This photograph makes me smile. Interestingly, because it reminds me of Captain Morton's son, Ernie, who I used to bump into frequently when he worked at Hawke Motors with Richard Latter. Man, what a team!

When we dropped off a car for repair, or picked someone up who was having work done, it was always like a visit with Abbott and Costello, “Who's on first?” These guys had a constant banter going. To drop into the middle of it was like chasing a “Little Debbie” with a shot of “Red Bull”. You absolutely never knew if the train would stop or fly off the rails. I would leave the garage in tears with my face hurting from laughter. OMG!

When I hitched a ride with Captain Ernest, I found the tree from which the Ernie apple fell. We'd never met, Ernest and I, but within seconds it was apparent that my hauling visit was going to be one of the highlights of my year. We had an absolute blast. Every time I mentioned someone or something about the Harbor area, Ernest had at least a double barrel response. It was like deju vu all over again, as Mr. Berra said. We never shut up for three hours.

Back when I first landed in Maine at “Treasure Island” on Little River, East Boothbay, I noticed Ernest's boat,  Miss Conduct, which in a recent conversation I renamed “Miss Conception” by mistake, and was quickly corrected. Ooops! Back then Little River was a pretty active spot. I recall Ralph Knapp, Mr. Dodge, John Alley and Mr. Royall, among others, stopping by “The Lobster Shack” run by Bernard and May Bartlett. Then Ernest may also have been carpentering with Glen Rines, or maybe working for Wilson Frances, while feeding Happy Hollow Henderson's chickens when Henderson went to Boston to visit family.

Then Ernest's Miss Conduct was a 37-foot Jonesporter built by Willis Beal. Now, the “new” Miss Conduct is a smaller vessel purchased in Bristol. She was built in East Boothbay by Everett Barlow with advice maybe from Lermond Giles on Barlow Hill in East Boothbay up behind where the old Andersen house was. I think Ernest said that he was only the second owner. She's come back to a good home.

I could go on but I'm out of room and probably going to get in trouble with the Register staff for overstaying my welcome. Carry on Captain.