I was happy. I was in a meadow and frolicking in the tall grass. I could feel the warm sun on my back. I had my hands in the air and a huge smile on my face.
"SEAN!"
What is that noise, I thought as I stopped in the middle of the meadow.
"SEAN!"
The meadow implodes into darkness. I opened my eyes and noticed that a strange woman was holding my right leg.
"SEAN! Wake up! There's a HUGE squall coming. I think we need to take in the jib."
Reality was quickly returning to me. It was as if I was Keanu Reeves being reborn in the Matrix. The world was dark, and cold. There were loud noises of lines banging on the mast. Adventure would roll to starboard and I'd feel my face shoved down into the mattress as if I was being pinned by some bully. (I've had lots of experience with this.) I lifted my head and tried to reorient myself. I was sleeping sideways on the bed, my feet pressed against the leecloth so that I wouldn't be thrown out of bed.
BOOM! A huge swell just hit Adventure on her port side. It feels as if we hit something large (like a whale). Sea water gushes over the bow.

I pull myself out of bed and work my way to the cockpit. Each step is difficult; the boat is rolling wildly. I try to grab onto anything so that I'm not thrown across the boat. My head still isn't clear. Most of me just wants to go back to the meadow. I force myself to keep moving.

Kathy is waiting for me outside. It's raining now. Rainy, windy, and cold.
I go to the roller furling line for the jib and Kathy releases the jib sheet. I struggle with all of my weight to get the jib to furl. Slowly it comes. My clothes are soaked; rain is pouring all over me.
BOOM! A wall of sea water comes over the boat and hits my face.

It's 2:15 am and Kathy's had it. Her shift is over.
"I'll see you in a couple of hours," she says very unsympathetically and then disappears below.

I do a quick check on the radar and then go below to get out of the rain. I lay down; close my eyes; and listen. I listen to all the noises: banging lines, autopilot straining to control the rudder, main sail fluttering, wind howling, and rain pounding. I sing songs to myself and pray for the seas to abide. Oh, how I miss the meadow...