What was it like to step on the Mayflower back in 1620? Such a tiny ship to sail across the huge Atlantic. Would I have been brave enough to step on board and leave the solid ground behind? My relatives were. I’m 12 steps away from those courageous souls who boarded that ship almost 400 years ago.
As I look at the list of pilgrims I’m descended from…it is like discovering I’m part of a myth. The pilgrims and Thanksgiving have taken on mythical significance as a creation story for America. Brushing aside the quaint stories I was told in elementary school, I dig deeper to find the real connection to this moment in time.
I close my eyes and imagine that I am Remember Allerton, a 6 year old little girl on the Mayflower with her parents, Isaac and Mary Allerton, and her older sister, Mary.
After a sea voyage of 2,750 miles over 66 days, through fierce storms, sea sickness and a bowed and cracked main beam that made me fear the ship and our lives were in great peril we joyfully sighted land (which is called Cape Cod).
As my feet touched solid ground for the first time in over two months, I fell to my knees and thanked God for bringing us safely over the vast and furious ocean to my new home.
What would Remember have said she was thankful for that first Thanksgiving? I found this quote from a play entitled “The pilgrim that didn’t care”,
Remember:
Though I am young, a little one,
I lift my voice in grateful praise
For wondrous works that hath been done
To bless me in so many ways.Thus at our feast, I take my part
And speak from true and thankful heart.
…
I am most thankful to be alive…
And I give thanks to Remember and all my relatives aboard the Mayflower. Their brave choice to live their dreams gives me courage.
As I approach a new and challenging project at work (code name Lansa) …I think, “What an adventure!” and I look to my fellow shipmates and grin…”Let’s set sail for the new world!”
I was in Plymouth in August, and boarded the replica Mayflower. Waaaaaaaayyyyy too small for me! Those people were nuts! And I don’t blame for refusing to again board the ship so that they could continue to what was supposed to be their final destination.
Good luck with your new “voyage,” though. I hope it meets all of your expectations.
Meesh…I so need to bring my boys up to Plymouth and “play pilgrim”…then have a girl’s day with you in Boston. If only I could win the lottery!
Happy Thanksgiving, M’love! Here’s wishing you and the fam warm fuzzies and good, quality together time. And good luck on the new project! ;)
*Hugs
Is it sad that I read this and thought to myself, “Thank you, Native Americans, for keeping us alive through the winter. Please accept alcoholism and syphillis as tokens of our appreciation.” I’m way too cynical.
In spite of that, I really do hope you had a great Thanksgiving, and best of luck on the new project!
Yeah…when you think about what Squanto did…it is amazing. The poor guy, he was kidnapped and enslaved and when he finally returned to his village, everyone had died from the plague brought by the English.
How in the world Squanto had a big enough heart to help those pilgrims is beyond me. Although…I’m quite grateful…since I personally wouldn’t exist if he hadn’t helped them!