Casey Ketch from my past

By:
On:

This is a wooden ketch built by Casey Boatbuilding in 1929. It’s like one I hung out on in Florida in the early ’80s. I include it in my novel Blue Rubber Pool, a love story disguised as a quirky spy tale. Supposedly this is based on a Herreshoff design. I have the Edson steering worm gear, wooden wheel, and bronze anchor windlass off the Florida boat. I keep them in my writing room/third floor library at Pineapple Hill.

bronze anchor windlass Casey Boatbuilding Edson steering worm gear library at Pineapple Hill novel Blue Rubber Pool

Bad things happened, an entire run of them that shut me down, caused me to withdraw from everything except my inner self.

One afternoon, in a hammock, I took a photo of myself. Just my legs. But there was no one to send it to. No one to understand.

I needed a sidekick so I sketched an armadillo because they’re crusty on the outside but not within. I made him my butler. Crusoe’s manservant Friday.

We began interacting—my hammock photo speaking to that critter, that critter speaking back.There’s a folder of cartoons somewhere. For now there’s just this one. (LINK)

Eventually after that I began writing novels.

I’m still a hermit, marooned you might say, but leaving my shell more and more—my inner self seeking its freedom through writing.