Master and Commander from Down Maine

Master and Commander is an epic movie centered during the Napoleonic Wars, where a brash British captain (Russell Crowe) pushes his ship and crew to their limits in pursuit of a formidable French war vessel around South America. The cinematography and music alone are worth the time you take to view this 2 time Oscar winning movie. Long before this feature length movie was filmed, the "Commander" I remember was none other than one of my nieces.

"E", as she has come to be known, was the first born child of my sister and brother-in-law. Naturally, she had the total attention of her parents as she progressed through those early years. On weekends, the grandparents, aunts and uncles, and the older cousins would head "down" Maine to visit the new addition to the "clan". She was singularly, on the top of "her world" there in Vacationland.

The undivided attention that she received probably was not unique for the first time parents. There have been a number of firsts for "E". She was the first in line for the hand me downs from her 2 older female cousins, and the first grand child born on her father's side of the family. Her HS soccer team captured the State Championship her Senior year, another first so to speak, and I imagine there are others too.

Although being the first born was not her choice, she has fully embraced it. She has been a role model for her 2 younger sisters, although I will let them be the final judges on that one. However, I have had a view from the "crow's nest" and have seen the dramatic transformation from "the commander" to a young woman who now is mastering those given talents for which she commands my respect. You go girl, and Happy Birthday "E"!