Sept. 19 turned out to be a special day. Maybe you missed it? Sept. 19 was and is Talk Like a
Pirate Day. I tell you this so that, each year on that day, you won’t be afeard
when someone comes up to you on the street, breathes his stinking breath in
your face and says, “Argh!”

But really, aren’twe far too sophisticated to be a part of something so silly? It’s child’s play.
I thought so, too. It’s what little boys (and some girls) want to be, blood-thirsty, sword-toting pirates.

As a child, I had little interest in pirates. They didn’t inspire me. I liked hairy dogs and
horses that raced like the wind. But then my daughter and I began to make up
pirate stories to share (and scare—just kidding) my grandchildren. It wasn’t
long before these boys were dressing up like the evil pirates they are and
chasing Mom and Grandma around the house, shrieking and waving their “swords”
in the air. And the duels! Oh, the duels!

It was only a matter of time until my daughter and I began to put pen to paper and write our book series, “The Adventures of Captain ScalleyWag.”

In my swordplay with the boys, I discovered that walking around and snarling at people and
saying “Avast!” or “Belay That,” or just plain “Argh!” is surprisingly fun.

Carl Jung, a very influential Swiss psychiatrist, would go to the beach and build castles in the
sand as a way to reunite with his Inner Child. He believed this process could
lead to healing. While I have great respect for Carl Jung and his teachings and
the healing process, like most girls I just want to have fun. I may not find my
Inner Child, but it’s all good.

My grandsons are young men now. I am not sure they would be pleased to see their grandmother accosting people with Argh! Ahoy! Avast! The swords and eye patches have been
passed along to a younger crowd, and the boys may think they are too old for such immature activities. And yet, it has awakened the inner child in me.

I am very thankful that my grandsons showed me the way!

Thank ye ferjoining me today.