Regret

Both of my grandfathers were proud members of the US Navy. Grandpa Tunnicliff served aboard the USS Albemarle, and grandpa Branson was Chief Yeoman aboard the USS Forrestal. They were both proud men who served their country with dignity, honor, and respect.

So how does a regret fit in with this, you ask? My first regret is that I never got to meet my grandpa Tunnicliff. He passed before I was born—the afternoon of my parents' wedding, oddly enough. My second regret is that I never asked my grandpa Branson to tell me Navy stories; I never asked him questions about his time in the Navy, the places he traveled to, and the things he saw.

I know some Navy traditions / superstitions, etc. from bits and pieces I've heard from my grandma and parents, plus some research I've done on my own. Some of the things I've learned and heard about just fascinate me endlessly, and I'm proud and excited that my grandfathers were a part of it.

For instance, while watching "Pirates 2" last night, I started wondering if the Kraken they talk about in the was founded in fact, or smoething they merely created for the movie. So I did a little research this morning. Turns out, the Kraken was a superstition among sailors that dated back to 12th century Norway. Legend had it that the Kraken was an octopus-like monster with tentacles long enough to reach the top of a ship's masts. The beast was powerful enough to envelop an entire ship in its tentacles and sink it, bringing all the sailors down into Davy Jones' locker.

Davy Jones' locker was a term I had heard before, and I knew what it was. But while doing some digging this morning, I uncovered something that triggered a memory of something I'd seen a long time ago. The Crossing of the Line ceremony is an initiation of sorts among Naval sailors. In this rite of passage, shellbacks ("seasoned" sailors who have crossed the equator before) subject pollywogs (those who have not yet crossed) to different, often dirty, disgusting, and difficult tasks in order to join the rank of shellback. King Neptune, Davy Jones, and Queen Amphitrite (sailors in varying states of costume and accessories) preside over the ceremony. Back in the day, some of these acts got somewhat violent—i.e., sailors being whipped / beat with wet ropes and fire hoses. (The Navy has since issued an instruction which reiterates the Navy's zero tolerance policy for such hazing and explained that "crossing-the-line ceremonies…are only meant to celebrate and recognize the achievements of individual Sailors…or those of entire units." It goes on to disallow "any activity which is cruel, abusive, humiliating, oppressive, demeaning, or harmful.") Once a sailor has completed the acts, he is presented with an elaborate certificate proclaiming he has joined the rank of shellback. I'm not sure about grandpa Branson, but my grandpa Tunnicliff totally has one of those.

The traditions that accompany the sea are endlessly fascinating to me, and I only wish I'd have had the presence of mind when my grandfather was still alive to sit and ask questions, and listen to his stories of the sea. Now, unfortunately, I'm simply relegated to second hand accounts and internet research.

Following is the "Crossing the Line" certificate, word for word:

"To all Sailors wherever ye may be and to all Mermaids, Sea Serpents, Whales, Sharks, Dolphins, Skates, Suckers, Lobsters, Crabs, and other Living Things of the Sea, Greetings:

Know ye: That on this 28th day of September 1942 in Latitude 000"00" and Longitude 81 w there appeared within Our Royal Domain the Albemarle bound for (?)

Be it Remembered: that said Vessel, Officers and Crew thereof having been inspected and passed on by Ourself and Our Royal Staff, And Be It Known:
By all ye Sailors, Mariners and Land Lubbers, who may be honored by his presence, that Raymond Joseph Tunnicliff having been found worthy to be numbered as One of Our Trusty Shellbacks has been gathered to our fold and duly initiated into the Solemn mysteries of the Ancient Order of the Deep

Be It Further Understood: That by virtue of the power invested in me I hereby command my subjects to show due honor and respect to him whenever he may enter Our Realm

Disobey this order under penalty of Our Royal Displeasure

Signed by Neptunus Rex, Ruler of the Raging Main; and Davey Jones, His Majesty's Scribe."

Pretty flippin' cool, huh???