Like sailing a ship up a mountain

Every now and then I have an experience that makes me question significant portions of my life. I had such an experience a few days ago. According to my mom, my aunt recently took a violin to a specialist to see about getting it repaired. This happens to be the violin that I borrowed through junior high and high school for orchestra classes. The expert looked over the violin, then said, "You do realize that this is not actually a violin. It's a mini viola, strung like a violin." So, it was all a lie. All those years, and I never even realized I wasn't playing the violin. I wonder if anyone noticed. Probably not -- they were too busy staring at this guy.

Speaking of things that should have been obvious that people apparently didn't notice... Have you ever been sailing a 19th century three-masted square-rigger with your 21 crew members, when you suddenly realized that you were leading the ship toward the base of a mountain? No? Me neither. But the crew of the Glenesslin managed to do just that, when it shipwrecked in October of 1913 off the coast of Oregon. On a calm, clear fall day. In the middle of the afternoon. The exact reasons are unclear, but alcohol was suspected. Thankfully, no one was injured. Nice job, Captain Owen Williams.*

The end result is a collection of amazing shipwreck pictures. Unfortunately, I can't find an online copy of my favorite (caption is "Glenesslin - by Wood"). I just have a picture that I took of that picture.

Ah, well, these are pretty good alternatives:

- The first thing you should do after you wreck your ship is get your picture taken in front of it.
- Old postcard of the shipwreck
- Another historical picture

Notes:
* I have no idea if this picture is of the right Captain Owen Williams. But the guy in the picture is your standard salty sea captain from the right time period...