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.
