Thursday, January 2, 2014


The Pacific yawns on the other side of this berm
and the cape anticipates
the power and majesty of an approaching winter storm.

This December has been mild compared to others; hardly any storms; hardly any major change. Yet, I can hear rumblings all night long, a sort of heartbeat of the world pounding at each end of the globe, reminding us we are flotsam and jetsam, day in and day out, beings moved by tides and winds and celestial occurrences.

Port Orford set up a Christmas tree made up of crab pots. December is crab season; more than half of all income from fishing comes from crabbing. Crab pots are being retrieved every night and every day. At times, the big lights on the working boats shine up toward the shore, across this berm, and we, my husband and I sit up in bed and watch the scene all night long.

I have a greater appreciation for the fish brought to our tables by such hard working people.



1 comment:

  1. And the same happens on this side of the ocean with lobstermen and fishing trawlers going out into these winter storms. I have always had such a strong appreciation as my former inlaws on both sides were fromt he fishing industry and my father-in-law was lost at sea off of Cape Cod in Georges Banks along with his scalloper and entire crew during a winter storm. They were never found nor was the boat or any evidence of the 13 crew members on board. They left behind so many young wives, children and even one unborn child that never knew his father. It's so tragic because they work so very hard for a living that pushes their human limits to the very edge every time they set out to sea. What a wonderful sight that must be to look out your window and see all that activity...the good thing is they seem to be close to the shore.

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