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PRIME TIME HURRICANE SEASON STORIES: MY FIRST HURRICANE! (PART 2)

7/31/2018

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Huge waves devastating the beach
SPECIAL NOTE: THIS PICTURE IS NOT OF THE ACTUAL 1953 STORM BUT IT IS REPRESENTATIVE OF WHAT TOOK PLACE AND CONTINUES TO IN SEVERE STORMS.

MY FIRST NAGS HEAD HURRICANE:  BARBARA, AUGUST 1953 (PART TWO) Continued below:

Dad raised the hood on his slicker and opened the main oceanfront door. Surprisingly, the wind did not push it in.  We then realized that the wind changed direction and now was coming from the west and the cottage was blocking the wind from impact on him. As he walked onto the porch, some sand cascaded into the great room. At least a foot, likely more, had covered the screened porch.

We were able to stand in the great room with the door open and watch him as he opened the screen door, closing it easily behind him in the wind-free zone.  As he began to trudge toward the rise before the beach, his going was easy.  But as he escaped the protection of the cottage from the wind, he had to lower his body to avoid being blown away.  Realizing he couldn't risk reaching the top of the beach dune in this wind, he turned back and was leaning forward to the point he would fall on his face without the wind. And the sand was punishing and he huddled low until he again reached the safety of the wind-free zone.

He came through the screen door, tried to dust the sand off of his face and slicker jacket and when he opened the main door and walked into the great room, his legs were peppered with blood from the sandblasting he took outside.  He began to say something when Mom surprised us by interrupting him, something she never did.

"Before I hear a word, dear Doctor," she began, "I'm going to do something about your legs.  I told you not to go out there like that."

Dad knew better than to say a word and he went over to the picnic bench and sat while Mom, the nurse, went to work.  First she cleaned the sand off of his bare legs and then she put antiseptic on them which generated an ouch.  Dad was usually stoic but I think this time it really hurt.  Next came some salve and a gentle scolding.

She said, "Honey, I don't want you going out on the beach under any circumstances until you put on long pants and the sand is not blowing like a desert storm.  Sit down and rest and I'll get you a cup of coffee."

Dad was quiet, knowing she was right but not wanting to admit it, then he gathered us around to tell what he experienced.  He couldn't see the ocean but with the wind from the west pushing the waves east, not west, it was no longer a threat.  There was a break in the dunes about fifty yards north of our property and that accounted for the water washing under the house, but it was already gone. He saw no damage to the cottage, all shingles were intact, but he couldn't find the cause of the loud bang earlier.

"Your mom was right, kids," he finally admitted, "and when the wind stops we'll go take a look.  I do know the highway is under water but our property is now high and dry.  Power poles are down along the road so I guess we'll be staying right here for quite some time.  We'll just rough it out like they did before electricity and make a game of it."

It took about four more hours for the winds to subside.  Dad guessed the wind had made it near one hundred with gusts with a steady ninety for at least five or six hours.  By mid-morning it had dropped to about twenty and the sun was breaking through.  We ate some cold cuts and fruit for breakfast and then, at noon, Mom gave the go ahead sign to go out. Dad was now wearing long pants and the treatment on his legs was working well.

We all walked to the top of the beach dune and were surprised by what we saw.  The dune was still mostly intact, but there was about a one foot cut-out at the base and where the beach had formerly sloped to the water it was now flat and smooth.  And it was covered in shells and pebbles where beautiful sand had been before.  We decided to put on shoes before venturing down.

Walking the beach, we found beautiful shells of many shapes and varieties, many quite large. We gathered a collection for arts and crafts and then, as if like clockwork, the sandfiddlers emerged out of nowhere and the birds came back.  Animal life on the beach would rapidly get back to normal, quicker than man.

Sylvia couldn't walk across the road since it was heavily under water and power lines were down. No on knew yet whether they were live, but shortly, Uncle Hal came by in a jeep, able to reconnoiter the roadway in a circuitous route, and joined us for an early evening meal.  To our surprise, Mom had some ground chuck on ice and made delicious burgers on a charcoal fire.  We had potato salad and cold slaw also on ice and it made a great cookout under hurricane lamp lighting.

That night, we sat out on the beach dune and looked up at the sky. There was no moon out but the stars looked as if you could touch them and bursts of shooting stars shot across the sky at times.  And the ocean was smooth, showing absolutely no indication of the rage it displayed earlier.

Two days later the road opened to limited use. Trucks came along with ice and emergency supplies for those who were running short. All we needed was ice and we were set and it was fun eating peaches and pears out of a can, drinking water out of a canteen (no plastic bottles back then) and almost playing like a Cub Scout. But Mom warned me when it was done and we went home, it was back to the balance diet that she demanded. And that meant no peanut butter and jelly for dinner.

Finally, the power came back after five days, the road was opened and our last week of the summer was like back to normal, excepting the condition of the beach, the damage and flooding that many had to deal with and the aggravation of the clean up.  The biggest tasks were getting the sand off the porch and drive and cleaning up the garage which took in about  ten inches of water for a short period. And that crash I heard? Well, it was a rocking chair from a cottage porch that wasn't secured. It took a glancing blow off the shingled north side of the cottage and left nary a mark.

