The sea can do craziness, it can do smooth, it can lie down like silk breathing or toss havoc shoreward; it can give gifts or withhold all; it can rise, ebb, froth like an incoming frenzy of fountains, or it can sweet-talk entirely. As I can too, and so, no doubt, can you, and you. […]
That Moment, This Valentine’s Day

On this Valentine’s Day, we, the Island Family, have reached a landmark moment. Our kids are all in middle school and high school now, so for the first time since 2006, not one single person in the family has to make class valentines. I am living in the land of mixed emotions. On one hand, […]
Anticipating 2019

Somehow, I missed winter solstice this year. I like to mark these things, but I’d been wrapped up in work on our home after Florence, so it passed silently by me. The next day, I realized it in the early evening, as we left a building store. We’d been there for probably three hours and […]
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.†Isaiah 9:2 Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!
Christmas News in Interesting Times

Y’all, the above statement is true, but it’s also true that we live in interesting times this holiday season, whether we’re beach dwellers or not. Case in point: I enjoy the movie A Christmas Story, especially Ralph’s narration (e.g., “Oh, rarely had the words poured from my pen and pencil with such feverish fluidity,†and […]
Thanksgiving Thoughts

When it comes to Thanksgiving, I’m pretty much with Charlie Brown. Like Charlie, “I can’t cook a Thanksgiving dinner. All I can make is cold cereal and maybe toast.†Well, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration. I’ll probably end up making the mashed potatoes and I’m attempting a chocolate mousse this year. But, as […]