Me and Mr Park

Hi Mr Park:

As this year draws to a close, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of relief. I’m ready to leave behind a heavy shackle I’ve been carrying for months, and to step into the new year with a lighter heart. But to do that, I need to let it all out the things I’ve been holding inside. The truth is, I have a new friend. I call him Mr. Park, because we’ve become somewhat familiar with one another, but his real name is Mr. Parkinson. He’s been living with me for the past three years, though I only got to know him a few months ago. 

Back in January, I signed a contract with Heerema Marine Contractors. It was a dream come true for me. I had never been happier in my career, 5/5 rotation, salary paid at home, and the best working conditions I could imagine. But that happiness didn’t stay with me too long. 

A few months later, Mr. Park arrived, his unmistakable British accent making his presence known. If you can imagine what it might feel like to get hit by Mike Tyson, that’s the closest thing I can compare it to. The punch came out of nowhere. At 43, with two beautiful daughters and an incredible wife, all my plans, my vision for the future, came crashing down. Months of agony followed. The only thing that kept me going, that made me feel like myself again, were the 12 hour workdays. Insomnia, slow movements, tremors on the left side of my body, and changes in my facial expressions slowly began to take over. 

The lively carefree person I had been for 43 years seemed to vanish, replaced by a person I barely recognized. Then, in August, came the turning point. The message that hit me like a ton of bricks: Bald Rigger, it’s time to think about your family.Vomiting everything I ate and being flown off the Sleipnir in a helicopter, I said goodbye not just to my job, but to a lifestyle that had been so good to me. 

 Today, my contract with Heerema officially ends. This company gave me the chance to reach the highest point of my career. 

I’ve given all my power in a short amount of time, and I hope my supervisors and the deck team can forgive me if I ever seemed tired or down. Tjade, Rick, Lennert, Miguel, and my comrades on deck, Sana, Soldadu... I wish you all the best, and I thank you for everything. You made me feel at home. I also want to extend my thanks to Heerema and the crew of Sleipnir for their professionalism, their procedures, and the way they treat their workers. Most of all, I’m grateful to have been able to have my last dance on this powerful ship, with two Huisman 10,000 T cranes. 

I’ll carry that memory with me forever. So, as the year ends and the new one begins, I leave behind the pain, the uncertainty, and the fear.

I look ahead with optimism, knowing that the future holds something wonderful. I’m excited for what comes next. 

Here’s to a fantastic new year. I know it’s going to be one to remember.