I learned something important from that storm as well as those "Summers at Old Nags Head" and it was this.  Mom was in her glory being close enough to spend so much time with the family she had missed. And Dad changed his outer demeanor entirely. When back home and working at his love, medicine, he was very quiet and studious, but always kind.  But at the beach, it was like he had a place to kick off his shoes and let go a bit.  It was a great tonic for stress and worry and he immensely enjoyed it.

But there is something else Nags Head of old taught me and it has to do with the lay of the land.  You see, back then everything west of the beach road was largely undeveloped. It served as a filter and catch all for water that came over the beach dunes or rainfall and was unable to escape with even higher dunes to the west. It was like a natural bowl and it served as a reservoir to handle the water until it could percolate through the sand. Today, with no such safety valve, the inner beach suffers from lots of flooding from rain or an angry ocean that has nowhere to go.  So, the water inland rises and causes damage, damage that could have been prevented with a much better approach to development.  Nature always winds no matter what man says. Nature always wins on a narrow sandbar of land not high above the sea and the victory can be devastating to those who don't heed nature's warnings.

This story is just one little portion of my experiences during "Summers at Old Nags Head."  If you enjoyed it, you might like the rest of the story.


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PRIME TIME HURRICANE SEASON STORIES: MY FIRST HURRICANE!

7/30/2018

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Don't think it's a good time to drive to Manteo
SPECIAL NOTE: THIS PICTURE IS NOT OF THE ACTUAL 1953 STORM BUT IT IS REPRESENTATIVE OF WHAT TOOK PLACE AND CONTINUES TO IN SEVERE STORMS.

MY FIRST NAGS HEAD HURRICANE:  BARBARA, AUGUST 1953 (PART ONE)


Hurricanes are a fact of life on the Outer Banks but some are more memorable than others.  In my case, since my first one remembered was experienced in 1953, it clearly became etched in my memory. Her name was Barbara and although the season for the big Cape Verde hurricanes was underway, Barbara originated in the southeast Bahamas. The storms which begin forming by August near the Cape Verde Islands are the most feared since they have the entire warm Atlantic basin to become stronger as they pass over. But any hurricane in the latter part of summer is to be concerning, for the waters which fuel the storms are at their warmest from August through October.

The prior Sunday, Dad made his usual journey back to Newport News for his medical practice during the work week, but we were surprised to find him turning in the driveway again on Tuesday evening. It was totally unexpected and Mom thought something was wrong back home.

“No, Honey,” he replied. “But didn’t you get the word there is a hurricane brewing and we are right in the potential zone for a solid hit?  I was afraid if I didn’t come back now and it does hit, I wouldn’t be able to enter the county in the early clean-up phase.”

She gave him a big hug and kiss and said, “Well, then, it’s good you came back now and I guess that means you are starting your vacation time a little early. Good, and you’re also in time for dinner.”

Dad always took a couple of weeks off from his medical practice in August so he could join us for an extended period, above and beyond the weekend commutes. He loved the beach, sunny or stormy, so we knew he would get very involved in the goings on of the next couple of days.

Eating dinner, Dad explained what the weather forecasters had been telling and since we had no TV at the beach we were at the mercy of the radio and newspaper. Looking back now at the glut of information being foisted upon us daily, I think that might have been a very good thing.

Bright and early the next morning, Dad and I took a walk on the beach and noticed how calm, almost glassy the sea looked. It was eerily strange, yet on a regular cycle a large wave would come and crash on shore with a loud crack.  I never saw that before. It certainly was a sign of something and our next-door neighbor, a native Outer Banker who rented out cottages, explained how it gave guidance to how far away the storm was.  It also meant that at least for now the storm was headed in our direction.

When Dad and I got home and he told Mom she just looked at him and said with a wink, “I could have told you that. We were all raised with that knowledge.”

But she smiled at him and went back to listening to the weather forecast, after which the two of them decided to go and get some extra hurricane supplies. We children stayed home with assignments for preparation. We stored fresh water, checked all the latches and locks for the screen and exterior doors, got the hurricane lamps ready and put matches in one place where all could find them.  We also made sure things in the downstairs garage were all well off the floor in the event of water coming over the rise. Dad had a drive-up ramp to give extra elevation to the car. We didn’t expect, however, that to be an issue.

When Mom and Dad returned from the store, we were loaded up on canned goods and other non-perishables, batteries and more lantern fuel. I loved the idea of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches whenever I wanted or Chef Boyardee. And our little sterno stove would even allow Mom and Dad to have coffee. Good, or else they would be grumpy.

The night was beautiful and clear as we walked down to the beach, yet we could feel the wind beginning to pick up from the south and reports indicated Barbara was heading for North Carolina.  The last report that night said she would likely come ashore somewhere between Wilmington and Hatteras.

