Odyssey in SXM*

Mel has been quiet over the holidays because “getting stuff done” is boring.  The Burnetts have been go-go-go as soon as they dropped anchor in St. Martin and saw all the little propeller icons on the NoForeignLand map.  For those not familiar, the propeller icon indicates a marine store or services, and it is a siren call to those anticipating crossing a huge ocean in a few months.  Over the last week, those clinking champagne flutes aboard the megayachts gathered to celebrate the holidays amongst their same kind had many opportunities to witness the Burnetts in their dinghy, Bob, zooming past a multitude of theater ticket/attraction icons, beach umbrella icons, hiking man icons, and fork&knife icons all to wander aisles and aisles bursting with shiny metal whatsits, spray bottles and tubes of chemicals of varying viscosities, and of, course, the loudest siren call of all: electrical parts.

Mel’s skills lay outside of the fixing-things world, and, at Greg’s request given her incredible lack of understanding of electricity and ability to create work in that realm rather than decrease it, does not contribute to the effort when it comes to rewiring the boat and adding solar panels.  Thus she of course found herself reflecting on Homer’s Odyssey as she patiently waited for Greg to finish harvesting his parts crop from the many stores.  (Reflecting on Homer’s Odyssey, BTW, is a frequent sailor activity.)  Here is a particularly relevant snippet from The Odyssey, something she fantasized about on all of those shopping trips, edited to fit her current situation:

‘So I explained everything to my friends, while our well-built vessel, borne on a gentle breeze, quickly neared the island of the Sirens. (SXM). Suddenly the wind dropped, and a breathless calm followed, as some god lulled the waves. My comrades rose and furled the sail, then stowed it, then sat to their oars and thrashed the water with the blades of polished pine. I, in the meantime, sliced a large cake of beeswax with my sword-edge, and kneaded the slivers in my strong hands until the pressure and the rays of Lord Helios Hyperion heated it. Then I plugged the ears of Mel, and she tied me hand and foot and stood me upright in the mast housing, and fastened the rope ends round the mast itself. Then sitting down again,she took the helm.

We drove past swiftly, but when we were within hail of the shore, the Sirens could not fail to see our speeding vessel, and began their clear singing: “Famous Greg, great glory of The Intrepid Jerry, draw near, and bring your ship to rest, and listen to our voices. No man rows past this isle in his dark ship without hearing the honeysweet sound from our lips. He delights in it and goes his way a wiser man.”

This was the haunting song the Sirens sang, and I longed to listen, commanding Mel by my expression to set me free. But she revved the engine, tightened my bonds, and added more rope. Not till she had sailed beyond the Sirens, so we no longer heard their voices and song, did Mel clear the wax that plugged her ears, and untie me.’

— Homer, and Mel

Alas, Mel failed to tie Greg to the mast, therefore finding herself in her current predicament. Peruse the pics below if you are interested in marine stores and projects. Otherwise, plug your eyes and ears and await the next post, which will certainly be more fun!  We have guests now — Mates Allie and Anthony have arrived, and suddenly we can hear the dulcent siren call of the attraction ticket icons!

*SXM is a common acronym for the island that consists of the French Saint Martin to the north and the Dutch Sint Maarten to the south.  But clearly for us, SXM stands for: Shopping eXcessively for Marine-electronics!