Recently my daughter Bea declared her major at Stanford: Privateering.
Her friends Ben and Michael signed on as awkward incompetent first mate and shoulder parrot. So my sister Constance and I decided to try our luck as chief cook and bottle washer, and cabin boy.
Bea was flying home for spring break. We went to meet her at Sea-Tac airport. We picked up a cart, to carry our booty.
Not only did Bea immediately don the captain’s hat and coat we brought along, just in case Cap’n Bea was traveling incognito….
…but from out of her pack she pulled out her very cool pirate goggles to top off the outfit.
The next best thing to a contract signed in blood, we press-ganged an innocent bystander to photo-document the deal.
I have proven once again that it is impossible to embarrass Beatrice.
But we can just keep trying.
Unless otherwise stated, all images and words cNaomi Baltuck.
Click here for more interpretations of The Weekly Travel Theme: Hats.
Click here for more interpretations of Cee’s Odd Ball Challenge: Week 9!
Writing Between the Lines 
LOL, you guys really know how to have fun in life!
Hi Darla,
Thank goodness I raised a family that doesn’t embarrass easily! I sure appreciate your visit!
You guys are just way too much fun!! Love you all so much 🙂
Thanks, Sue. We love you too, and are VERY grateful to have friends like you, who know how to have fun and aren’t afraid of playing dressup!
Wow I want to join your family! I do embarrass easily though, but still like to have fun. I just always have red cheeks. It helps keep me warm. Keep on having fun!
My Mom had a trick she used on us. She used to say, “It’s okay. You’ll never see these people again!” If you lived around here, we could break you in a little at a time!
I love it when the kids don’t miss a beat and go with the flow. What a fun memory!
Hi Elisa,
You’re right, going with the flow is an important life skill. Once we picked up Eli from soccer practice on our way home from the Value Village Halloween Costume sale. We just opened the back of the car in the school parking lot and dressed him from our newest additions to the costume collection. He looked very fetching in a shiny red, white, and blue Elvis jacket and matching sunglasses, with a high stiff vampire collar just for style. Thanks so much for dropping by, and taking the time to comment.
Tom the cabin boy is one of my great heroes, so I’m very with the pirate thing! Brilliant!
Yo ho ho, and a Dramamine!
Awesome!!! Or should I say arrrrrrrrrsome? The world need more priveteers. And less private ears…?
She might be disappointed if you treated her any other way. 🙂 What fun you have.
I think you’re probably right, Patti! Thanks for the visit. Warm wishes to you from Washington, where we had our first snow day in forever!
Thanks, Naomi. Warm wishes are always welcome! We had flurries Thursday, hopefully for the last time for awhile. I thought as far north as you are you would get more snow. That’s interesting.
What fun! What next?
Hi Mary!
So nice to hear from you! On Monday we have tickets to The Women in Silent Films series down at the Paramount Theater. We’re thinking maybe flappers…I don’t know if I can talk Thom into a straw boater, but he might wear a flap cap.
I just love your eccentricity. It’s great if offspring are not phased by their parents’ antics. My daughter (aged 31) is always saying to me, “Mummy, you’re so random”. This is usually in response to some comment I’ve left on facebook 🙂
Random is good, Sarah. Keeps ’em on their toes!
Interested in adopting??? I would love to be part of all that fun! 🙂
🙂
That is so much fun, Naomi! Love the wonderful smiles 🙂
Hi Amy,
Thank you for stopping by, and making me smile!
Seems it was a great fun I loved the photographs. Thank you dear Naomi, have a nice weekend, love, nia
Dear Nia,
Thank you for your visit. I hope you ha a great weekend. The comment section was closed, but this morning I visited and loved your post on Istanbul and the Bosphorus!
Actually it wasn’t closed at least by myself but I live such a technical problems in these days… You are welcome and Thank you, have a nice day, love, nia
My oldest did a senior voice recital featuring “Unsavory Characters”…we all dressed up like Pirates, of course. Like we do on Pirate Christmas… yaaarrrhh!
Oh, my gosh, Scilla, I hope you got some photos! It really seems like you raised your own interesting and intelligent crew that is not afraid to get silly and have fun. Here is my wish list for my kids: To be happy and healthy is at the top. After that I would wish them to be best friends and glad to take care of each other. Then I would wish for them the ability to just let themselves go and have fun. So far so good!
A a lovely bunch you are and so fun-loving crazy. Warms the cockles of my heart.
