A reminder from Safety-Ho

Many years ago, at a pole-dancing wedding shower party, I earned a nickname. The younger ladies all around me chose their own pole-dancing nicknames and they introduced themselves for their final act. There was Ruby-Ho, Silky-Ho, Candy-Ho, all pretending to be women of ill repute.

Meanwhile, I was pointing out the dangers of hitting their heads on the bare floor, landing flat on their backs or sliding down the pole upside down and cranking their necks. They ignored my suggestions of pillows, helmets and gloves for better grip.

When it was finally my turn, my daughters chose my party name: Safety-Ho.

Years later, it still pops up when I advise my daughters to be careful with something, especially when they come sailing with us.

However, I should just point out that I was the only one able to achieve the fully upside down slow lowering on the pole to the floor…a product, I am sure, of strong arms from hauling jerry cans of fuel, laundry, groceries, water etc from land to dinghy to boat.

But I digress from the intention of this little safety reminder… If you haven’t already installed a CO and smoke detector on your boat, be sure to do so, and if you have, the summer solstice is a good time to change the batteries every year.