The rest of the week was a blur. Amy and I both called the University and dropped half our classes, going to part-time status. I needed the extra time because I was only getting a few hours of sleep a night with everything on my plate.

By Thursday morning, Linda and I were back in New Iberia. Steve met my group, which included Doctor Holliday, electronics whiz Kim Sturgeon, Captain Lynette Dauntless, and her choice for Engineer, Patty Holmes. We spent all day on the Sea Scout, now out of the water at the Diamond 'B' Shipyard.

We gathered in a back corner of the break room, chowing down on...