The first thing you'll see is the sky. It's vast and open and that perfect deep shade of blue that seems like you could dive right into it. Next are the clouds, white and lithe and content to just float for a while. Then you'll take in the treetops. You'll be blown away by the exquisite number of shades of green in one place. The interlaced branches grow thicker as you enter the wood, creating a dense latticework, with sunlight fluttering through the gaps like a song, allowing the briefest glimpses of the immortal blue above you.
The trees are ageless; too tall and old to be measured. You can't believe trees like these existed outside the tales of Jack and his Beanstalk. They're trunks are enormous, and gnarled, big enough to lay in comfortably, if hollow. These massive wonders have surged their way to the top, keeping as much sun to themselves as they can, leaving the forest at your feet a clear walkway, with no saplings or shrubbery to trip you.
Ahead is a large patch of sun; a tree has fallen. You can feel the heat of the sun in contrast to the cool confines of the forest. The fallen tree has become a support system for a whole new emergence of life. You can see smaller trees, insects, lichen, moss, and fungi fighting for a chance to replace this mighty sky-dweller. To linger would only reveal more of the world's circle-dance. New from the old, repeat, repeat. Let's leave this place, I crave the sunlight.
Away from the shelter of the trees, the sun is in full force, accompanied by a breeze that slips past you like secret, it cannot be bothered to stop and explain the world today. For now the breeze will satisfy itself with ruffling your hair and billowing your shirt like the sails of a ship. You don't find a ship today, but an old rowboat, grey-blue paint faded and flaking, bobbing contentedly on a large pond, or a small lake, you can't quite tell.
You take the boat out- it floats. Only the bottoms of your feet are greeted by shallow waves of water that's slipped in through the cracks. The sun is drooping, heavy with the weight of a day upon it, and it's giving way to colors that stain the sky like a brilliant canvas. The oceanic blue gives way to traditional hues of indigo and gold, and to surprising violet and unexpected green. In this light halfway between today and tomorrow, you lift yourself over the side of the boat, and release yourself into water that has just begun to cool, and is crisp and clear and reflecting the sky like disjointed pieces of a mirror.
You allow yourself to sink to the bottom, feeling sand soft as silk and smooth pebbles beneath you. You watch the bubbles of air race for the surface, dancing and striving to break through first. The sky and the boat distort through the looking-glass of the water, blurring together like the lines of an old photograph. It would be easy to stay here; the fish don't seem afraid of you, they tickle your toes and leave sounds in your ears. But it's not to be, and you slowly drift upward.
Your wet clothes cling to you as you take the boat toward shore. The sky has released the sun from its grasp, and in its place are thousands of brilliant, tiny lights, each with its own story to tell. A bat swoops past you, capturing his midnight breakfast, and circles back toward the ancient trees.
You walk back to your car, dirt clumping and sticking to your wet feet, the hems of your pants. The air hums and buzzes with nocturnal calls and songs. You see your car ahead, sitting quietly on the side of the old dirt road, a silent observer to your experience. You walk toward it, your shoes dangling limply from one hand, your keys in the other. You put the shoes and keys in the car, both innocently on the driver's seat. You leave the windows down, doors unlocked. And you keep walking, enjoying the stinging sensation of the sharp rocks and the sound of water dripping from your clothes and hair onto the parched road like a second set of footsteps as you continue down the road on that dark, star filled night.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
A Toast
I was blessed to be a part of an amazing group of people. More than a staff, we became a family. We were the type of people who saw somebody new and said "Jump in the truck with us, we're going somewhere fun." They loved you because you were you, and they never asked more than that. We shared triumphs and defeats, countless laughs and endless nights. We broke rules and took joy rides. We swam the lake at night, we snuck in and out of each other's cabins pulling pranks and making secrets. We made traditions, and those traditions made our summers matter.
One special tradition goes much much farther than my experience at that job. The "staff lounge" was officially moved to the local dining establishment residing a few miles from our job site. It was the closest place to get a hot pizza or a cold beer, and what was better- they had a karaoke night. The bartenders and the owner knew our names, our favorite songs, and had our orders written down before we were seated at our usual table. Our karaoke was similar. The regulars there knew us, knew our songs, and we knew theirs. We claimed "Piano Man," and "You've Lost that Loving Feeling" among many others. We created a dance floor out of the space between the pool table and the seating area, and we bopped and twirled and joked like awkward middle schoolers.
