A harbour town, no matter where in the world it is located, is a door between the land and the sea, a portal of sorts, a place where we can cross over. Here, everything can change in an instant, even the very ground beneath our feet can alter, the solidity of a stone pier giving way to an untrustworthy, rolling deck, moving on a swell you did not notice before you boarded.
Alexander!! What an epic essay. I'm saving The Tale of John Randell for later today. Thank you for your questions.
Before I comment, I should mention I mistakenly unsubscribed to The Crow's Nest when reviewing my bulging list of subscriptions. I have rectified that.
I lived on Narragansett Bay during my 40's. Ever since sailing camp, I had dreamed of living by the water. I found work with a welder. He was known up and down the east coast as the guy who could make a bow rail, or whatever the customer designed, look as if it came with the original boat design. I learned how to use tools, I learned how to balance on the bow in a storm using tools, and I learned how to hang off the stern using tools. I wrote for the local magazine.
Seventeen years ago, the taxes, the ticks, and the tourists became too much. We headed south looking for a softer time.
In the way of ever widening circles, today the Supreme Court addresses another environmental case. It involves monitoring how much herring is hauled out of the sea, who monitors the hauls, and who pays for the monitor. And yet it's about a really big issuse-the Chevron decision. Once again, a tiny case will likely overturn some really practical ways of keeping the fish in the sea, the wetlands protected, the air clean, and more species from going extinct.
What's wacky is that some of the plaintiffs are from that very village where I lived, worked, and wrote. To be continued.🌱
I totally understand the bulging mailbox issue. I think it is one many of us are dealing with, right now, I know I am swamped and a little lost at present. I'm not sure what the answer is! Maybe a few more hours in the day?
How did the court case go? The law, as Mr. Bumble said, is an ass. The problem with these such cases (and, in wider terms, democracy), is that all things are temporary, rarely fixed for long. I often consider this, how our governments do not look beyond a bare handful of years, and I think it does not help with the larger pictures, that of the protection of our world, of the climate emergency, and of actually enabling our species to coexist with others. I am not sure, however, what the answer could be.
You mention ticks, too--it is the same here in Europe, the species has spread considerably in the last few decades, with more and more examples of tick-borne disease. I can't help but think that an answer to that one is to protect and ensure there are more birds to eat the things!
Thanks for this comment, I'm glad you are reading.
This is riveting. I love the essay you include before your fiction, and I was totally involved in John Randall's story. But the descriptions of battling to survive the sea - wow! I'm exhausted...
Thank you so much for this. I'm really delighted with the reception this tale had, I usually try to keep the fiction much shorter, so I considered sharing this a bit of a risk, but apparently I had nothing to worry about. It also makes me wonder if I should actually keep this story (and the others the character, Bessie, shares)? Hmmm.
Yes, this is wise. I think the story-within-a-story device also works well in the overall novel, as it can introduce certain themes which lend layers to the whole, also making the reader wonder if the narrator is unreliable, if those stories are simply that--stories--or if they harbour truths intrinsic to the plot...
Many thanks, that makes me happy. I am currently editing the novel this came from, editing and substantially rewriting, as I'm a better writer now. At the moment, I think this particular story might not make the final cut, but that may still change! Then, I'll "just" have to find an agent to represent me and the book... So, the answer is 'maybe'?! I just don't know. (I'm quietly confident the novel will be picked up by a traditional publisher, but I just don't yet know in what final form.)
I read this while walking Alex, breaking a cardinal sin to do so but I’m so glad I did!
I agree with Susannah, your essay is an exquisite anthem to the sea and her legends and the story the perfect follow up. No matter when you wrote it! Enviable work... enviable words.
Have you had big snow this week? We missed it by about 40 kilometres, there is a ring of white all around us but here winter sludge brown still - there’s no justice in MN this winter!
Strangely, I'm happy this made you break a cardinal sin! Haha! It's like I'm a little devil on your shoulder as you walk, but in a good way!!
I'm also delighted that you enjoyed both parts, it has been difficult to keep up with things so far, this year, so it makes me feel much better to know people like what I can share.
We had a little snow last week, but there was more higher up. We headed uphill on Saturday with some friends to go sledging again, but the previous snow had obviously melted at some point, leaving hard, icy ridges and bumps, which were then covered by twenty or thirty centimetres of powder. As you can imagine, this made sledging tricky, and Ailsa experienced her first proper snowy wipeout, with Aurélie in the driving seat. Ailsa got a few scrapes and snow everywhere, and Aurélie damaged her shoulder a bit, protecting Ailsa. It was also rather cold up there, so the little children didn't enjoy it that much! After a week where Ailsa had a fever, and an emergency doctor's appointment, it was, however, good to get some sun and fresh (cold) air.
I do hope there will be more snow, and that you can get some too. The forecast doesn't look like it at the moment, however!
(Incidentally, I have had your anniversary post open on my phone for days, I WILL read it ASAP, I just need to invent a few more hours in the day!)