Thursday morning clearly showed the weather changing. Wind was gusty, the sea was building a heavy chop and the sky was very hazy before clouds starting streaming in from the south in the early afternoon. It was reported that Barbara would likely cross the narrow coastal beach strand somewhere between Morehead City and Ocracoke.  And she did, south of Ocracoke and heading north northwest.  Luckily, her winds had dropped below one hundred, but now they were calling for her to gradually turn north then north northeast, meaning that the brunt of the storm, northeast of the center, would be nearly a direct hit in our area. This would mean that storm surge would be significant and, of course, when the wind switched direction later from the other direction, all of the water pushed into the sound would have to try and escape back out, causing heavy sound side flooding.

By dark, we had hunkered down with the doors locked and we moved into the great room. Aunt Sylvia, Mom’s sister who lived just across the beach road, came to ride it out since Uncle Hal would be busy with some of the local men helping out in any emergencies. They would be using a surplus Navy duck to extricate anyone in danger if the need arose. That thing could motor on ground or water as conditions warranted.

Now Aunt Sylvia came to visit us regularly and it was not unusual to see her coming across the sand from the highway at night in the middle of a large thunderstorm. Amazingly, she was fearless in the flash of lightning, but had great fear of large windstorms. And with Hal out doing his duty, she decided she would rather be with us than stay alone.  Besides, Uncle Hal built the cottage, now six years old like me in 1953, and she knew there was no safer abode on the beach than her sister’s summer cottage.

About ten, I was put to bed and I remember lying on my bunk bed and feeling a very gentle sway to the cottage as the winds were rapidly increasing. I wasn’t petrified, but I was concerned, for I didn’t know what to expect. And then, within thirty minutes of going to bed and unable to sleep, the power went out. Lying there in the dark with the cottage slightly swaying I could now hear the wind howling as the hurricane lamps came on, emitting a glow sufficient to get around in the dark. Mom and Sylvia were talking but I couldn’t hear the content. Was it about the storm? I wanted to know so I slipped quietly into the room and Sylvia saw me. Mom’s back was toward me.
“Come over here, Son,” Aunt Sylvia said. “What’s wrong? Can’t you sleep?”

Mom got up and hugged me and Sylvia suggested that she could sing me to sleep. She was a very devout Southern Baptist, had a great voice and also taught the Sunday school class I attended at the beach. And her Sunday school songs were very reassuring, so Mom told her to go ahead.

She walked with me back to the room, sat down and sang both “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” and “Jesus Loves Me.”  I fell asleep before she finished the second one, releasing my worries and finally resting.

I dreamed I was on a sailboat at sea. It was stormy and we were lost in the dark.  The lightning was flashing but we staying safely on course when BAM!  I awoke to the sound of something hitting the cottage and I could hear the sound of sea shells and pebbles washing underneath the cottage. Ocean water was now under the house.

Sitting up, it was beginning to get light and I heard noise in the great room. The sway was steady, the house was standing securely and Mom was laughing in the living room.  What in the world could be so funny at a time like this?  I got up, rubbed my eyes of sleep, and walked in. 

There was Dad standing in beach walking shoes with the top half of a slicker and beach shorts instead of slicker pants.  He was planning on walking outside to find out what caused the crash. Mom urged him to stay inside until the wind dropped more, or at least wear the rest of the slicker. But he was stubborn and he was going to do it his way.  I was worried. Would he be okay?

PART 2: THE REST OF THE HURRICANE BARBARA STORY, TOMORROW


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SUNDAY MORNING COMING DOWN: God, Nature and Hurricanes

7/29/2018

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Prime Atlantic hurricane season is almost here.
And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”         - Matthew 8:23-27

August is just around the corner and with it comes prime hurricane season for the Atlantic seaboard.  The next several months offer the most likely period of active hurricanes affecting our lives this year.  Those of you who, like me, have lived in this part of the country for many years know how sudden they can arise and why it is so important to have necessary provisions to survive for days without help.  It's not a fun experience but it does make us stronger, force us to focus on what nature can do in  a world that often sees itself as being able to solve all things alone, and it helps us to realize the very limits of folly.  But it always begs the question: Why does God allow terrible storms like hurricanes to harm and kill people if He is a God of  love?

Now we hear this question often, it is used when death hits close to home from a long-term painful illness or even a sudden accident and it is difficult to deal with.  And in the case of a hurricane, when suddenly your wonderful life is turned topsy-turvy when the power goes out, the water won't run and you are trapped by a body of water that wasn't there before, major hardships can ensue quickly.   But know this, it happens because it is all a part of free will.  After all, God created us in His image and He wants us to live as He wishes, but He also has given us the free will to make our own choices.  And the choices we make have a lot to do with what happens to us in a time of turmoil like  a storm.

