Saga of the Epic Hero... short version

Day 15: Saturday, April 29

Having doubts about this writing thing and my whole lifestyle in general. I need to finish up inside and get to the river.

(writing Monday night/Tuesday morning)
On the contrary from getting to the river, it turns out I needed tp keep picking away at things inside the house and get myself comfortable with the idea of Glenn and his wife, Linda, showing up here. I feel such a debt for all the goodness I’ve had by being here. I just wanted to make certain I had done my part to make them feel comfortable.

Then they showed. Linda and I did some boomerang practice. I landed it pretty close to me a few times and actually touched the thing in the air once. Maybe I have developed a slight bit of boomeranging skill. The three of us did some eating, and some drinking, and lots of talking on a number of subjects. We listened to disco. We listened to Coltrain and Bach. I’m certain that I am not skillful enough at whiskey drinking,

Day 16: Sunday, April 30

So here’s where my lack of skill, well actually good judgement, regarding whiskey drinking showed through. The antFarmers went to the Schafer colony for the Schafer antQueen’s birthday. I laid low till past noon and then read National Geographic till past 6. Then I read online National Geographic and a bunch of other neat and interesting online stuff till well into the morning.

Day 17: Monday, May 1

Hmmm, so this is today, huh…?

I feel good. I feel like it is all okay. My right wrist is screaming "Tendonitis!" from the thumb side of its mouth. I made it into town and back. I made it to the river and back. I cooked myself some food after getting back from town. I finished chopping out that second raft log from the downed tree. I built a fire in the rain with wood that has been getting rained on for four days. That took some determination and artfulness.

So back on Friday I wanted to head away from town an equal distance to go to Hewlet Park. I allowed the rain to help me excuse myself from that exercise. Saturday I wanted to go to the river and leave the house a bit more casual than I ended up doing. I allowed the rain to help me excuse myself from excusing myself from that exercise. I allowed the cleaning to help me excuse myself from the river. Sunday I didn’t really even require an excuse, but the rain worked fine for just in case I might need one later. Finally, Monday I put on my rain gear and went both to town and to the river. The funny part is that a downpour started and wet all my newspaper and already damp kindling just as I was picking up my bag to get some matches out to light the fire.

I don’t know if I’ve ever in my life put so much attention into lighting a fire. I did finally get it. And oh yeah, I was right. It is really hard to get back up the path from the river when the ground is good and soggy.

Every now and then a day is close to perfect and I just feel gratefulness and contentment.