Broadsides the Atlantic we tumble short-handed

spatch is traveling tomorrow for a memorial in the family. I was supposed to travel with him, but I really can't. I am sending him with a talisman: a small silver mermaid on a chain with blue glass beads. He is to bring it safe back to me with himself.

Lately he's been playing a lot of Asassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (2013), which seems to have an impressive collection of chanteys. Suddenly there are recordings of "Paddy Doyle" and "Leave Her, Johnny" and "Rio Grande" floating around the house that I didn't have anything to do with. I'm enjoying it.

He's going to an inland part of Maine, but it's still strange for me to stay behind, in summer. I have told the mermaid to look after him.