Janis Gillham Grady has graciously sent us an excerpt from Commodore's Messenger, the first of her three-part history in the
Sea Org as a child. (Part three is coming.) And we were pretty happy that she sent along some great color photos — they're black and white in the book. Still looking for a gift idea? Janis suggests you put her books under the tree!
On March 30,
1968, the
Royal Scotman was assigned a condition of Liability. This was the start of the "Liability Cruise," which lasted until April 25. The condition of Liability was assigned for having caused port flaps with the harbor officials in
Valencia, and because our lack of training made us a Liability to ourselves and all aboard. The condition's penalties included restriction to the ship (except for necessary shore business), everyone wore the gray rag tied on their left arm, signifying the condition, and amends. Sleep time was shortened to seven hours, from the end of the night to morning muster. Our penalties included rationed food and water, which also meant no showers. No one complained; instead, everyone went about their business, doing what was needed to get trained so the ship would be safe. Mary Sue and her three children, Quentin, Suzette and Arthur, received no special treatment. Diana, the oldest, was on the
Avon River with her father. As a joke, a couple of deck hands (called deckies or deck apes) wrapped a grey rag around the smoke stack (funnel).
[Art Webb and Malcolm Neiman climbing the funnel]