Alexander!! What an epic essay. I'm saving The Tale of John Randell for later today. Thank you for your questions.
Before I comment, I should mention I mistakenly unsubscribed to The Crow's Nest when reviewing my bulging list of subscriptions. I have rectified that.
I lived on Narragansett Bay during my 40's. Ever since sailing camp, I had dreamed of living by the water. I found work with a welder. He was known up and down the east coast as the guy who could make a bow rail, or whatever the customer designed, look as if it came with the original boat design. I learned how to use tools, I learned how to balance on the bow in a storm using tools, and I learned how to hang off the stern using tools. I wrote for the local magazine.
Seventeen years ago, the taxes, the ticks, and the tourists became too much. We headed south looking for a softer time.
In the way of ever widening circles, today the Supreme Court addresses another environmental case. It involves monitoring how much herring is hauled out of the sea, who monitors the hauls, and who pays for the monitor. And yet it's about a really big issuse-the Chevron decision. Once again, a tiny case will likely overturn some really practical ways of keeping the fish in the sea, the wetlands protected, the air clean, and more species from going extinct.
What's wacky is that some of the plaintiffs are from that very village where I lived, worked, and wrote. To be continued.🌱
Thank you for this!
I totally understand the bulging mailbox issue. I think it is one many of us are dealing with, right now, I know I am swamped and a little lost at present. I'm not sure what the answer is! Maybe a few more hours in the day?
How did the court case go? The law, as Mr. Bumble said, is an ass. The problem with these such cases (and, in wider terms, democracy), is that all things are temporary, rarely fixed for long. I often consider this, how our governments do not look beyond a bare handful of years, and I think it does not help with the larger pictures, that of the protection of our world, of the climate emergency, and of actually enabling our species to coexist with others. I am not sure, however, what the answer could be.
You mention ticks, too--it is the same here in Europe, the species has spread considerably in the last few decades, with more and more examples of tick-borne disease. I can't help but think that an answer to that one is to protect and ensure there are more birds to eat the things!
Thanks for this comment, I'm glad you are reading.
This is riveting. I love the essay you include before your fiction, and I was totally involved in John Randall's story. But the descriptions of battling to survive the sea - wow! I'm exhausted...
Thank you so much for this. I'm really delighted with the reception this tale had, I usually try to keep the fiction much shorter, so I considered sharing this a bit of a risk, but apparently I had nothing to worry about. It also makes me wonder if I should actually keep this story (and the others the character, Bessie, shares)? Hmmm.
I think you should remain open to it and see where it/they want to pop up!
Yes, this is wise. I think the story-within-a-story device also works well in the overall novel, as it can introduce certain themes which lend layers to the whole, also making the reader wonder if the narrator is unreliable, if those stories are simply that--stories--or if they harbour truths intrinsic to the plot...
Was totally drawn in the Randall story -- you mentioned you wrote it 10 years ago, will this be published?
Many thanks, that makes me happy. I am currently editing the novel this came from, editing and substantially rewriting, as I'm a better writer now. At the moment, I think this particular story might not make the final cut, but that may still change! Then, I'll "just" have to find an agent to represent me and the book... So, the answer is 'maybe'?! I just don't know. (I'm quietly confident the novel will be picked up by a traditional publisher, but I just don't yet know in what final form.)
I read this while walking Alex, breaking a cardinal sin to do so but I’m so glad I did!
I agree with Susannah, your essay is an exquisite anthem to the sea and her legends and the story the perfect follow up. No matter when you wrote it! Enviable work... enviable words.
Have you had big snow this week? We missed it by about 40 kilometres, there is a ring of white all around us but here winter sludge brown still - there’s no justice in MN this winter!
Have a a great weekend.
Strangely, I'm happy this made you break a cardinal sin! Haha! It's like I'm a little devil on your shoulder as you walk, but in a good way!!
I'm also delighted that you enjoyed both parts, it has been difficult to keep up with things so far, this year, so it makes me feel much better to know people like what I can share.
We had a little snow last week, but there was more higher up. We headed uphill on Saturday with some friends to go sledging again, but the previous snow had obviously melted at some point, leaving hard, icy ridges and bumps, which were then covered by twenty or thirty centimetres of powder. As you can imagine, this made sledging tricky, and Ailsa experienced her first proper snowy wipeout, with Aurélie in the driving seat. Ailsa got a few scrapes and snow everywhere, and Aurélie damaged her shoulder a bit, protecting Ailsa. It was also rather cold up there, so the little children didn't enjoy it that much! After a week where Ailsa had a fever, and an emergency doctor's appointment, it was, however, good to get some sun and fresh (cold) air.
I do hope there will be more snow, and that you can get some too. The forecast doesn't look like it at the moment, however!
(Incidentally, I have had your anniversary post open on my phone for days, I WILL read it ASAP, I just need to invent a few more hours in the day!)