Micah 6:8
Genesis 6:21
Yes, your life matters.
We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?
Here's some fun news. Yesterday, Christian finally got to celebrate Can Opener Day! Frankly, I had no idea he'd been left out in the cold, as it were, all this time, but now he's moved solidly into the world of cannned food (tinned for those of you of that persuasion, but please realise that there hasn't been tin in those cans for a long time, it's far too expensive).
Today is National Banana Split Day! I wonder how many of you remember hearing Stan Freberg turn Lake Michigan into a giant hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry? Sadly, it wasn't a banana split, but that seems like the ideal lake to become one, simply based on its shape. Opportunity missed, Stan!
In addition to the celebration of the dessert du jour, today is also National Park Service Founders Day when we commemorate the founders of the National Park Service. The National Parks are a wonderful feature of these United States (as are the Canadian national parks a great aspect of Canada). We have spent many a great vacation in various National Parks on both sides of the border. Here's hoping we'll be able to cross that divide again one of these days and get back to camping in the Great White North, eh?!
I'm working on another novel (a sequel to A Rune With a View) where some of the action takes place in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. How about an excerpt from an upcoming book? The working title is Clyffwode Is Cinders, and I'm hoping to get it out in time for Christmas.
It was the last full day of their visit to the Smokies, and Jerry and Barbara were making sure it was full in every sense of the word. Driving through Cade's Cove one more time (this time watching even more carefully for deer and other wildlife), actually spending money to ride horses in the Park. Jerry was surprised to find that not only did he not mind having spent that money once they had returned their horses, but he hadn't really minded much even before they were assigned their mounts.
"Mine's named Baron," said Jerry. "What's your horse's name?"
"I'm riding Badon," said Barbara.
"Hmm. Sounds like they only have a few names and just change a letter here and there to keep it almost interesting. Baron. Badon. Who else is in that stable, I wonder? Maybe they have Bacon and Baton too!"
Barbara chuckled at Jerry's pretty typical word-play. "And with just a little more thought they could have Bassoon and Buffoon. I didn't actually notice any of the other horses' names when we were by the stable, though."
"I didn't either," was almost the last thing said as they set out on their ride. Almost, because there were so many beautiful flowers and mushrooms and birds and trees that caught their attention that both Jerry and Barbara were constantly repeating things like "do you see that bird over there?" and "that mushroom is the most beautiful shade of orange, isn't it?" and "now I understand the 'not seeing the forest for the trees' idea – there are just too many details that catch your attention to make it easy to see the whole picture."
Jerry's ride that afternoon was one of those transcendental experiences that seem to come back to completely fill one's consciousness with no apparent or obvious prompting. From the look on Barbara's face, Jerry thought she was sharing that experience. As they rode along the paths, every turn revealed something new and beautiful. Every glance at something seen out of the corner of his eye was rewarded with something unexpected – yes, with something new and beautiful.
He had competing desires – almost needs – that probably served to focus his attention and memory all the more. With each new expression of beauty, he wanted to slow down, to pause, and to let that experience soak in. With each new expression of beauty, he wanted to hurry on, to press on to the next surprise, the next delight. The two impulses warred in him, each being ignored on occasion, only to push to the fore suddenly as a turned corner revealed a colorful mushroom or a rotted tree or a jay sitting on the path, insolently asking what right Jerry had to be in his forest.
Jerry almost described it to Barbara, but it was too involving to step out and analyze. Later, Jerry would compare it to reading the works of Charles Williams. "The writing is so dense and perfect that I wanted to linger on each sentence, enjoying the thought, the structure, the word choice; but the thoughts flowed so brilliantly from one sentence to the next, one paragraph to the next, that I wanted to read as quickly as I could. It was frustrating and delightful at the same time."
The ride lasted almost long enough for them to be tired of the idea and the surroundings (but only almost), and almost ended in time for them to avoid that soreness of leg that seems peculiar to riders who simply don't ride enough. Almost, but not quite in both cases.
Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.
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