I remember as a child in Sunday school singing a song about not building your house on sand. Well, today, many of us live on sandy soil adjacent to powerful bodies of water.  And storms are a part of nature.  And then, to add to the equation, when God banished Satan from heaven and gave Him freedom to wander the earth and try to sell his evil plans to mankind, each individual impacted gets to make his or her own choice.  Do we stand by what God expects of us or do we fall for the fancy promises of the fallen angel before we realize he puts a gold cover on a jaded product?  That never works out well but mankind, made up of sinners by nature, is always subject to the temptations that are thrown in his way.  It's why God gave us the opportunity for salvation through His son and the support we need through the Holy Spirit who dwells inside us.  We just have to open our hearts to let the Son and the Word shine in.

The point is that we live in an imperfect world as imperfect people because we are mere mortals.  And only when we recognize this and do something to change it will our outlook change.  That doesn't mean that we won't face storms in our life in the future, but it does mean we will have His heavenly grace and love at our side to make the right decisions in weathering those storms.  We have the free choice to deal with it any way we want, but take a moment and ponder what that might be.  It might just save our life, not just here on earth but eternally. 

Dear Lord, We thank you for your love and grace and we ask that you open our heart to you to guide us through the many storms that earthly life can bring.  Only you can deliver us from those storms.  We ask in Jesus' name, Amen.




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The Fragile Nature of North Carolina's Outer Banks: Let's Protect Them

7/25/2018

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Eroded Nags Head shoreline (courtesy of WAVY-TV 10)
Those of you who have read my book, "Summers at Old Nags Head" or have looked at my author page or even this blog know that I have a special love for the Atlantic Coast.  In particular, the Outer Banks of North Carolina are dear to my heart since I spent my first eighteen summers on the beach at Nags Head and am the son of a native Outer Banker.  But over the years, there have been some serious warning signs that those beaches are in danger.  And no, I don't think it is man-made global warming, but it does owe much of the problem to man in his overly ambitious desire to populate every square inch of land along the sea.

Yesterday, I listened to some of the comments about the cause of the above pictured deep cutout of Nags Head beach near Jennette's Pier and was amazed at how easily some people just laughed it off. Many said that the sea gives and it takes away and that it would naturally take care of itself.  It's as if we think that man can do whatever he wants and not suffer consequences therefrom, particularly when we talk about fragile land adjacent to a very turbulent stretch of coastline. So, I decided to spend some time discussing the uniqueness of the fragile Outer Banks and how we have so defied the laws of nature that we are indeed fortunate the Banks are still with us.  When we put too much infrastructure and other services pressure on a series of long and narrow sandbars, at some point they will be overloaded.

When I was a boy at Nags Head too many years ago, the permanent population of the town was about two hundred and fifty. If you consider the other close-by towns of Kill Devil Hills and Kitty Hawk, the population was about one thousand.  Hatteras Island was, of course, much less developed due to the tenuous nature of the island itself. It has always been subject to flooding with temporary inlets being cut through from time to time and finally the development of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore eliminated much of the danger of calamity, although that would change as well.

Boyhood hurricanes came and went, the beach took cuts and rebuilt itself naturally in the early years but later, as man wanted to bring much more development, beach replenishment started and it's been a way of life since.  But with the coming of the Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962, the Banks took a wallop unlike any seen in a lifetime and flooding was massive including in some areas nearly all the way back to the higher soundside dunes.  As beach replenishment continued, a swale was created between the western dunes and the ocean man-made dunes, creating a low area that would serve to handle water runoff and remove pollutants from that water caused by rainwater and even ocean overrun past the beach.  And the development of all of that area due to the opening of the bypass meant the natural area that could handle the gradual percolation of the water through sand was now becoming heavily populated.  Even recent rains and storms like Matthew have shown how woefully unprepared the inland properties are for major flooding.  If a major storm like the Ash Wednesday one breaks through the ocean sand dunes today accompanied by heavy rains, a disaster of great magnitude is sure to ensue.

Now as far as beach erosion goes, the barrier islands north of Cape Hatteras have a natural tendency to force stirred up sand to flow south due to the inshore Labrador Current flowing toward the Cape.  That's why Oregon Inlet has so much trouble with sand filling it in while the brunt force of the current continues to cut away at the south shore and Pea Island.  It's been going on for hundreds of years and the current keeps moving south close to shore until it clashes with the larger, but slower north moving Gulf Stream at Diamond Shoals.  It is the clash of current that created the shoals and the turbulence over time is why the lighthouse would have fallen into the sea had it not been moved.

Lastly, let's talk about infrastructure. Since my younger days, all of the beach towns, particularly north of Oregon Inlet, have become full service towns. As of the 201o census, the permanent population on the northern beach was nearing twenty thousand and more recent projections are showing numbers much higher, some from realty advertisements claiming over fifty thousand. In all fairness, some of that likely includes homes that are not occupied by full time residents but were purchased as investment properties and rented out.  And with the National Seashore logging in nearly two and one half million visitors yearly and Jockey's Ridge registering about one and one half million, the growth is obvious.  Other recent estimates say that over two hundred and fifty thousand visitors come to the beach weekly during prime seasons, that's a pretty massive increase from the twenty thousand or so before on the same limited land mass.  That's a lot of infrastructure that is not likely to keep up and recent reports indicate that is clearly the case..

