When I awoke at eight o’clock this morning and stretched, my first thought was the tide chart. I hadn’t bicycled yesterday and I was anxious today to do so on the beach. My hurried investigation of the tides led me to an internet site which showed a painting of a sailing ship on the cover of an album of sea shanties. My immediate interest in the sailing ship instigated further inquiry. At last I unfolded on YouTube the rendition of a sea shanty which had its beginnings in New Zealand. This in turn led me to an article in the Guardian.  All told it was a fascinating pursuit.

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Where to begin!  Such unbargained for and unabridged expressions of well-being, magnanimity, providence, rich humour and artistry! A vertiable wholesome conglomerate of adventitious disconnected and disassociated events. And all with reciprocal assembly.

It began earlier this morning when a dear friend gushed noticeably (and quite purposively I am certain) for having been remembered on her special day. While I initiallly dismissed the utterance as a pleasantry, upon subsequent reflection I acknowledged the strength of what she had said.  I too might appreciate being remembered.  But before I had the opportunity to test the prediction (and possibly to my unfolding disappointment) I distracted myself from the brooding by embracing what little forward thinking already percolated within me on this grey, cool day by the sea on Hilton Head Island. That is, the practical though critical resolve to get the car washed.

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It isn’t the first time this has happened.  Suddenly I am overtaken by a feeling combined with a colour or sound which reminds me of something inexplicable though powerful. Whatever it is, it moves me from deep within.  It is always a bland though predominantly favourable sensitivity, a reminder of something vaguely pleasing or reminiscent to me for an unexplained reason. It doesn’t remind me of any event in particular; rather it is a broad though strangely intense recollection of a moment, somewhere, as simple as a laneway or a town we once passed through or a feeling I had somewhere.

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Experience a memorable two-hour Sunset Sail on a living piece of yachting history— the streamlined America’s Cup racing yacht the Stars and Stripes. Set sail out of Hilton Head Island and enjoy this amazing scenic sail.

The Sail America Foundation commissioned four 12 metre yachts to support a campaign lead by Dennis Conner, representing the San Diego Yacht Club, to win back the America’s Cup in the 1987 competition in Fremantle, Australia. This racing machine features an 85-foot-tall mast. She is solid, fast and features two steering wheels and a wide cockpit where you and up to five other passengers and the crew will control her speed and high performance. Throughout this South Carolina Sailing Adventure, your Captain and crew guide you as you help trim the sheets and grind the winches!

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My father died in the year 2014; on the 8th day of April, my sister’s birthday.  I believe my goddaughter was with him when he vanished. She seemingly had predicted his demise and had stayed with him overnight at the hospital, sleeping in a chair in his room. He was almost 96 years of age (born August 17, 1918).  He was a decorated war hero. The decoration, from what I could tell, was the lingering horror of the entire episode acidly mixed with its bolstering conviction on both sides. I once overheard him remark of the Swedes, “At least we fought with the Germans!”

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The Scots have a history of trauma and deprivation from which has evolved an array of images and promulgations designed to ensure the perpetual flavour of Celtic and Gaelic broth and whiskey having as they do ancient pre-Roman ancestry. The depth of hardship is unimaginable for most. Yet seemingly it has furnished the peat, moss and fire of both imagination and performance.

The Covenanted Reformed Presbyterian Church
Faithful Contendings Displayed

THE
P R E F A C E  TO THE
U N D E R S T A N D I N G  R E A D E R.
By John Howie

John Howie (14 November 1735 – 5 January 1793) was a Scottish biographer. His best known work was Biographia Scoticana, first published in 1775, which is often called The Scots Worthies. It deals with Christians and particularly Presbyterians especially in their strivings with church and civil authorities.

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Things got out of control last evening.  We were watching the Super Bowl football game on television (along with what I am certain were millions of others worldwide including for example Australia and New Zealand where we have friends).  I am not a sport fan but from the little I know of the game it was a superb event. The score was neck and neck until the end. Importantly from my novice vantage the teams were smaller and less physically abusive to one another, more athletic almost artistic in their application to the game. Throughout the game we munched on a wide variety of foods; namely, cheese and crackers, raw vegetables, sliced beef and sweets for dessert. Because the game went into overtime, so did we prolong ourselves and our consumption while wallowing in the drawing room in front of the big screen television. It was nearing midnight before we retired.

