Curations from the Human Jungle
[Which brings us to the exciting conclusion. Summer ends, and everyone's future is in flux. The cottage has been restored, Esterina has been survived, but what else? There's not much summer left these days. SB SM] Deer Island Shea is having a morning cup of tea, reading the Boston Globe, and the morning news on... Continue Reading →
[No Man Is An Island. Nomar Is A Shortstop. Probably no athlete has ever "owned" Boston at the height of their prime as much a Nomar Garciaparra. Larry Bird was the Ultimate Celtic, but his roots were irretrievably deep into the soil of French Lick. Bobby Orr had it all, but he was "boy-next-door" modest... Continue Reading →
[We cling to our wounds. They are the scars of our lives. They define us, and we like to show them off. "Seven scars make a Man," said one of my neighbors growing up at Post Island. It seemed like, once a summer, I would rip my foot open running barefoot on the beach, a... Continue Reading →
[Just as the summer proceeds inexorably towards fall, or story marches towards resolution. SB SM] Artie is busy on his cell phone. Liam! Ready to plunge back into the academic grind? Are you free tonight? Your Godmother, Elaine’s in town, and I’d like to have a special dinner for her at Anna’s. She’d love to... Continue Reading →
[Like Artie, I'm in over my head here. I am living the principle of "Fake it 'til you make it." SB SM] Sandy Beach’s Fishing Forecast for August There are lots of big fish around, but they haven’t been easy to catch. In the early phases of the moon the currents are weak and wandering.... Continue Reading →
[It's January. The high-pressure dome has descended to dominate the continental U.S. Here in Vermont it's brilliantly frigid. If the power goes out, it becomes instantly life-threatening. And me? I'm reveling in summer, living by the ocean, putting my life together and trying to catch a fish. SB SM] This next section will benefit from... Continue Reading →
Low tide is at 7:14 a.m. Artie is on the flats at 6. He fishes a little, but mostly he watches. Twenty minutes after the tide change, he notices the same tailing activity. Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels.com “Now, don’t spook ‘em” Sandy Beach whispers in his ear. “Pay attention to the wind... Continue Reading →
[The drama heats up on Indian Mound. Until now it has been limited to our hero, Arthur, and his next door neighbor. Suddenly it expands to include all of Indian Mound and colonial history dating back to the Pilgrims who landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620. SB SM] “The test kitchen is now operational,” announces... Continue Reading →
[Summer settles into a rhythm, only to have the rhythm destroyed by an earthquake on the mud flats. SB SM] Artie and Sandy Beach return from an afternoon of fishing. Well, metaphorically speaking. Sandy Beach has begun talking to him, and the two routinely carry on conversations about stripers, about fishing, about life. The imaginary... Continue Reading →
[Summer has settled into its rhythm, warm days and soft nights that seem like they will never end. Hint: they will. SB SM] The next morning Artie goes to Cuzzin’s Bait & Tackle. “I met a friend of yours,” he says. “She told me I could learn everything I need to know about fly fishing... Continue Reading →