I hope this commentary at least makes known the issues that the massive change to the Banks have created, for water removal, sand replenishment and all of the other issues that have been around for numerous generations past are just growing.   And with all that massive beachfront growth and inland development as well, the ability of sand to move to and fro as is required for a healthy beach is no longer possible. Much of the sand is now covered with commercial buildings, hotels and rental homes or blocked from the wind flow by the same. .

I'll end this with two questions for each of us to ponder. No one knows for sure exactly what is causing the problems, but I think the questions are important.  First, has development and the elimination of so much available sandy soil for use by nature's needs played a significant part in the flattening of Jockey's Ridge? And what will happen if another Ash Wednesday storm hits with all of the water filtration land now built up?  Just as sure as the sun comes out sooner or later, such a storm with nearly hurricane force winds from the east lasting for numerous tidal cycles will again occur.  I hope consideration of such issues will help us all to realize that these beautiful Outer Banks are under massive man-made stress which sooner or later must be adequately addressed. Review the simple map below and the lay of the land (or the sea) that it presents and we can't deny the impact.  Then look at the picture of the inland flow of water from that 1962 storm. It's time to face reality, folks. Nature continues on the move regardless of what we do or don't do.


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Narrow, fragile and sitting out by itself to protect the mainland from nature.
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Ash Wednesday Storm, 1962. Where would that water go today?
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"SUMMERS AT OLD NAGS HEAD" - Doctors, Fishhooks and the Hippocratic Oath

7/24/2018

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SPECIAL NOTE: YOUNG SURFCASTER PIC IS FOR EXAMPLE. WE DIDN'T DRESS THAT WAY IN THE '50S.

One thing notably different today at the beach is the provision of medical care for any situation, including minor accidents and ailments. Back in the mid-twentieth century, finding a doctor could be difficult late in the day or on weekends and there weren’t any quick care facilities. In fact, patients requiring any hospitalization would usually go to Norfolk, the only large city in the area at the time. Minor issues were handled internally by the family, sometimes even by a doctor vacationing at the beach whether he or she was licensed in North Carolina or not.

Much of the difference today has been dictated by government, the different way in which physicians and society look at the Hippocratic Oath as well as the litigious nature of our society today where lawsuits rise to the forefront on so many issues which should not require the law. But with the growth of society and crowding, civility frequently gets trampled.

A good case in point was the situation when someone surfcasting on the beach or pier fishing was nailed by a fisherman’s errant cast which imbedded a fishhook in human flesh. The cause was usually a combination of carelessness and lack of attention to detail but when it happened, it hurt. I witnessed one particular situation while we were surfcasting with friends late one Saturday afternoon right on the beach in front of our cottage. There was a wonderful cool breeze at the end of a hot day, the sea was slight and blues were running.

We already successfully caught four nice blues and a stray flounder when one of the boys, John, prepared to cast. Scott, standing between John and me was in the direct line for the strike and I yelled out a warning but it was too late. As John brought his rod back to cast, the hook landed in Scott’s left shoulder and as John moved to thrust it forward, it imbedded deeply, with Scott letting out a howl of pain. John quickly stopped his attempt and came to Scott with rod in hand reducing the pain by the slackening of the line. As we gathered around Scott and looked at his shoulder, we knew it was bad. The barbed part of the hook was firmly imbedded and would require a knife to remove it, or so we thought.

We told Scott to sit in one of the fold up chairs and try and relax and I went to get Dad, for I knew he always brought his medical bag to the beach. He would at least know what to do and might even be able to take care of it himself. He was reading a book after spending several hours on the beach and he quickly heeded my call, but first he walked over to the rental cottages next door to find Scott’s dad. Luckily, he was there and he joined us as we hustled to the beach. Dad wanted him there in case it was something that could be handled without spending hours to find a North Carolina facility. The sooner the hook was out, the sooner Scott would be on the mend.

Scott’s dad spoke to his son softly, saying, “Dr. Dick is going to try and fix you up fast, Son. As soon as he knows if it can be done without surgery, we’ll know what will be required. If real surgery is required, we’ll have to take you to the hospital.”

Dad took a close look with a few “ah ha’s” and opened his bag, pulling out a medical utensil that looked similar to wire cutters. He applied some alcohol around the wound, generating an “ouch” from Scott. He then cut the hook just above the skin and now the only part left under the skin was the imbedded hook. Luckily, however, it was lodged sot that the barbed and pointed end was near the surface and surgery would be avoided. It was amazing to watch him work, he reached down, applying a little pressure and was able to ease the barb through the skin and out without using a knife. Had it been necessary to go the other way, the barb would have ripped the skin and been much more dangerous. And once the barb was out, he used the cutting instrument and just pulled instead of cut the remained bit of hook steel shaft and it came out easily. Only a small open wound was left and dad applied an antiseptic and a pad and gauze cover. We all then went back to the cottage and Dad gave him a shot of penicillin and one for tetanus.

