I have been enjoying the comments from readers in recent days...well, always! This blog would be the poorer without the comments section. And along with the comments there are often references to music, art, literature, movies, websites which can enrich the rest of us.
From yesterday's blog on oceans Johnny made mention of the Save our Seas Foundation. Check out the website by clicking http://www.saveourseas.com/articles/articles/articles.
Laurie made reference to a favourite poem called Sea Fever:
I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.
I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume,
and the sea-gulls crying.
I must down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.
By John Masefield (1878-1967).(English Poet Laureate, 1930-1967.)
I particularly like the second stanza.
The other day Deb told us she was off to a concert by musician Kate Rusby. Here is Kate's website http://www.katerusby.com/
Keep the comments coming, and those of you who tell me that you appreciate the comments but don't write -- come over to the dark side!
Hi David: I read your blog everyday and have only ever commented once! So, here I am, ready to be counted. I have used your blog as a model for my own here at Bracebridge United Church. Thanks for the inspiration and the thought provocation. I also like reading what otehrs are thinking in repsonse to your daily insights. So, who knows, maye I too will weigh in now and then.
ReplyDelete~Nancy
Bring it, people.
ReplyDeleteBring it.
David, my fellow Trek nerd, do you you recognize the Masefield poem from Star Trek V when Kirk, Spock and McCoy are coming back to the Enterprise from camping?
Solidarity!
Mrs. Coles, I know you read this blog ... dare you to write!
ReplyDeleteI too read daily with interest but seldom comment. Margaret Wente in her column yesterday in the Globe and Mail("Why are bloggers male?") gave some interesting, tongue in cheek (I think), insights into why writing blogs seems to be more of a "guy thing". As a middle aged woman I can totally identify with her when she says, "For most of my adult life, I was almost struck dumb in the presence of strangers. I managed to complete five years of university without raising my hand, and the idea of a dinner party used to make me faint.Several of my female friends tell similar stories. No matter how brilliant they were, they lacked the confidence to express themselves in public." She goes on to say that something happens to women in midlife that disinhibits them and we no longer care quite so much what people think about us.How liberating!
ReplyDeleteI'm happy to see that so many of your readers who comment are women. I have a feeling that the generations of women following me have more confidence in the value of their opinions and ideas. And that's a good thing.
Keep up the good work David. Your blog makes us think and is becoming a "must read" each day.
I'm here also.I read tou every but seldom comment.I for one have seen the ocean very close. For 2 years we rented an old farm house in northern N.B. who's backyard extended to the Bay of Chaleur.My wife,me and youngest daughter spent countless days exploring(you could walk for miles and see nobody)We got to enjoythe sea thru the seasons,winter you learned about the power of nature when storms came in and the calm of summer when in morning you walk out 100 yds but high tide later would be 15 ft deep 20 ft from shore.It's a time in my life I miss,lake ontario is okay but not the Atlantic.The world is not doing a good job of taking care of their oceans or waterways in general,as others mentioned(oil spills,plastic over salting and fertilization cause big problems)We try to do our part but governments worldwide must be the leadersand they have fallen short.Keep up the good work with your blogs.We read every day.
ReplyDeleteI would be delighted, Nancy, if you offered your observations...and a link to your blog.
ReplyDeleteThat's good Ian, laying down the gauntlet. And thanks for the mention of Star Trek 5 -- who knew?
Thanks for proving my point Shirley. I read the Globe every day and usually take in Margaret Wente's columns, but not yesterday.
Her's is an interesting "take" on who blogs, although I have not now, nor have I ever been involved in a peeing contest. Thanks for sharing that perspective.
Brian, I wondered if you might comment on living near the ocean, knowing that you had. I agree about the difference between the ocean and any lake, even Superior. And we too loved the ocean in Winter, often braving the wind and cold for the opportunity to be scared half to death!
Living by the sea - sounds, smells & sights
ReplyDeletesounds: at night could hear the sound of the waves as we lay in bed
birds: were all sea birds, no robins, etc. like in Ontario or inland
smells: always a fresh salty smell, even fishy smells and seaweed became the norm
sights: low tide - pools with trapped shrimp, flounder, mussels, many made our meals, summer schools of mackerel, seals on the winter ice, smelts running - good meals from the locals; even my wife buying illegal salmon(not knowing) from a local as there were government restrictions- gov't paid MicMacs to not fish but they did anyways and sold it locally.
Walks on the beach, which was 25 feet below land level and worrying about the tide - many times had to go ashore at neighours cause the tide had come in and couldn't walk the beach home.
Everyday weather reports included tides, winds and the moon cycle. Had to watch for changes if you wanted to walk the beach.
Our oldest daughter loved our meals on the beach - hotdogs, mussels, lobster and just the fires.
Swimming -the water was usually cold and refreshing except during high tide as the water warmed cause of the hot rocks.
I found a great spot to fish speckled trout and when I mentioned it to an elder in our church, he commented that "you upper Canada people don't know good fish - lots in the ocean - sea bass and trout are much better than speckled trout"
I could write a book about that which I remember (it was 34 years ago) I think I appreciate it even more, now that I am away from it.