Welcome back to Pause and Reflect. I'm your host, Maritza Whitney. And today's guest isn't just another curious cat. He's a sailor, a survivor, and maybe even a philosopher with fur. He's traveled the world, slept under starlight, and faced down storms that would make most of us hide under the couch. Please welcome the legendary Captain Clausen.

Captain, thank you for dropping anchor here with us today. Hi, Maritza. The pleasure's mine. Been a while since I've had solid ground under me paws. Though I must admit, it's a bit too still for my taste. I bet. So tell me, Captain. How did a Maine coon like you end up living the sailor's life? It started simple. I was a dock cat in my kitten days. Slept in coils of rope, hunted fish scraps by the pier. One night, a storm rolled in, wild and mean. I hid in a crate, and when I woke, I was already halfway to the Caribbean. 

You were a stowaway? Aye, unintentional perhaps, but destiny's a sly creature. The crew kept me, said I brought them luck. Turns out, a good rat catcher earns his stripes fast at sea. Did you ever get scared out there? Scared? Aye, plenty. The ocean's no gentle friend. She tests you. Some nights, the waves look taller than dreams, and lonelier too. But that's when you find what you're made of. Out there, courage isn't roaring. It's holding the line till the sun shows up again. 

That's really beautiful. You sound like a cat who's learned more than just how to steer a ship. Maybe so. The sea teaches patience, and loss, and gratitude. You learn every wave ends, and every ending carries you somewhere new. If you could give one bit of advice to land cats, and maybe humans too, what would it be? Don't wait for perfect weather. There's no such thing. If your paws are itching for adventure, take the leap. Life's not meant to be watched from the window.

I love that. Captain, thank you for the stories and the wisdom. Aye, and if you ever hear the wind sing at night, that's the sea telling you to keep going. That's Captain Clausen, the sailor cat who reminds us that every storm, every wave, every scratch is part of the journey. Thanks for listening to Pause and Reflect. Until next time, may your sails be full and your hearts steady.