Gentle Readers, there was an erroneous post the last time the Boomers decided to swap sea-stories and let the Zoomers put out the holiday edition in which they assumed Arrias had passed away since he is about as old as some of the Old Salts around the Conference table. He is not only still ambient but traveling to lecture students in the Information warfare establishment on how things work. For real.

At the conclusion of one of his educational missions, he visited the shore in Tidewater and was inspired to send this along to go with the storm currently enveloping the NE coast. He said it was about 38 degrees while he was there, witht “about 15kts of wind off the water – 100% humidity… chilling right down to the bone.”

Nor-east Wind

Cold and gray, raw winter day,

Off the ocean a nasty breeze,

Steel gray waters, white caps and spray,

Nor-east wind bends the gray trees.

Seagulls cry, the shoreline empty,

Time to head home, stoke up the fire.

Brew some tea, and settle in,

Time for wool socks, winter attire.

The rain and wind continues,

Rosey out, quickly in, huddles near me,

Put another log on the fire,

I’m just glad I’m not at sea.

Copyright 2025 Arrias
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