Grew up north of here with a back yard big enough to get lost in, and a river (stream) across the corn field across the street. Really had no neighbors. With a barely functional family (lots of up roar) I escaped to the woods. I could go “out-back” anytime (unnoticed amid the uproar) and always felt safer out side. I still do. It was not unusual for me to get up in the middle of the night to go “out back”. No supervision, no one noticed, That is where the whippoorwills, the owls, the trout, the coons, muskrats, squirrels, the stars, the moon, the heat, and the cold, the rain, and the snow, the skunks, snakes, and everything else important (did I miss anything, I missed everything). When I was 16 my parents (with the best of intentions) moved us to the city. Started my career inside for 15 years (weekend warrior climbed every peak in New England), then worked outside 🙂 for 20. I’m back working inside now, as I am getting old, yet still miss outside. When I was repairing slate roofs, I told customers that I would rather climb Mts. for a living, but it didn’t pay as well. Loved being up on a roof!! Audrey can sense when I’ve been inside too long, and sends me out for a walk in the woods or out in the canoe. I have never felt the least fear in the woods, day or night, good weather or bad. Although Arwen doesn’t share my love of the outside, she is comfortable with the woods, and expects me to go. She senses a lot she doesn’t express, kinda spooky/scary at times.
She asked me what the meaning of life is, I gave her “The Hitch Hikers Guide to The Universe”.
