So very sorry I missed the Islands this year.
June 24th, 2009…ah, the thought of once again sharing the beauty and trash, the serenity and the commotion with all of you yet again was a sweet thought. Karin even agreed to wear a sunbonnet rigged with a portable webcam and connect me to everything - She said, ‘if I could do it, she was game’. I couldn’t pull it off. As ridiculous and self-serving as this unabashed cry for pity may be, I have a great photo of my foot, 
my “official” excuse for not making it this year, but to 
counteract (maybe in some tiny way) my selfishness, I also include a shot of the shadow bow my daughter Kelby and I made with all the “treasures” I brought back last year. She delighted in building this, and especially liked how we painted it with rags dipped in white paint and rubbed onto the wood such that it resembled something that was faded and worn from lying around on the beach. Our box, I think, went perfectly with her room and with all the “stuff” that she’s put into it. Her only comment was “schweet.” Admittedly, not all the items in the box actually came from my beachcombing, but the vast majority did indeed. 
It is a sweet reminder of all I missed this year and all I’ll miss every year that I cannot, for some reason join in the annual migration of what Jacques Cousteau might have said about us in his wonderful French accent… “eef you are verry patient and attentif, you may be graced by zee annual appearance of many beautiful and wondrous, warm-bloated mammals of the sea!”
I see that I’ve already missed both Jesus and Elvis and I suspect that I also missed a Klondike bar on the weird back patio of Emile Lapyrousse’s grocery. All of my love and warm wishes go out to all of you! Be free! Like a fart on the breeze, be free!
Best To You All!
Michael
