Saturday, December 20, 2014

NEW BEGINNING

Here is my new back yard on a sunny November day
The forest begins on my property
 



This new blog is a continuation of my previous blog, Lone Star Concerto. I thought it best to separate Texas from Tennessee.



I did it. I finally made it from there to here. From the barren wastelands of west Texas to the lush wilds of the Tennessee mountains. I never thought it would happen. Truly. I was prepared to die in Texas. The enormous amount of troubles that I had there rendered my existence into a living death. My soul was extracted, my heart ripped out. And my will to live waned.

In all fairness, I can't blame Texas exclusively. Bad things happen everywhere. I can only speak from my own personal Texas experience. Trouble began happening to me the moment I got there and never stopped. The entire concept of the Lone Star State was in direct contrast to my nature, and - although I adapted to it - my faux cowboy existence was a sham.

Many details of my Texas years have been documented in Lone Star Concerto. I have no desire to rehash them now.

Every effort to leave Texas was thwarted and I had long given up hope.

And then.......

a small miracle suddenly occurred. After being on the market for four agonizing years, my Texas house finally sold. I only got a small fraction of what the place was worth. The three greedy, incompetent realtors received much more than their fair share. The buyers got one helluva deal. I lost money Big Time.

But I was finally free.......and the high price was worth it.

I chose to move to Tennessee because I wanted a complete change in my life. I have no illusions about paradise, perfection, or eternal happiness. But I have relatives here and some friends. I craved for new adventures in a lush, rural environment.

The process of moving always takes longer than expected, with unexpected detours along the way. When I initially made an offer on my new home, the owner was out of town. The realtor didn't get back to me with an answer for over two weeks. Life is slower in rural areas. Offer accepted!

The buying process went smoothly. I paid cash. Now I'm broke but relieved. And happy. I and my three cats had been staying with my cousin Nancy for over a month. She was an absolute saint and extremely helpful.
Anybody who could endure me and three cats for an entire month must be of the heavenly realm.

I moved into my new place on Thanksgiving Day. Due to an address mix up and the hectic holidays, my furniture won't be delivered until January. Since I can survive more easily without furniture than without the Internet, I bought a laptop to ease my withdrawal pangs. It's much more annoying to use than my desktop computer, but I'm getting used to it.

Spare us the verbosity, Jon, and cut to the chase. Where the hell are you exactly, and how do you like it?

Well, Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Texas anymore.

I was desperately craving peace and solitude in a deliciously rural environment, and.....well.....

Old Chinese Proverb:
Be careful what you wish for.......

I'm in the mountains, in the wilderness, in a remote area fifteen miles from town. Completely isolated, in the company of silence and at the mercy of Mother Nature.

Here's a view from the window, in the
room where I'm writing this. It's a bedroom
but I'm planning to make it my office.
 
I'm situated on two acres of a steep slope of a mountain. From my front windows I have a view of another nearby mist-covered mountain peak. My back yard is on the edge of a forest. There are hilly meadows nestled on either side of my property, inhabited by cows and horses. Birds and wildlife are abundant.
 
 
 
 At night I hear the screech of owls, the howl of coyotes and wild dogs, the sound of unknown creatures rustling through branches and dead leaves. Occasionally, I hear the crisp crack of hunter's rifles - reverberating sharply through the canyons.
 
There is wind here - but it's not like the brutal, foul, endlessly torturous winds of west Texas.
These are mountain winds - fresh, pure,
invigorating, blowing high through the treetops like a magical carillon. All the sounds of nature echo here, through canyons and branches of trees - resonating with the intricacy of a fugue improvised by Mother Nature.

My impressions are effusive but apt. I am more than impressed by these surroundings. I am astonished.

Icicles hanging from nearby cliffs


The photos are all from my cell phone
and are of poor resolution.


I finally figured out how to add the "Followers" gadget to my sidebar. Please follow, if you dare.
 
 









11 comments:

  1. What a view you have. It's lovely. I can't imagine anything more peaceful than to be surrounded by woods. Nature agrees with you. You sound content and happy. ENJOY every moment.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jon, it sounds ideal and looks even idealer. You did the right thing. Love the new blog name. Will add it to my blogroll at "trainrides" as there doesn't seem to be a Friend-connect widget for following. Main thing is, you're back, yay!

    ReplyDelete
  3. HI HONEY! I have fixed your linky in my blogroll.

    looking forward to reading all your adventures about getting to there from TX and about the cats and anything else you care to share! happy holidays in your new home!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Yay! Finally. One of my favorite parts of the country. It is amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I had no idea rural Tennessee was so beautiful, Jon! Is that your new home pictured on your header?
    I'm looking forward to following your adventures in 2015 and beyond!

    PS - Bosco is adorable :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. sounds as close to heaven and Texas was to hell! So happy for you!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sounds like you will be writing about animals and nature instead of people and WalMart. Anxious to read what you have to say. It sure looks cold there.

    ReplyDelete
  8. So pleased to have you back, Jon. I think we have all awaited with bated breath for your safe return - and hopefully to new adventures to help you in your new environment.
    Brian (Ireland).

    ReplyDelete
  9. I am awaiting your new adventures with anticipatory joy...

    ReplyDelete
  10. Jon,
    I am so happy for you! I know I've said that before but I'll say it again and again. I have a small confession to make though. When I saw that you were having trouble selling your home in Texas I made a visit to my local soothsayer and initiated some "magic." I'm so glad it worked! Now I await with great anticipation you sharing your new life, your new adventures. By the way, isn't it wonderful to live amongst the fauna and wildlife with . . . . views? You are in Heaven Jon. I've been to rural Tennessee (and North Carolina) and know how beautiful that area of the country is. Bill and I would be there now if it wasn't for all the rampant homophobia that still reigns in that area of the country. Again, I am so happy for you Jon. :)
    Ron

    ReplyDelete
  11. Well, here I am, following you again in a different state. What a beautiful header. And your place sounds wonderful. I look forward to hearing about your life here.

    ReplyDelete

I love comments. Go ahead and leave one - I won't bite. But make sure you have a rabies shot just in case.