Climbing the Jacob's ladder

 Every day hundreds of ships enter and depart the ports of the world making trade possible. Aboard each one of them a pilot, the individual with the local knowledge and experience, is charged with the responsibility to assist  their Captains to ensure that all is done in a safely and expeditious fashion.  Very little is known about these professionals. How is a day on a pilot's life? A day in the (mysterious)  life of a (Panama Canal) marine Pilot. It is 6:00 am and my cellphone rings. I am still half asleep, and while desperately trying to reach for it,  my right hand awkwardly knocks down everything that is on the surface of my night table. Just before the ringing stops I manage to grab the elusive piece of equipment and answer the call. The noise has waken up  my wife, my kids, and probably my adjoining neighbors. "Captain Cabal?" inquires the voice on the other end of the line. "Yes madam, it's me". I am now sitting on the edge of the bed, fully awake. S