Captain Ron has been crossing my mind quite frequently for some reason.

Captain Ron is a man I met when I was 17 and working at Spirit halloween. He is a 5’5 white man in his 60s. His knuckles are tattooed with hieroglyphics. He wears sunglasses inside. And wears a hat that says “Captain Ron”.

I was working a closing shift so I was the only person up front, the other was counting money in the back. And this eccentric man comes in, now there are 3 people in the building. He brings up every costume from the “Egyptian” (yikes) section of the store. He is obviously stoked (remember the knuckles)We talk for a minute and have a very energetic interaction as I check out his items.

He left and his energy stayed with me. I was brought back to life from the boring closing shift.

*about one year goes by

I see him at Jamba Juice (I was working there)

Captain Ron comes in and I recognize him immediately. I tell him I remember him from Spirit halloween, he beams and says he remembers me too. We don’t get enough time to catch up because of how busy it was, but he runs out to his car and brings me two Dove chocolates that are mushy (its 100 degrees)

Angel

For the next 2 years I see him only every now and then. We hug, catchup and he gives me a little gift. The cupcake he got me had another girls name on the bottom. But the incense he got me is one of the best scents i’ve ever smelled and I have been looking for the same one ever since.

He would come in and just about shout anytime he saw me. Not a care for anyone else in the building. There aren’t a lot of people like that that i’ve met. He is one in a million.

I learn that he is an Alaskan cruise ship captain and thats why I don’t get to see him more frequently. I learn that he legally changed his name to Captain Ron.

Every time I get to see that man it feels like a holiday. I tried to find him once on socials but I couldn’t find anything. I wonder what he’s been up to, but i’m sure i’ll see him somewhere.

Safe sailing, Captain.