A favorite and consistent habit of every person working aboard an ocean going merchant ship is marking off each day on the calendar. A big X signifies another day done and dusted. Sometimes the calendar is a large one on the bulkhead (that’s the wall you land lubbers!) and for others a smaller calendar on the writing desk or by their bunk. It’s a combination of seeing the days gone by and looking ahead to the days when it’s time to leave the ship and go home again. Other than a few words … [Read more...]