Darling, Would You Set the Jib?

I have never, ever wanted to be a sailor.

I've never really wanted to sail.

I just don't have the common sense for some things:

Really?

One leg on the boat and one leg on the dock?

Think that one through....

However, in my romance with words, creating images with the twist of language, I've always wanted to be able to toss nautical phrases over my shoulder carelessly like "a front is approaching,"  "we're looking at 40 knots, gusting to 50," or "she has a broad, curving transom" or my personal favorite, "I set the jib."

Doesn't that sound fun?!

You have to smile when you say "I set the jib," a smile like you'd have if you said "I set the whoopee cushion" or "I set his clock ahead 20 minutes."  Like it's a sneaky little prank.  "I set the jib." {wink, wink}

If you know what it really means, leave a comment.

I think nobody knows.

I think it's the biggest sailing secret, a conspiracy.  Maybe it's just a pretentious term designed to make sailors feel superior.

As a matter of fact, from now on, I'm claiming the term.  I'm going to let the phone ring 8 times before I answer and when I answer, I'll be all out of breath and when asked if I'm busy or if they interrupted something, I'll casually reply, "Anh, I just set the jib."

And when a committee member from church asks me to do this or that on Friday night, I'll check my calendar, shrug with a sad smile and say, "No, I can't, I have to set the jib."