Let us recall our late friend, writer, captain, fisherman Dimitris Simsirikis. His thoughts, feelings and truths about the sea, ships, seamanship and life described in his text “I live with my demons”.
”The Ship’s Log”
19 Feb. 2024
“I live with my demons”
by Dimitris Simsirikis
When did my fly away. When the hell did I get old. But let me tell you, I don’t care if my bones hurt… it is because I worked so hard… it is because of the yaw motion of the boat I say… and because of the seas…
If I have now trouble climbing stairs and I look like this, it’s because I still smoke and drink. I lived, I loved, I worked, I risked, I played my life on a roll, I was tired, I was disappointed… I died many times.
People don’t change, just some of us old people learn to enjoy the little joys of life. These simple little things that as I get older become more important. Sometimes I think I have more of a past than a future… but I don’t give a damn about the boater passing me by.
I had my family and that for me is God’s gift. It’s my only gain, that’s all I’ve achieved and that’s enough for me. It’s not that old age is bad.
Old age is won by luck, let alone the saying that there is no recipe… it is a privilege that others did not have. But I still… I have a lot to do. I draw, I draw lines on the map… I count miles… I calculate… I dream about things I haven’t done yet. I have so much on my mind.
Of course, when we old people make plans, God laughs at us… but I don’t even take that into account. You fight… battles have both victories and defeats. The seas have both angry winds and sunbeams.
You young people… dare to live. Do the hard things… everyone does the easy ones. You lose more when you don’t dare than when you take chances even if things don’t work out.
Life has both joys and disappointments. But she is beautiful under all weathers.
Listen to me, I know life… I’m old.
_ Kapetan Dimitri we would like to thank you, and wish to you ”Fair Winds and Following Seas’‘!
Pic: Edward Hopper – ‘Tramp Steamer’ (1908)
