Remembering Jacques Cousteau and John Denver

I'm remembering the words to the song "Calypso" that John Denver wrote in honor of Jacques-Yves Cousteau, and how important both of them were during my formative years.

To sail on a dream on a crystal clear ocean,

to ride on the crest of a wild raging storm;

To work in the service of life and living,

in search of the answers of questions unknown;

To be part of the movement and part of the growing,

part of beginning to understand--

Aye Calypso the places you've been to,

the things that you've shown us,

the stories you tell.

Aye Calypso, I sing to your spirit,

the men who have served you so long and so well.

Like the dolphin who guides you, you bring us beside you

To light up the darkness and show us the way.

For though we are strangers in your silent world,

To live on the land we must learn from the sea

To be true as the tide and free as a wind swell,

Joyful and loving in letting it be.

Aye Calypso the places you've been to,
the things that you've shown us,
the stories you tell.
Aye Calypso, I sing to your spirit,
the men who have served you so long and so well.

Thank you, John Denver and Jacques Cousteau: you both had such a profound influence on me. It's about time I did something with all that you taught me....