Those of legal age enjoyed the simple pleasures of beer in a mason jar, while the rest enjoyed cherry coke made with grenadine and the most amazing spicy fries, especially when coated in salt from one of the baby-food jars with holes punched in the top as a salt shaker. A favorite tradition of the evening were the toasts. I don't know where they originated, and I'm sure I'm not getting them right, as it's been far too long since I've used them. But these toasts were crucial to our evening. Lifted glasses of beer, sprite, coke, cans of mountain dew, or a lifted salt shaker when our glasses went dry- you never missed a toast. There were seven.
To the Queen. (Long may she reign!)
To the company. (Here here!)
To friends.
To absent friends.
To John Wayne. (He's gay, you know.)
To furry woodland creatures. (Is the buffalo a furry woodland creature? Only to the extremely jaded!)
To camp directors! (Is ***** a camp director? FUCK *****!)
To the birds: To the stork who brings pretty babies, the crow who brings ugly babies, and the swallow- who brings no babies at all!
These toasts were fun, raunchy, and usually gave us all a laugh. That's what friends like us were for- sharing laughs, sharing time.
Those toasts, those songs, are bittersweet tonight. One of our ranks has fallen. A good man has left us, to wait for us in whatever Beyond is out there. I am told that's the way he wanted it, and I guess that is supposed to comfort me in some way or another. His name was Ian. And he was my friend.
I'm not going to languish in how close we were, because we weren't. We shared a few midnight conversations, a few drinks at the bar, and I attempted to help him rebuild a bridge when it washed out in a storm. But as a person, he taught me things I will carry with me always. He lived what other people merely promote: he worked hard, he did what he felt in his heart was right, he lived passionately, and he loved everybody, whether he liked them or not.
Ian may have been tattooed, and he probably smoked a carton a day, and he may have sworn to make a sailor blush, but he was a good man. He threw himself into every project, may it be fixing tents, diving into the water fully-clothed to help find something in the water, cutting trees, fixing plumbing, or just making somebody feel better on a rough day. He cared. About everything.
And that's a model we can all follow. It's easy to support and care about the things that matter to you- your own friends and your own causes. But all too often we turn a blind eye to those people and causes that we aren't particularly interested in. We'd rather stay warm and dry than go out in the rain and mud to tow a stuck vehicle by hand. We'd rather allow ourselves to believe "They'll be fine," when we see a less-desirable person having a rough time. They may not be our friend, but they are a living, feeling creature. And whether you like them or not, sitting down across from them and saying "What's up?" may turn somebody's day around.
So tonight, I sit in my apartment, listening to the keys tap out my dedication. I hesitate before turning on the radio- I am yet too fragile to cope if one of our songs were to come over the speakers. But I sit, and I am prepared. I'm going to pay an honor to a lost friend, in a way that reminds me of the good times, not in a way that dwells on this darkness. I sit at my computer, a shot glass at my side. Ian- you were an amazing man. I'm sad to see you go. Rest well, and give 'em Hell. This one's for you.
To absent friends.
One special tradition goes much much farther than my experience at that job. The "staff lounge" was officially moved to the local dining establishment residing a few miles from our job site. It was the closest place to get a hot pizza or a cold beer, and what was better- they had a karaoke night. The bartenders and the owner knew our names, our favorite songs, and had our orders written down before we were seated at our usual table. Our karaoke was similar. The regulars there knew us, knew our songs, and we knew theirs. We claimed "Piano Man," and "You've Lost that Loving Feeling" among many others. We created a dance floor out of the space between the pool table and the seating area, and we bopped and twirled and joked like awkward middle schoolers.
Those of legal age enjoyed the simple pleasures of beer in a mason jar, while the rest enjoyed cherry coke made with grenadine and the most amazing spicy fries, especially when coated in salt from one of the baby-food jars with holes punched in the top as a salt shaker. A favorite tradition of the evening were the toasts. I don't know where they originated, and I'm sure I'm not getting them right, as it's been far too long since I've used them. But these toasts were crucial to our evening. Lifted glasses of beer, sprite, coke, cans of mountain dew, or a lifted salt shaker when our glasses went dry- you never missed a toast. There were seven.
