Farther along, where the Anacostia meets the Potomac, with the Washington Monument as the backdrop and the Capitol dome visible just over the tree line, I thought of John Smith sailing up and finding this confluence of rivers in 1608.
When the lonely narrator of this Rodgers and Hart standard sang, "I admire the moon, as a moon, just a moon," you didn't think of a paper orb sailing over a cardboard sea but of a cold, distant hunk of rock.
Its criss-crossed cables make one think of a sailing ship's masts.
Here someone is found to have abused their position of public office — given jobs to relatives, accepted bribes, spent public money on personal pleasures — but does not resign, does not think of resigning, attacks the moralists and sails on regardless.
For older children and adults, there are classes and activities every day: horseriding, watersports, walking tours, "eco-karting" (think of go-karting, then add a sail), pilates and yoga.
At this time of year I always think of a couple I know who sail through the holidays without a care -- literally.
We certainly can think of extraordinary people -- those who seem to sail through life, performing effortlessly and having a great time along the way.
I like to think of courtiers opening them with expectant cries, and multi-coloured tissue paper sailing through palace rooms.
And I think of the predicate, whose key component is a verb, as the sail or motor, the part that makes the boat move.
Think of "Blowin' in the Wind": how many seas must that white dove sail before sleeping in the sand?