Two days later, Scott was almost as good as new. He was able to fish, he just needed to avoid getting water on his wound and when he returned to the beach the following summer, he didn’t even sport a scar. Were we better off back then? Well, it’s true today we have much more advanced technology for doctors to use in their trade, but I sometimes wonder if all the rules. legal mumbo jumbo and the lack of neighborliness that we so often find today is a step backward. And I think if dear old Dad could come back for a visit, he’d take a quick look around, look me in the eye and say, “Son, I’m going back. I don’t recognize this earth any longer and I don’t think I belong here anymore.”

I hear you, Dad, and I agree with a lot of what you are saying. Hopefully, I’ll see you again one of these days and we can talk about all of those wonderful “Summers at Old Nags Head.” I’m counting on it.

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"Summers at Old Nags Head" - Don't Fret A Rainy Day

7/23/2018

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THE OLD FASHIONED SIMPLE PLEASURES OF MY DAYS AT OLD NAGS HEAD!

If my weather radar is right, it looks like those of you on the Outer Banks are socked in pretty good this morning. If it's raining real hard it's difficult to go anywhere and that even means on the beach in a slicker if the lightning abounds.

Back in the old days it was different. If you had an oceanfront cottage on stilts, it was probably built on an upgrade toward the beach meaning that the sand underneath stayed pretty dry. We would put up a hammock under the house and, when little, just play in the sand. It was cowboys and Indians or war, depending upon what type of the old metal toy people we had. If that didn't work, a toy grader or even a small piece of wood would do to build highways and bridges in the sand. it kept us busy for hours and, when a little older, we'd substitute a transistor radio, later a boom box and stay out of the hair of our parents who thought the music was too loud. It was like a hut under there, dry and tall enough to stand, so we didn't care.

Sometimes the whole family would gather around our large picnic style dining table in the great room for a hand of cards or a board game. Scrabble and Monopoly were favorites then as well and we could wile away whatever the weather brought, reminded that a little family togetherness was actually fun. Sometimes it got pretty competitive, however, and we had to remember it was just a game. Mom always made sure that was the case.
Rainy days were also a good time to visit relatives over in Wanchese. Aunt Alma's house, going right at the fork in the road reaching town from Manteo, was just across the street from Bethany Methodist and was the family gathering place when relatives came to town. Everybody would drop in and renew acquaintances with Mom who left right out of high school and I'd get all of the little family stories that these many years later I was able to capture in my book. But it was a fun visit and afterwards we'd either stop in Manteo at Fearing's Drug Store for a fountain coke or, if Mom really enjoyed her day it would be at the Snowbird in Nags Head for something special in the ice cream department. Glad to know that the Snow Bird is still serving the delectable frozen treats, still standing just like our old cottage.
Later in the day, when the sun started to show itself, a walk on the beach was amazing. All the footprints were gone, even the sandfiddler and bird tracks, and the sun returning to the sea was wondrous. Maybe a quick dip was in order if the sun was warm enough, and we realized we actually appreciated that short break in beach routine that had just ended. Like everything else, it's never a good idea to take your good fortunes for granted, whether it be sunny days at the beach or whatever else strikes your fancy.

As I got a little older, I began to appreciate a rainy day as a good time to curl up with a good book. And I always imagined that some day I would be able to describe those days in a book of my own. Well, it took a lot of years but I guess that's one thing on my bucket list that is now done, that and seeing the space shuttle up close and personal at launch. I only hope my efforts can help others to appreciate the many facets of a long stay at the beach and how important it is that we continue that opportunity. Everyone should experience "Summers at Old Nags Head," And if you didn't have the opportunity back when, I hope I can at least provide the flavor of running free on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Hope the sunny skies return to you soon.

If you like this little story, you'll love my book: "Summers at Old Nags Head." Available on Amazon Prime and Kindle Unlimited. And if you have Kindle Unlimited membership, it's free.


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SUNDAY MORNING COMING DOWN: For the Beauty of the Earth

7/21/2018

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A Stormy Sunrise on the Atlantic
For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies,  For the love which from our birth over and around us lies; Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.      
                                            - From the hymn "For The Beauty of the Earth", first stanza. Words by Folliot Pierpoint, 1864, music by Conrad Kocher, 1838. Arrangement by W.H. Monk, 1861


The picture shown above is of the mighty Atlantic Ocean, appearing to be in the beginning throes of a building storm.  I used the picture this morning on my Facebook author page to represent the changing face that nature can take quickly.  Some people loved it, others not so much, saying it was gloomy and almost frightening and while I can understand how someone might come to that determination, I look at it differently.  After all, the entirety of the nature which surrounds us, be it sea, mountains, plains or ever dessert were all created by God for His glory.  He wants us to enjoy it and use it but only in ways which will be pleasing to Him. And there are many reasons for the changes that take place therein, just sometimes we don't understand what it means.

