13
upfront
I love this time of year!
There is so much to be thankful for.
www.wrightsvillebeachmagazine.com WBM
N THIS FIRST ISSUE of
2019, our 19th January issue,
we have great things for you
to read about, beginning with
the rich art of Sarah Sheffield,
I
who is a plein air painter and seashell
gatherer. Her evocative flame-colored
copper “Reflections” best captured
my imagination as we, as a people, go
through the start of each new calendar
year. I knew — above all of the other
wonderful images we have this issue —
I had to choose it for our cover.
Next, the story of another artist, the
late waterfowler and decoy carver Nick
Giovinetti, as told by his contemporary
and friend, outdoorsman and storyteller
Robert Rehder. Over delicious hamburgers
at Spoonfed last month, I gained an
even deeper appreciation of Rehder’s
knowledge of the waterfowl, hunting
and rivers of Southeastern North
Carolina. Later he wrote in an email to
Matt Giovinetti (copied to me) about
his father Nick, “He was always fun to
be with and while his duck hunting and
carving ability were well-respected, he was one of the most talented fishermen I have ever known. We last fished together for speckled
trout at Mason Inlet on a gorgeous, cool, fall afternoon on the north shoals (where Figure Eight is now) before there was prolific
development there. I’m no slouch at light-tackle fishing, but still he would routinely out fish me two to one. I’m glad to have known
him, and I have happy and positive memories of him even after all these years.”
As a companion, we have the state of our area’s migratory bird habitats at Lea-Hutaff and Masonboro islands, and the Lower Cape
Fear River Basin. Through the photos, I learned that a very cool bird I see on the water every winter is a migrating hooded merganser.
I am making New Year’s resolutions about the things that I wish to fix or repair in my life, which don’t yet reach goals I have set for
myself. At the same time, the rhythm of my life has changed post-hurricane and the long weeks of disruption following it. Like the
migrating seabirds, our move away from a 9-to-5 workday culture has altered the circadian rhythms of my professional and personal life.
Rebooting from the storm and subsequent move occurred slower than I would have liked. One consequence is how I prefer to
communicate — something I had become aware of pre-storm came into clear focus — too much of my time is spent answering and
deleting emails and texts. Coming full circle, human-to-human contact is preferred. So call me and let me know your latest news.
Happy 2019! Praying the Spirit of Kindness fully invades your days!
Pat’s hair by Frank Potter, Bangz Hair Salon. Hair styled by Rob Asp, Bangz. Makeup by Caty Perakis, Bangz. Jeans, sweater jacket and
T-shirt from Assistance League of Greater Wilmington Thrift Shop.
ALLISON POTTER
Tool Time recreated with Pat Bradford in neighbor Kevin Walker’s very special remodeled garage.
Editor/Publisher