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February 10th, 2024

South Beach Club
Hilton Head Island, SC

Dearest Patti, Please accept my heartfelt sympathies upon the death of Horace. Horace afforded me the opportunity as a young lawyer to insinuate the often complicated but always challenging arena of commercial law. I am grateful for the insight which I garnered working for you both in your sometimes atmospheric enterprises (though I hasten to add Horace was always self-effacing and frequently to a comical degree). His loss to me represents a noticeable change of an era. With love. L. G. William Chapman, B.A., LL.B., Mississippi Mills, Ontario

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As we approach having drawn breath for the better part of a century and thus commensurately despair of withstanding any portion of ambiguity, our behaviour is more perspicuous; which is to say, qualified or withdrawn. The allure for example of “going out” has evaporated; its glitter is noticeably diminished by our own dissolution and burgeoning homebody characterization. Broadly speaking, convenience and comfort are the rule. Unless we’re dining in a hotel where we’re staying, we don’t dine out for dinner.  Anything after sunset is literally off the table. Driving at nighttime at our age is not recommended. Consequently our limited culinary outings now focus on breakfast, brunch or late afternoon meals. Our restaurant choices (when separated by snow or distance from our beloved golf club) are known for ready accessibility and their quality food, nothing more or less. Sometimes as a result we are bound to dine on an outdoor picnic table; or seated at a typical beanery square table with four hard chairs; on occasion perched at a luncheon counter; once under a canopy by the sea. But certainly not clothed with a waistcoat and gold watch chain while seated upon red leather before white linen and silver service. After decades of boozing and labouring 4-course meals, we find it perfectly agreeable to settle on our own gastronomic concoctions augmented by domestic familiarity. Which isn’t to say we wouldn’t do it all again if given the chance – or had we the energy and clothes that fit – but let’s face it, things have changed. Though happily not for the worse.

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It is befitting to accredit the United States of America (and specifically Hilton Head Island, South Carolina) with a well earned degree of magnanimity and verve.  Though the merit is more than passing I wish to capture the moment by going on record acknowledging the inexpressible pleasure we derive from being here once again. Even as I write these words, a glance upwards from my balcony perch overlooking Calibogue Sound reveals a porpoise arching across the water’s surface; and, the brilliant sunshine from the western sky streams upon me in the late afternoon. It is truly a favourable circumstance!

The deep channel between Hilton Head and Daufuskie Islands has long been known as Calibogue Sound, the word ‘calibogue’ being much like the Creek Indian word for ‘deep spring’, ‘calaobe’.  It has variously been spelled Calibogie, Caleboco, etc., probably referring to the fresh water spring or well on the bluff overlooking the Sound.

Peeples, Robert E. H.
An Index to Hilton Head Island Names (Before the Contemporary Development)

The invigoration was preceded this morning by a convalescent bicycle ride throughout nearby Lands End. After yesterday’s triumph on the beach I have relieved myself of that Stoic craving. I am now willingly disposed to contemplate the lesser expeditions expressive of one my advanced age and diminished capacity. At the same time I fondly recall my youthful outings on the beach years ago. I punctuated this morning’s leisurely adventure by driving my car and wending my way through the channels of live oak and magnolia trees along the silent, narrow roadways of Sea Pines. As I drove – with the windows open – I listened with rapture to the Great American songbook. Small wonder I am inclined to bow to the generosity of our host country.  Indeed I find myself progressively insinuated by all that is good about the United States of America; hence today’s featured image with the American flag.

Naturally the political evolution of the United States of America is currently paramount. It is a global absorption. While I cling to my belief that the majority of Americans of every stripe are united in their fervour for the highest of aspirations, I confess openly to my anxiety for receipt of proof following the upcoming presidential election in the fall. If nothing else the outcome will exhibit not only a matter of worldwide interest but also the acuity of my speculation. We have spent considerable time within the United States of America during which we have been pleased to acquaint ourselves with many Americans. Certainly we haven’t a library of vastly different acquaintances but it would be misleading to say the majority whom we’ve met haven’t been welcoming and inclusive. And apart from the social propriety we similarly grant the educational strength of the community. Further even without such credential the people with whom we have dealt have universally been of pleasant character and seeming upstanding disposition. By contrast I do not adjudge the American people based upon popular media, radio or television.  I restrict my capital for personal assessment to personal acquaintance. Thus my conclusions, if they were otherwise I would say so.