who have visited Jamestown:
- little old ladies who ask to take my picture because You are just beautiful! How can that not top my list?!
- this couple from Missour-ah who were just in awe of the Jamestown story. We talked for almost an hour on the hardships of the colonists and at one point the wife started crying! Strange, yes, but touching for a Jamestown historian to see that kind of effect on someone who is just learning the story for the first time.
- a man who owns a lodge just outside of Yosemite who thanked me over and over for being outside in the burning heat of the day because he was enjoying himself so much
- the old guy who points to me and yells at his wife who is holding the disposable camera, Sonya--look at her! See I told you they were shorter back then! I really must point out I was almost a foot taller than both he and Sonya. They were cute.
- a local Williamsburg family that checked the lead line with me and truly seemed interested in what the job of the ship's pilot was. Seems like a small detail, but when you spend 8 hours a day talking to people, it is nice when they actually listen.

After these last 15 days of work, I will have a month off of paid vacation (off to CA to visit the newlyweds, some QT in Leesburg, even a day touring Civil War sites with a friend of my Dad!) before starting my actual job of Outreach Educator. I'm really excited to get going for that, but I'll really miss the experiences and the people out on the Ships. I've made a lot of interesting friends out there that's for sure.