Now I must confess, my eye for beauty predominantly focuses on the coast and sea as its primary focus since it's where I grew up. But it can be a beautiful meadow, a thick forest, a lake or even a majestic mountain.  For me, however, a beautiful and bright sunrise on the ocean, a clear day on the water, but also a stormy sea with rising waves are exceptionally impressive.  So, the next time you are headed to the sea, be it for the day or for vacation and are disappointed by a storm, take the time to witness its power and majesty. As long as there isn't lightning, or overly high water, or unmanageable winds, take a walk down by the sea on a rough and rainy day. Wrap up and put on a protective slicker and observe and listen closely.  It is just as beautiful in such situations as it is in perfect ones, it just sends us a different message. And the same can be found in all other places that you may find yourself, just through different symbols.

I look at good weather and fair seas as being highly representative of God's grace, while wind and waves which crash on shore represent His power. Perhaps He is just showing us that He both loves us but that He can show us His anger when we refuse to listen.   None of us has the answers, but we do know that He made us in His image, so that should be easy to understand He wants us to live as He asks and He presents many answers to what that means in His Holy Word, the Bible but also through song, prayer and fellowship.

The sea is just one of His many wonderful gifts of nature and the bounty that it gives us. Stop, look and listen when you are by the sea and you just might find His answers. I know they help me in just that way.  And it's all there for us to behold in sunny and rainy days.  All we have to do is open our eyes.

Read the words carefully to the hymn at the opening of this commentary. They might just make it a little bit easier to take in. For the beauty and the gifts that we have been provided should never result in us grumbling or complaining, they should always bring us to Him in praise.

Thank you, Lord, for the beautiful sea and all that it provides. Help us to use it properly and respect its power while in so doing keeping ourselves open and receptive to your love and grace. We pray in the name of Jesus our Savior, Amen.


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Brennan, "The Deep State" and Trump

7/19/2018

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Ever since President Trump's joint press conference in Helsinki with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the media and the Left as well as the usual Republicans in Name Only (RINOs) have been floating around the idea that Donald Trump committed treason by his statement, or lack thereof, in concerning American intelligence operations.  Sure, Trump could have probably said things differently, but to try and call his statement, as did the unhinged former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), treason is beyond absurd.  Mr. Brennan on the other hand, going full out rogue in his statement, could find himself toying with a charge of sedition.  But it's not my intent here to start a verbal war which is a waste of time, instead it's probably a good idea to look at the definitions of both terms as covered by the United States Code.  So, here they are.  as provided by the Legal Information Institute of Cornell University.

Treason:

Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 807; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(2)(J), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2148.)
 
Sedition:


If two or more persons in any State or Territory, or in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy war against them, or to oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States, or by force to seize, take, or possess any property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof, they shall each be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 808; July 24, 1956, ch. 678, § 1, 70 Stat. 623; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(N), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2148.)
 
To say that Trump is guilty of treason is quite a stretch. His comments did not levy war nor give aid and comfort to the enemy, but they did indicate he has questions about our intelligence network and how it operates and why.  After the treatment he received back during the campaign and the interim period before taking office, and considering the number of Obama holdovers who are still hangers on in high places due to the Senate's inability to quickly confirm his nominees, it makes his feelings understandable. But there is no question that the President believes in his country and her institutions, he just wants them to focus on their business and not internal or party politics. 

That his opponent violated many laws with the authorities conveniently looking the other way while they try and use a phony dossier as evidence against Trump for collusion, something which is not even a crime under federal statutes, is especially despicable.  The CIA under John Brennan, the FBI under James Comey and even the Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, are all now under question for the part they played, yet the media ignores that side of the story. And special emphasis is given to Comey's conduct of a so-called investigation without ever putting her under oath, never gathering her computer for review which is customary and his writing her findings before she was even interviewed.  Both Clapper and Brennan are now being investigated for lying under oath the Congress while Trump has been charged with nothing after an investigation which has now been going on for almost two years by a Special Counsel team of lawyers who are all Clinton loyalists..

In the case of John Brennan, however, his most recent statements, the day after the President's joint press conference, calling on a shadow government to be formed to refuse to cooperate with the White House on intelligence issues is certainly in the realm of sedition.  Mr. Brennan needs to watch his step, as do a number of members of Congress such as Maxine Waters and Steve Cohen with their loose tongues. There are many others.

We'll soon know more as the flow of real information is getting more active. It is even reported that Lisa Paige of the FBI countered much of what Peter Strzock said in his recent testimony and when one starts talking, the floodgates will open.  I just hope American citizens will calm down, use their heads not their emotions and let the truth come out.  Donald Trump is no angel, but he does love his country and he has done a lot to put people back to work while strengthening America.  Contrast that with the actions of Obama, including the midnight flight of billions in cash to Iran as part of the deal with the Mullahs in their quest for nuclear development.  For those who don't like the idea of a President who wants America to be the leader again, well, maybe you need a new home.  Your choice, your decision, but Donald Trump will not be taken down by an investigation that is a sham.

