Sea Chantey Friend

Steve Lewis of Port Townsend Meeting was devoted chanteyman, mariner, and host of the Chantey Sings at the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival. Friends who knew Steve (were) invited to a potluck and memorial Chantey Sing for Steve on Sunday, March 13th from 5 to 9 pm in Seattle.

As with any good memorial occasion, RantWoman is still fondly processing email for this recently deceased Friend at moderate remove from the dates of his passing and one or more actual memorial events. RantWoman notes that Steve had a rich life full of f/Friends from many strands of life. RantWoman expects an official memorial will at some point emerge from Steve's Meeting, but RantWoman is going to weigh in on her own behalf.

The memorial event RantWoman went to in Seattle had wonderful biography about Steve growing up in upstate New York among many figures of the local civil rights movement. There were also many mentions of Steve's interests in and teaching about matters maritime including both oceanography and the skills and crafts needed for sailing and navigation.

RantWoman grew up far inland and just is not as well-steeped in such topics as people more native to the seagoing life. For this reason alone, RantWoman greatly esteems others' knowledge and experience in this realm. RantWoman also admits that a good listen to sea chanteys from all over will quickly teach one lots about geography and trade--in forms a lot more fun than videos.

RantWoman remembers Steve's smile, clear enough that even RantWoman could see it. RantWoman remembers Steve's sly wit and grin at one of the memorials for his mother-in-law when RantWoman gently teased about cancer treatment being a heck of a weigh loss plan. RantWoman also remembers Steve's smiling admission that he and his mother-in-law both sometimes rolled their eyes lovingly in the direction of his wife. RantWoman means to borrow this eyes rolled with love theme for another post, but first Steve gets to be fully memorialized in his own right.

Finally, in memory of Steve,a TERRIBLE joke he was fond of telling:

"Let me tell you about Gandhi. You know how he went around everywhere barefoot. And he fasted a lot so he had really bad breath. So can we say he was a super callused fragile mystic plagued by halitosis?"

See, I warned you, it's a TERRIBLE joke and someone who will be much missed.