Author: Vic Socotra

Life & Island Times: Mean Old World

Editor’s Note: The Writer’s Section at Socotra House struggled to find a “good news, heartwarming story” this morning. As usual, Marlow cuts straight to the chase. Join him this afternoon for a musical trip through a mean old world…And in the photo is an Olds Delta 88. They may look funny now, but they were […]

New Socotra in Print at MWSA!

The MWSA has published their Anthology of military themed writings for 2021. Socotra House Publications is proud that our entry to a very talented pool of authors is included! Vic generated a marvelous little tale of how the Swamp really works, as he reports to the Navy’s Office of Legislative Affairs and discovers he is […]

Special Edition!

Amid all the other chaos of American life this week was an account of a small but significant event: a former USS Midway (CV-41) crew member returned to his favorite ship, courtesy of East Coast member Pat Alderman. His return would have been “above the fold,” in the latest edition of the Scuttlebutt, but rightfully […]

Life & Island Times: Eggs and Sausage

Eggs and Sausage  But I Still Want a Burgundy Editor’s Note: There was mild chaos left over today at Refuge Farm, with family sadness on the one hand, and five working parties of skilled and ebullient people laboring to bring order to the outbuildings and rationality to infrastructure: plumbing, electrical and HVAC. Stop me if […]

The Bombs

A shipmate sent along a remarkable link to a set of pictures I had never seen before. They are images of the weapons used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and delivered by B-29 long-range bombers operating from Tinian Atoll in 1945. At one time classified “Top Secret,” they now open a window on horror as a […]

The Circle is Smaller

(A picture of the living family, circa 1977. The balance has now shifted to the other shore. Bill, Betty and now daughter Ann are getting it prepared for our reunion, when it comes. Angie the White Dog will ensure there is exuberance in the life everlasting). I rose this morning at the usual bridge from […]

Arrias: How Much Does it Cost?

Congress is struggling to pass a budget. President Biden, with a Democratic House and Democratic Senate, still hasn’t passed a budget or the huge infrastructure bill, with several key senators balking at this huge bill; they’ve good cause to balk. The story now coming out of Washington, both the Speaker’s office and the White House, […]

Life & Island Times: Smokies Trippin’

Editor’s Note: We had scrambled dreams in our night at Refuge Farm. My sister’s lovely daughter traveled to be with her. My brother, stalwart that he is, dropped his affairs in New England, and made it to Alaska to be with our sister last night. “Telling stories,” were the words he used to sum up […]

Sunday Story

It is a lovely cool morning in Virginia’s Piedmont. The blue skies of heaven have a slight tinge of dust down near the horizon line. There had been a plan to tell a story this morning about some of the happenings on The Hill, but reality intruded with a call from family traveling on a […]