Pirates Will Invade ... Be Prepared!

I’m from Grafton, originally, so I wasn’t so well versed in Port culture when I started here at the library three years ago.  

What’s so big about Pirates? Was my first wonder. I get that we’re on the lake, and we have boats and Fish Day, tall ships and Pirate Fest, but why the obsession with Pirates? 

I really should have known. My niece, Jessica Goeden, went to , and I have seen her, many times, in her green and white sweatshirt, but it wasn’t until I stepped into the local shop, The Portico, when it all clicked. Oh, Pirates! 

You could have knocked me over with a parrot feather. My apologies, Port Washington. I come from a Blackhawk state of mind.  

So, of course, now I am in the Pirate state of mind. 

And I must say, Pirates are a lot of fun. I like Pirate Fest; it reminds me a bit of my beloved Renaissance Faire I used to work at in my younger days. The tall ships at Maritime Days are fantastic. I was able to go aboard The Bounty last year, courtesy of Main Street, and was thrilled. 

I am already fascinated by everything locomotive, and stepping onto the boat was like being transported back to when trains didn’t even exist. It took me a long time to look at everything: I literally looked at everything! The rigging, the boards, the ropes and mast. I ran my hands over the rail, thinking what life must have been like on the sea — months of nothing but water and waves, the food rations, the living conditions, the loneliness, the sea-sickness ... I think I’ll stick to trains. 

But that won’t stop me from having a ton of fun at Pirate Fest, June 3-5. In fact, I’ll be prepared! The library has an online subscription to Mango Languages that feature many foreign languages, but for a limited time they are offering us a chance to learn how to speak Pirate! How cool is that? The timing could not be better.

Visit the website www.mangolanguages.com/store/pirate-day.html to learn how to speak Pirate. It’s free! 

And, if you are interested in learning another language for free, visit the library website at www.wjnlib.org and go to our online resources. You will need a library card, so stop in to get one if you haven’t already. The library will also be featuring a basic Spanish class — five Wednesdays, starting May 25. Check the calendar on Patch for the other dates, or visit the library's website. Be sure to sign up so that we can save you a seat! 

Shiver Me Timbers, we’ve got so much to do!