Hi Tess,
Thank you, thank you! While the mice are here, the cats must play! I can settle in and put the nose to the grindstone after Bea goes back to school.
So much fun! Really made me smile, though I think your daughter is definitely a more mellow person than me!
She is very good at going with the flow, and definitely the most social one in the family. Thanks so much for stopping by. I’m loving following your Cambodian adventures right now.
Doesn’t your daughter realize that one of the great joys in life is parents embarrassing their children? Of course you had fun!
Nancy
Hi Nancy!
I can tell you’ve been around that block once or twice! It’s just lucky that we got the kids we did, and can get away with this sort of thing!
Love it! I have learned I cannot embarrass my children…..what great planning and fun you guys had! I cannot wait to see your send off pics, Naomi! 😉
We love pirates, I have my own pirate pups here! Harharhar!
I had fun reading this. Enjoy your weekend!
Mary
Ahoy there, matey! You and your whole crew best have a rollicking weekend, too!
Ay, we arrr, we arrr….might walk the plank tomorrow if the weather doesn’t change 😉
There’s a squall brewin’ here, so we’ll batten down the hatches. Arrrgh!
awwww….we’ll send you pics of our warm blue skies and deep blue “sea” if we get to walk the plank tomorrah me matey!
I’ll be pinin’ for a peek at blue skies, and the half pints taking the plunge into calm waters. Smooth sailin’ to you and the your crew!
Ohmigosh! You are just too creative, spontaneous, fun and all those other things I would love to be but am not.
Dear Carol,
Every time you go out with a camera and the girls and share it with us, that’s a kind of spontaneous adventure. I love your voice–it feels spontaneous and natural. Thank you for sharing it with us, and for stopping by today.
this is a marvelous story; a real purim spiel at the right time of the year. I loved it. Very funny too. Wonderful post.
Hi Shimon,
My son Elijah made hamentaschen this year, but we didn’t dress up, so maybe we can consider this catch-up. You’ve been on my mind–I was sorry to read about about your friend, and sent quiet good thoughts in your direction.
How much fun are you having! My daughter is coming back from 2 weeks in Taiwan tomorrow and she doesn’t even need or want us to pick her up 😦 . How is your son doing in S. America?
I am happy for you–having your daughter home for two weeks! Thank you for asking about Eli. He is doing very well. I’m so impressed with the way he is extending himself and thereby enhancing his life experience down there. His professor introduced him to two Norwegian medical students who were there to observe the hospital in Salta, but they didn’t speak Spanish, and none of the medical staff spoke English. Eli teaches at night, so he volunteered to help out during the day as translator. As a result, he ended up in the birthing room watching four babies brought into the world! He also got invited to the barbecue hosted by the head doctor, so he is widening his circle while doing good deeds. For Holy Week, he is going to Chile to meet up with other Fulbright scholars, and a nineteen hour bus ride will be a fun way to turn acquaintances into friends.
So good to hear from you, Carol. I hope you have a wonderful time with your daughter.
This looks like so much fun, Naomi! What an amazing group you are! 😀
Just immature! Thanks so much for your visit!
Love those cool “pirate goggles” and viewing your capturing of real fun…
Hi Mary,
Bea has a good eye for fun toys. Thanks so much for visiting, and for taking the time to say howdy.
That’s too cute! Your family is super fun! Of course they would be with a mom like you!!! I simply love that you all dressed up. I always wanted to be a pirate. Now I have pirate envy. ;D
Hi Debra,
I love that–Pirate Envy! I am sure you are that kind of mom too, only with gods and superheroes (and I bet you look way better in tights). Thanks so much for stopping by!
Haha. That’s so cool. You guys are so fun! 🙂
Hi Lisa,
Thank you for your visit! We do have a lot of fun, and there is safety in numbers. Once I was brave enough to do this by myself, when I picked up my brother at Sea-Tac, after being separated at Christmas for the first time. But that case was pretty cut and dry; who wouldn’t have gone in a Santa suit?
Oh my………you are such a fun and crazy family, Naomi. Love your pirate outfits and Bea’s goggles are awesome. 😀 i never know what to expect when I see a new post from you. 🙂
Thank you. Aren’t those goggles great? And Bea has just what it takes to pull it off! Thanks so much for your sweet and constant encouragement! The longer I know you, the more I recognize the depth of kindness within your heart.
