I’M GONNA NEED A BIGGER BRUSH – Janice Anne Wheeler
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SPARRING WITH MOTHER NATURE brings you aboard as we joust our way back onto the water. We’ve come a long way with a ways to go… Your support is essential. Thank you. J
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If you’ve just joined our engaging little community, please read SPARS & SPARRING, my introductory piece.…. ~J
Before we get to this week’s piece, please indulge me. Over 1800 folks viewed last week’s story, BOARDING SOLO, about my experience connecting with a fellow human being on a plane to Africa. I received a harsh opinion indicating that some of my word choices could be construed as inappropriate and/or offensive. I want to be perfectly clear in conveying that not a single word or description in that essay is derogatory; I’ve spent sleepless nights since hoping I haven’t hurt anyone and considering what is right. Therefore, I’m very interested in this audience’s perception of how I told the story, if you are so inclined. There is never pressure here. Any aspect, any tangent, any commentary is more than welcome and I’m grateful that some of you already voiced your thoughts, all of which were positive. Messages go to my personal inbox and are not public.
In case you didn’t have time to peruse it and want to:
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I’M GONNA NEED A BIGGER BRUSH
It’s difficult to fathom that JAWS was released over fifty years ago. My mom wouldn’t let me see it for years, and probably with good reason, as beach vacations were her favorite by far, and mine, of course, as a water lover. Why ruin that? She was right, I think, to make me wait. I’ve always wondered (don’t you?) what’s beneath my toes in murky water and that movie was certainly impactful; ocean swimming plummeted, especially around Cape Cod. Great White Sharks were demonized; their reputation went from interesting and potentially dangerous to terrifying, mystifying, persistent and huge.
I’m feeling like our world has gone from interesting and (merely) potentially dangerous to (downright) terrifying on a slew of levels and locations. I have lots of apprehension about what happens next in the United States government, but for now, here on STEADFAST, all I know is that “I’m gonna need a bigger brush.”
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There are few movie lines that have stuck with me through the decades, and that one derives from JAWS, “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.” The balance of my favorite escapes are from Gone With the Wind and Casablanca. In fact, the latter has a perfect tie-in to last week’s tale of two interconnected encounters, “Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world she walks into mine,” Rick.
On the topic of big vessels and small brushes, please click this link to see my first video attempt EVER. No judging.
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These ‘chip’ brushes are what we use to get paint and protective products into the seams, cracks, crevices and all places that dominate our projects. The handles are wooden with no plastic components. While semi-disposable (I reuse when I can), they do eliminate the need for earth-unfriendly cleaning solutions. Everything, it seems, is a trade-off.
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In general, boat maintenance is not environmentally friendly, but environmentalists still have boats; Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute on the southern edge of Massachusetts’ famous peninsula came out with the first JAWS anniversary shirt I saw this summer, “We’ve got a pretty big boat.” And they do. If you’re a blue-water ocean creatures fan, I highly recommend their newsletter. The non-profit funding status seems uncertain (there is discussion in that link) and hopefully they remain able to continue their outreach and research.
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It feels like a good year to make some popcorn from scratch and settle in for a classic escape from reality. Or two. ~J
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In our whirlwind lives, it’s hard to describe what a privilege it is to have so many people read my work on a weekly basis; I find it humbling, frankly, and hope I am becoming both a better writer and a more conscious, effective human. If you think SPARRING WITH MOTHER NATURE is worth sharing, the easiest thing to do is click the little recycle symbol just below here, which somehow sends my work through the collective universe to folks none of us have met, yet.
THANK YOU & have a classic, colorful week.
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I so appreciate your support of my work. Have a wonderful week!
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© 2025 Janice Anne Wheeler
Living aboard Sailing Yacht STEADFAST again soon!
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