The Southern Winds Blow (#2 - after a minor editing snafuu)

 Teachers that were here last year must have been spoiled with the weather in Kivalina. We’ve had rain eat some point during the day, very day for the past week. Today though, it kicked it up a notch. And these are the winds from the south that Lyle warned us about. You’d think like my dad once said about Kivalina – “You’re so far North, you’re almost south!” So, wouldn’t most of the winds be from the south? No – usually you look at the surf and the waves are coming straight in to shore from the West and periodically you’ll catch them coming from the NorthWest. But today is a different Beast.

The Southern Winds are howling and the surf is kicking. After our Beluga dinner I had to get closer.

The spray from each crest peppered my face. As a Marine Raider, the sound was welcoming. I thought about hitting the surf zone with the boys of India 3/1. I bet that bugger would be a cold one tonight, boys.

                                                      (Ran in to Trudy & Bowser on my walk)

As I made my way down to the channel, I noticed that an unusual amount of gulls were standing by on shore and more were drafting in the winds above the channel. Upon further investigation, I discovered that they were feeding in the breaking waves where the river meets the sea. I couldn’t tell what they were after but it was obvious that despite the howling winds, they had put on the feed bags. As I stood there looking for clues to what they were after, the resident seal bobbed up less than 20 yards from shore, directly in front of me. I’m not sure who was more surprised, me or him. But there he was, battling the current, waves and ocean spray. Probably looking for an evening meal and wondering what the Naluagmiu was doing on shore in the inclement weather.

I sometimes enjoy a good storm. In Pine City it’s sometimes hard to really enjoy the power of Mother Nature because I’m usually overly concerned about the safety of my wife and kids and unfortunately, too concerned about my car and mortgage payments. Too attached to their value to watch and witness what Ma Nature can dish out. Tonight, I stood on the shores of the Chukchi Sea and went nose to the wind with a good strong Southern Storm. It felt good.

                                                        (If I had wings I would fly...)

PS :
I accidentally deleted this one after I posted 28 editions of "Something to Remind You."
Figured I would re-post it but hope people get to the new one...I did read your Comments - thanks. I love them.