Now that does look like someone is having a lot of fun…
When my kids were little and we would be in the middle of some goofy endeavor, I would pause and ask, “Who has more fun than we?” Now that they are all grown up, and we find ourselves in the middle of, well, something, I ask myself the same question.
Thank you so much for stopping by. It is always such a pleasure to hear from you.
awesome fun!!!!! great pics
Hi Miss P! Thank you for your visit, and for taking the time to comment.
Classic!!! Thanks for the laugh!! 🙂
Thank you for your visit, and for sharing your comment!
LOL. Love the spirit and whimsy of your photos. Bea is a great great daughter. I love how she sprung right into action with your theme. 😉
Hi Kourtney,
That Bea girl is light on her feet, that’s for sure. When I dropped her at the airport a few days ago, it was buzzing with crowds of people at the security point. I watched her make her way through the long line, and then as she waited on the far side for her bag, shoes and laptop to get X-rayed. I was just thinking how serious and grownup she seemed, when she looked up and our eyes met across the crowded hall. She instantly launched into this goofy leprachaun-like dance, turning a little circle, with pointer fingers up in the air. And I thought, “That’s my girl!”
I love it but think if I did that to my niece she would catch the next plane back!
I guess however you are raised seems normal to you, and she was practically born in costume! Thanks so much for your visit.
you made a funny reportage!
Thank you, Frizz! It’s easy to do when I have such inhibition-free life companions! I really appreciate hearing from you.
You are blessed to have a daughter who has a great sense of humor, an adventurous spirit, who has a strong bond and love for her friends and family. Long before the rest of the Spring Break began, a fun event is already brewing at the airport, thanks to you and the group.
Dear friend,
Not a day goes by that I don’t thank my lucky stars for such a fun-loving, good-hearted family, just as I know you do with your loving and adventurous family.
How fun! Your daughter sounds like a hoot. My daughter would probably be embarrassed. My son would have walked right on by. Or maybe not. We’ve never tried pirate costumes before.
We started training Bea early, so I think she must be desensitized to this sort of thing. The second photo in this post (I’m including a link) really cracks me up, and is a foreshadowing of her cool pirate googles!
https://naomibaltuck.wordpress.com/2012/11/08/bright-and-shiny/
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and stories.
You guys are so cool! My daughter would have run the other way 😀
These are such fun photos. Thanks for playing.
Dear Cee,
Thank YOU! I am getting braver about branching out into new photo challenges, and you make it so easy!
Congratulations! I have selected your post to be featured in Cee’s Odd Ball Challenge.
http://ceenphotography.com/2014/05/04/cees-odd-ball-photo-challenge-week-10/
Wow! Thank you, Cee!
These photos brought a lot of chuckles! I can imagine the laughter from the gawkers and amongst yourselves. Great Odd Balls.
Hi Janice,
Thanks for the visit, and for sharing your response. There was a lot of silly laughter. I have to admit, I was afraid we’d crossed the line this time, but Bea not only put up with it, she even seemed to enjoy it. I guess this little apple did fall far from the tree.
Fun photos! Congrats on being featured!
Thank you, Alma. I appreciate the visit, and your taking the time to comment.
Congrats… This was a splendid post…
Thanks so much for your generous response!
Dear Cee,
Thanks so much. I am enjoying your challenges!
Such great shots and they made me smile.
Reblogged this on Writing Between the Lines and commented:
Arrrggh! All hands on deck for International Talk Like a Pirate Day!
Your family is a hoot! I’ve lovin’ every inch and minute of your posts, Naomi. Just keep them coming. ❤ ❤ ❤
So much fun! What a good sport your daughter is. Any ideas for what you will try next time?
HIlarious- my daughter would give me an earful if I did that. You’re lucky!
What is privateering?
Fabulous pictures, Naomi. I admire your family’s gregariousness and lack of self-consciousness about doing eccentric things in public.
Love you crazy people!!!
Amazing.
When I see your photos I often wonder if your fancy dress wardrobe is larger than my own normal clothes wardrobe. I expect it is. 🙂
I think it’s wonderful how much courage and self belief Eli and Bea obviously have. Maybe next time I go collect my parents from the airport I need to be thinking more creatively. They have never quite embraced crazy in the manner you do. They echo all that British reservedness we’re supposed to have over here. :p
Fantastic fun. You should repost these when “aaaaaaarrrrgh” challenge comes along 😉
I’ll be waitin’ fer the day, Matey!
Oh gosh, very funny:-)
Thank you! I am very fortunate to have a family of good sports who can embrace Silliness!