Pirates...sort of



No pirates here...I think

 I am a huge, huge history buff. I can tolerate most history, but like most buffs I have particular "areas" that I'm crazily interested in. One of these is naval history, and, of course, pirates.
 Arrrrgh. Not sure where this came from. The water has always fascinated me, I can't get enough of the rivers and their stories around here. This area is rich in history; I grew up pretty much around the corner from Maryland's first capital, John Wilkes Booth ran through Charles County after shooting Abraham Lincoln, and Mount Vernon and D.C. are right up the road. That's just the tip of the iceberg. We are surrounded by water in Southern Maryland, and it's played a major part in it's history. The only thing I'm pretty sure we didn't have was pirates.

Christ Church in Chaptico.

 When you are young and fascinated with pirates, it is highly disappointing when you discover that they didn't run around your area. The British overran Chaptico on their way up the Potomac to Washington D.C. during the War of 1812? Borrrriing. The first Catholic mass was held on St. Clements Island when the colonists first landed in Maryland. Were the colonists pirates? No. Snooze. Why do I have to live in such a stupid state? Why couldn't I have been raised somewhere cool and piratey, like Tortuga?
 Imagine my delight when I discovered that pirates ran around the Outer Banks. Crazy! I thought the only thing that area was good for was the lost colony at Roanoke. ( I got a t-shirt there that says, Don't ask the locals for directions, they already lost one colony. ). Blackbeard was there? YES!!! Now we're talking! I can make it to Nags Head in about 4 hours. So close! The Outer Banks is one of my favorite places, if you haven't been, you need to go! http://www.outerbanks.org/
 Pirates are mysterious creatures, maybe that is part of the allure. The Royal Navy kept records, pirates really didn't. I enjoy researching them; I find out as much as I can and it's just not enough. Right now I'm reading Under the Black Flag by David Cordingly and enjoying it immensely. I just wish it had more pictures : )
 I have a pirate necklace that I wear when I can tell it's going to be "one of those days". One of the first places I'm going to visit when I go to Savannah will be the Pirate's House. Duh.http://www.thepirateshouse.com/ If I had a boat it would have a pirate flag. Of course. And I will most definitely buy more books about pirates. Maybe I will write my own ; )