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Why the Trump-Putin Summit was Important

7/16/2018

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When you listen to the media pundits and the so-called newscasters talk about the Trump-Putin Summit, it was hard to miss their hope for a misfire, always assuming that Donald Trump will make a big blunder and throw the world into chaos.  Well, I guess we shouldn't be surprised by that since 93% of them self-identify as Democratic Progressives.  After all, when you have the likes of George Stephanopoulos, a Hillary confidante and campaign executive and Jake Tapper, a former campaign manager for former liberal Senator Tom Harkin, at the desk of major news network programs, it is obvious we have a problem.

But rather than sit back like George W. Bush and never say a word in his own self-defense, Trump takes them on head first. The series of meetings that he has just held, starting with NATO including Germany's Angela Merkel,  Britain's Theresa May and finally Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, made clear that his views support a changing way of business instead of the same old, same old of previous administrations.  And he knew that whatever he did or said, the press would have twisted it around one way or the other to use against him.

Trump knew that meeting with Putin was important. After all, the two countries combined make up nearly ninety percent of the world's nuclear arsenal, so any meeting designed to reduce the threat caused by nukes is a good thing.  Putin is also a potential great ally in the fight against radical Islamic extremism, for he has had his fair share of serious problems with that issue as well.  Isn't it logical to find common ground with someone who can help to rid the world of such problems?  The answer is, of course, yes.

But let's get down to the press conference where the media and the usual liberal and neo-con Never Trumpers found such disdain and the why for Donald Trump not acknowledging Putin's role in election tampering.  After all, Trump knows it happened and has previously acknowledged it, but the media and their supporters see it as a way of making Trump acknowledge that he was colluding with the Russians on that or any issue they can dream up. The dossier, a document confirmed to not only be phony, yet paid for by funds from the Hillary campaign, was used by the very American intelligence community to try and use to discredit the President.  And the actual meddling in the election came to a large degree from the access that Russians and or others had to the Democratic National Committee servers and likely from Hillary's hacked insecure computer as well. Furthermore, the actions took place under President Obama's watch and with the Obama intelligence community, many of whom are still hanging on in government. And that's why Trump did what he did and, in the end, it will turn out to be a brilliant move.

Trump couldn't win with the media no matter what he said. And, of course, the Republicans of the McCain mindset will jump on the bandwagon with the Progressive Democrats for they are much closer in sync with their global view of governance than they are with Trump's views. But watch how this plays out, for Trump has been the master of dealing with adversity and just as the media proclaims an issue will finally take him down, he emerges stronger than ever.  This will, once again, end just the same.

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SUNDAY MORNING COMING DOWN: Daniel Quiets the Lions

7/14/2018

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Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions.   And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?"   Then Daniel said to the king, "O king, live forever!       
                                                                     - Daniel 6:19-21 (NKJV)


Over the last few weeks we've talked about how Daniel, who the King called Belteshazzar, could read King Nebuchadnezzar's dreams and how his three close associates were saved from death in the fiery furnace by the deep devotion of Daniel and the three to the mercy and grace of God. It seemed to sink in on the old King until he began to think about his power and self=glory and he fell back to his old ways. The result was that his people suffered and he lost his mind, ending up living like wild animals, eating out of a bowl in chains and his son, Belshazzar, took power.

Well, the son fell into the same trap of self-power and glory and ultimately dreamed of things like his father that he couldn't interpret, nor could his court mystics.  But he was reminded that Daniel was still with them and he called him for help. Daniel explained that he was guilty of the same actions as his father and the gifts he was given would be taken from him.  Very soon, King Belshazzar died and the Medes and Persians captured Babylon, their first leader being Darius.

Darius heard of Daniel and his high place for a Jew in the Babylonian government structure and his gift of foretelling the future from dreams.  He developed a fondness for him and that infuriated his court, enraged by jealousy.  They devised a scheme whereby Daniel would be accused of breaking the King's religious dictates by proposing a thirty day period of no prayer to any higher authority than the King.  They knew that Daniel could not accomplish that since his Jewish routine was to pray three times daily to God in praise for His love and devotion.

When the King's ministers caught him in the act, they immediately told Darius and reminded him that the penalty for disobeying the edict was death in a pit of lions.  King Darius summoned Daniel. who told the truth concerning his actions and was immediately condemned and taken to the pit of lions and thrown in. He told Daniel before he was put in the chamber that his God would save him.

King Darius couldn't sleep that night, upset because his counselors had used the law as a trick against Daniel, so he rushed to the pit in the wee hours of the morning.  He yelled out to Daniel, hoping his faith had saved him. And he was relieved when Daniel answered that he was alive amid calmly sleeping lions who were controlled by God.

Daniel went on to serve King Darius and then his predecessor, King Cyrus the Great, who would later be called upon by Jehovah to free the Israelites and let Daniel lead them back to their beloved Jerusalem.  God once again worked in strange ways, using a wise and just King Cyrus, though a non-believer, to let His people go.  It's an amazing story and one that is oh, so clear in what it means.

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    ABOUT ME

    Hi, I'm James, a writer who studies nature,  animals and all things created by God. I also write from time to time about what I think God expects of us.  I would love to hear your thoughts on these subjects. I hope you enjoy my comments.

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