Wintry State of Mind There is something so absolutely stark about a true winterscape that it dares me not to dislike it. The cold is more than tangible. It's like a fist. If I slip and fall overboard, the ocean will not tolerate my presence, so any moving around in the boat must be done with care. There's still ice on the floorboard. If the snow resumes falling, I can't just sit and admire it. I have to go home. If I'm going to have a drink, I should only have one. I can take it easy, but only while remaining on high alert in the background. Why do I bother going out at all when I don't have to, when other's recreational boats are put away? I do it because there is a beauty that is rare that I am privileged to behold. The beauty of the cold, cold, cold. That's all there is to it. 11 December 2021 Texas Jim Burnt Island, Nova Scotia www.granitecoast.ca