As I write this, my cousin Sean is in his third day of Coast Guard basic training. I'm not at all surpised to find myself pleased with this sudden development but am surprised to find myself quite proud of him.

Never one to be very enamored of militarism, I nonetheless spent five and a half years in the Coast Guard and must say I think it is largely a great organization, a force smaller than the New York police department charged with law enforcement, aids to navigation and search and rescue all over the US and its territories.

I told him that if he had the chance, he should go to my old boat, the USCG Barque Eagle, but the chances of that are minimal and I'm sure that others will try to dissuade him in Cape May if it does turn up as an option.

So that's it. It's just cool to have another Coastie in the family ... let's see if he makes it through basic.