On Borscht Aboard a Yacht and Looking Dashing and Slightly Idiotic ))

On Borscht Aboard a Yacht Moving aboard the yacht, stocking up on provisions, and preparing to sail This week is devoted to packing, rearranging and drying out the lockers, sorting through our food supplies, and pouring kilos of grains and flour into 6-litre plastic bottles (once we leave the Canaries, replenishing our provisions will be more expensive and more difficult). Real heroes always take the long way round We have our first borscht aboard the yacht for lunch, hastily cooked amid all the packing. Nastya shares her impressions of the book Allegiant (the sequel to Divergent—there’s a film as well): “This part is written from Tobias’s point of view (he’s one of the main characters). In the other parts, he’s a hero, brave and fearless, but here he seems weak, always doubting and worrying...” “Exactly! That’s because even heroes are sometimes afraid of things and feel unsure of themselves. But you can’t see that from the outside, because their actions are heroic! Only the person himself knows things about himself that others can’t see,” I say, delightedly showing off my knowledge of psychology. “Our life aboard the yacht also looks brave from the outside, even heroic in some ways. And only you and I know how many fears and doubts we have... But you can’t see that from the outside.” “Exactly!” Andrei adds. “Take your dad, for instance: from the outside, he looks dashing and slightly idiotic...” “Yes!” I conclude amid general laughter. “And only those closest to him know how grounded and profound he really is.” And that’s the truth. Just the other day, I was reflecting that our captain gives a more frivolous impression than he really is. Only through close companionship does his true nature reveal itself. Such is borscht aboard a yacht. P.S.: ...hmm... it’s turned into another ode to the captain.