Sometimes an image of an ordinary scene conjures an imaginary magnificence. Here you see the captain and a crew member of “Dear Abbie:” working intensely on mechanical issues that the fishing vessel was having at the beginning of the scallop dragging season this month:
As I watched, a sunlit bird suddenly appeared and hovered over them, as in depictions of a visitation by a holy spirit. The workers never noticed. But this is the solstice month, a time when significant spiritual events are celebrated.
On the other hand, this also is a time when a herring gull will do what herring gulls do – fly to occupied, but moored, fishing vessels in the hopes that scallop guts will be thrown overboard.
Nonetheless, we have a good ending to this story: “Dear Abbie:” was repaired and apparently is having a good scallop season. Those who want to credit the visiting bird are free to do so. (Image taken in Brooklin, Maine, on December 4, 2024.)