One of the trickiest (read: "most harrowing") aspects of coastal sailboat-cruising is the process of DOCKING. Precisely placing a 40-foot boat into a right-angle slip is a maneuver that requires adroit steering, precise timing, 360-degree situational awareness, and (preferably) steel nerves. A sailboat doesn't have brakes, of course---so you'd better not come in too fast. … Continue reading On Docking, On Keels, On Seamonsters
Tag: Sail & Sea
On People-ing
A conundrum I have never understood: PEOPLE are simultaneously the most energizing and the most draining element of life. I love being behind the counter in the Park Office, welcoming and checking in the RVers, dispensing advice, making them laugh, solving their problems, hearing their stories. These interactions ("people-ing" as I jokingly call it) can … Continue reading On People-ing
“When God is Your Travel Agent”: Another Installment
Last time I wrote about God playing Travel Agent in my life, it was about a different October, and the blessings that arose from my stay in a psych ward. (Halloween-themed craft projects? I'm now an expert!) This time God played a more literal Travel-Agent role... and naturally I have a Story to tell. To … Continue reading “When God is Your Travel Agent”: Another Installment
The 2020 Sailor’s “Gam”
As a kid I often imagined my bedroom into a boat. I planned to sail away in solitude and self-sufficiency... I would stockpile "important" things in my room---often things I wasn't allowed to have in my room (food!)---in preparation for my imaginary cast-off, and I would invest quite a lot of thought into (and derive … Continue reading The 2020 Sailor’s “Gam”
Setting Sail: the Launch of a Serial Novel
I’ve been writing “creative nonfiction” for years–-my Master’s thesis in poetry, essays (for introspection), freelance articles (for pay), and this blog (for joy)… But I haven’t touched fiction-writing since I was a schoolkid. Until last summer, when I did. Not sure exactly why, but this person called Gayla wanted to go whaling, so I let her. … Continue reading Setting Sail: the Launch of a Serial Novel
Drawing up a gratitude list
November is a popular month for gratitude, given the holiday that’s named for the emotion, but my motivation this year is a little different. I’m grateful that October is over! "Isn’t that the same thing as being-in-November?" you ask reasonably. Well, not precisely. The thing is, almost every major Drama, Trauma, and Tragedy in my … Continue reading Drawing up a gratitude list
Eels on the Highway and Other Adventures
Yesterday we took the motorcycle in the opposite direction up the Coastal Highway, heading north through Depoe Bay and Lincoln City, enjoying long stretches of beach views and cliffside oceanfront. And we're glad we did it yesterday instead of today, because a friend just sent us a video posted by the Depoe Bay Fire Department---the … Continue reading Eels on the Highway and Other Adventures
Kana's Chronicles 