Thursday, March 23, 2017

Greetings from Delaware. I came back to drop my sisters Lynn
and Anita off for a Caribbean cruise, maybe help out a bit in some other ways,
and play around a bit. I dropped them off at the pier in Baltimore on Saturday.
After dropping them off, I was heading down the highway and realized I didn’t
know when to pick them up. Never occurred to ask them. I just waved them off and went on my merry way. Cell phones can be a
very handy thing.

It is always fun to be back near the ocean. I’m planning on
fresh fried oysters for dinner tonight. Anymore you can get oysters anywhere, but here they were in the water yesterday. Throw in some Yuengling lager and life is good.

When you live in a sterile Midwest subdivision it’s easy to
forget the power of the elements. Sure, there’s the occasional wind knocking out
your power, but that’s more an irritation. You don’t get that in your face
connection. Here by the ocean, the elements smack you right in the face. Literally. Yesterday
a right wicked northern wind was blowing all day. It started before dawn and
lasted until after I went to bed. This was as strong or stronger than the wind
that took our tree out, blasting constantly all day. So naturally I had to play
in it. Being on the beach was like being in a sand blaster. A couple times the
wind would stop me dead in my tracks or push me sideways. It’s the kind of connection that needs to be experienced now and then, just to remind you that you’re part of the planet. It was great.

The birding has been good. Got a razorbill and a Eurasian
widgeon, species I’m not likely to get in Michigan. Photography on the other hand
has been kind of so-so. Either the light, the weather, the critters, or some
combination of the above, have not been cooperating. Plus, you can’t be birding
and do photography at the same time. Unless you have a Sherpa to carry
equipment.