Hello My Sisters,

I have been meaning to tell you that I toured the Nina and the Pinta earlier this week. They are exact replicas of Columbus' sailing ships built by master shipbuilders in Bahia, Brazil who are using design and construction techniques of the 15th century. It was so exciting to me since I had made reference to Caravels' and Naos' in the beginning of Orphan's Gift. I was the first tourist of the day so I could linger and touch and feel and day dream a little. It was everything I wrote about. The Caravels were the speedier ones because their drafts were only 7 feet...they could glide the top of the waves and the sail was smoother even in rough weather. What brave ancestors we had!

I look back on that writing time and I am convinced someone was guiding my hand and thoughts. I languished on the Nina and took it all in...that said,  I am still petrified of sailing on the ocean even on one of those big cruise ships. Give me the back waters and close to shore, it's where I belong.

Check it out at www.thenina.com <http://www.thenina.com> 

They are docked in the Ohio River until tomorrow and they make their way to Pittsburg on the 17th. They were hiring crew and if I was a little younger...I would have signed up.

love ya,

me

Sincerely,

Sally