I wish I could bring you here, after midnight, and show you how unfathomably black and foreboding the surrounding forest is.
I love it. The sightless hours between dusk and dawn have always been my respite and emotional salvation.
When I first moved here - for about the first two weeks - I was admittedly very apprehensive. I wasn't used to the wild sounds of the wilderness. I had unwholesome visions of being attacked by wild animals..... or being robbed and violated by a roving band of moonshine-crazed, inbred hillbillies.
I threw in the "violated" part for dramatic effect.
Now, however - after four and a half years - I have no fear at all. I'll (reluctantly) admit that, on numerous occasions, I have even slept with the door unlocked.
Recent events have inspired me to be more cautious and careful. I won't expound, but it's best not to encourage danger.....
As disturbing as it sounds, I have always courted danger. My youthful escapades in California - especially on the midnight streets of L.A. and Hollywood - would make life in the forest pale drastically in comparison.
Humanity is much more dangerous than nature.
My thoughts are wandering down dark paths tonight. It's raining now, way after midnight, on an unusually quiet night. No owls, no coyotes or wild dogs. No nothing. I saw some lightning bugs earlier in the evening, but now even they are gone.
I had planned on driving to town on Friday (that's today) but thunderstorms are predicted by dawn - and all through the weekend. I'll try to go on Monday.
I should be doing other things rather than writing in this useless blog.
I'd like to complete the two volumes of my memoirs while my mental faculties are still reasonably sound......
.......which is a matter of debate.
PLEASE do keep your doors locked! My mind assures me mankind is more dangerous than nature, but there's no way I might have lasted more than a night. Or two.
ReplyDeleteRainy days sound perfect for penning those memoirs.
Myra, when I bought this place the realtor told me it was empty and unlocked for three years and nobody touched it!!!!
DeleteI was initially careless about locking doors, but lately I lock them constantly - even in the daytime. You can't be too careful.
I agree with Mevely you need to keep your doors locked, I keep them locked in the day time and I don't live in the woods. I have lights all around the house outside and a few nights this week the street light in front has been going out and it's is dark in the front I leave the carport light on. It's pretty quite around here I'm not afraid living alone I have a big dog outside that everyone is scared of. She looks mean but the truth is she wouldn't hurt a thing. You take care, Jean
ReplyDeleteIt pays to be extremely careful, no matter where you live. I hope your streetlight will be fixed soon. I'm glad that you have a big watchdog outside. I thought about getting one - but I'm already overwhelmed with my cats. Perhaps someday I'll consider getting a dog.
DeleteI've always loved the peace of the night.
ReplyDeleteI hope you got some writing done. :)
The night has always been my favorite time, as long as I can remember. You'd think that I'd have a lot of free time since I live alone - but there's always work to do around here which saps my energy.
DeleteI'll have to start forcing myself to get in the habit of writing regularly.
When I first moved to the country I was petrified of the night. No street lights. No cars, cops or ambulances. No sounds really other than frogs or mountain lions. It took some getting used to. Now when I have to spend a night in the city, I miss the stillness, blackness & quietness of home. There's a peaceful easy feeling that's hard to imagine if you've never experienced it. Do black bears sleep at night, I wonder. Don't even get me started on the full moon time of the month. Especially when there's a foot of snow...
ReplyDeleteYou've described my feelings exactly, Monica. I was extremely apprehensive at night when I first moved here. Now, however, I love the peace and quiet so much that I'd never want to be in a city again.
DeleteI've always been fascinated by the phases of the moon, but it's difficult to see it with all the trees around here.
There's a certain romance about living as you do but talk of bears and the like spoils the image. If I were you I would keep my doors locked and bolted :)
ReplyDeleteFortunately I've never seen any bears in this area, but you never know what might show up....There is indeed a sense of romance in the wilderness, but also a sense of danger.
DeleteI hope your poppies are growing!
Jon, you know I grew up in the boonies. It took forever to accept the noise of the city. Then I moved back to the boonies and discovered the city had followed me. It's always 20 years behind us. I could move to Antarctica and developers would soon swoop over on their leathery wings. Enjoy your wilderness while you can, Jon. It's lovely to see in photos...I remember it fondly.
ReplyDeleteGeo - I have concerns about that happening here. With the increasing amount of loggers and other activities, I wouldn't be surprised if a Walmart suddenly appears in the neighboring cow meadow.
DeleteOh well, at least I won't have to endure the long drive to town....
Having moved to L.A. about 28 years ago from East Tennessee, I can related to this post. Back in my younger days in TN I used to do a lot of camping and occasional night hiking. The imagination can run wild at times, but most of our threats in the wild are in the mind whereas if one is in the wrong place at the wrong time in L.A. the threats can be more real than imagined. Fortunately I live in a city about 12 miles from downtown and it's been managed well by the local government to where it feels very safe. Living in a gated community adds to that security. These days I mostly stay home anyway.
ReplyDeleteNot sure where you're living, but it sounds like a place that I might like. My wife not so much. My dream these days is to move to southwestern Virginia so I can be closer to my kids in NJ and my siblings in TN. I doubt whether that will happen, but I dream. My wife wants to be in L.A. and I'm not sure that separating at this point in our lives would be wise for me. Besides she has more money than I do which is a big factor.
My writing thoughts are inclined more toward memoir as well. It's just that matter of dedicating myself to the writing. If blogging weren't around I wonder if I'd be writing at all. I'm not going to call my blogging "useless", but I think I kind of understand what you're saying about it.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Well, we have some things in common. I was born in NJ but my parents moved to Southern California when I was five, and I lived there for 30 years. I LOVE L.A. but it has changed drastically from when I was young. At this point in my life I prefer the peace and quiet of the TN wilderness.
DeleteI think everyone should write a memoir. We all have a story to tell.
Thanks for the visit!
Good morning! Hope you are doing good.. don’t you just love this Tennessee weather? I ask sarcastically. This morning if it were up to me I’d have the heat on! 55 degrees in June is just weird. Have a good day!
ReplyDeleteThe weather keeps changing drastically. Last week it felt like summer - this week it's like autumn. I only hope the rain will stop!
DeleteYou might after all be a child of nature Jon. I always feel uneasy in the wilderness, so I know that I am a city person at heart.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was young I loved big city life, but now in my declining years (*smile*) I think I am a "child" of nature...
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