To the Queen. (Long may she reign!)
To the company. (Here here!)
To friends.
To absent friends.
To John Wayne. (He's gay, you know.)
To furry woodland creatures. (Is the buffalo a furry woodland creature? Only to the extremely jaded!)
To camp directors! (Is ***** a camp director? FUCK *****!)
To the birds: To the stork who brings pretty babies, the crow who brings ugly babies, and the swallow- who brings no babies at all!
These toasts were fun, raunchy, and usually gave us all a laugh. That's what friends like us were for- sharing laughs, sharing time.
Those toasts, those songs, are bittersweet tonight. One of our ranks has fallen. A good man has left us, to wait for us in whatever Beyond is out there. I am told that's the way he wanted it, and I guess that is supposed to comfort me in some way or another. His name was Ian. And he was my friend.
I'm not going to languish in how close we were, because we weren't. We shared a few midnight conversations, a few drinks at the bar, and I attempted to help him rebuild a bridge when it washed out in a storm. But as a person, he taught me things I will carry with me always. He lived what other people merely promote: he worked hard, he did what he felt in his heart was right, he lived passionately, and he loved everybody, whether he liked them or not.
Ian may have been tattooed, and he probably smoked a carton a day, and he may have sworn to make a sailor blush, but he was a good man. He threw himself into every project, may it be fixing tents, diving into the water fully-clothed to help find something in the water, cutting trees, fixing plumbing, or just making somebody feel better on a rough day. He cared. About everything.
And that's a model we can all follow. It's easy to support and care about the things that matter to you- your own friends and your own causes. But all too often we turn a blind eye to those people and causes that we aren't particularly interested in. We'd rather stay warm and dry than go out in the rain and mud to tow a stuck vehicle by hand. We'd rather allow ourselves to believe "They'll be fine," when we see a less-desirable person having a rough time. They may not be our friend, but they are a living, feeling creature. And whether you like them or not, sitting down across from them and saying "What's up?" may turn somebody's day around.
So tonight, I sit in my apartment, listening to the keys tap out my dedication. I hesitate before turning on the radio- I am yet too fragile to cope if one of our songs were to come over the speakers. But I sit, and I am prepared. I'm going to pay an honor to a lost friend, in a way that reminds me of the good times, not in a way that dwells on this darkness. I sit at my computer, a shot glass at my side. Ian- you were an amazing man. I'm sad to see you go. Rest well, and give 'em Hell. This one's for you.
To absent friends.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Rules and Unanswered Questions
There was once a chance I didn't take. An opportunity avoided, an experience missed. Sometimes it's good to leave yourself out of situations; not all experiences are good. Other times it's best to jump into the fray looking neither left nor right, and caring nothing for where you land. Stephen Chbosky's The Perks of Being a Wallflower (a favorite of mine) lends a line to my cause: "Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor."
I've fallen into the habit of being what I have affectionately dubbed "Safely Adventurous." I have no problem doing, going, or trying something new, within reason. Logic must have its say, after all. All things have rules, even if they are self-imposed.
Rule #1: The risk of death must be minimal. Enough said.
Rule #2: Exactly how many laws are we breaking? I don't have much of a problem breaking a few rules, but I'm not going to do anything that's going to land me in jail. OK, let's be honest, I'm pretty much all-in for good-natured trouble, and if it leads down Crazy Street now and then, I've been known to take that road. But I won't openly walk into a situation that could get messy very quickly.
Rule #3: I won't hurt anybody. I've got a temper and a quick tongue, but I'm not malicious. This includes people, animals, trees, and creations.
Rule #4: I will only go along with something if I want to. If it looks too dangerous, too stupid, or just not my thing, I'm out. I'm all for new experiences and broadening my horizons or whatever it's called, but I'm not goign to do something I don't want to do just for the sake of doing it.
Seems fairly simple. Four rules, all along the lines of, "Don't do anything monumentally stupid." You have no idea how constricting they are. Being responsible wears you down. Maybe it's an infinite cycle. Think about it- you generally become more responsible with age. As you age you get worn out, run down. In effect, you become more responsible as a form of self-preservation. Being so darn responsible takes it's toll, and the cycle continues. Maybe there's something to be said for remaing perpetually young-willed and driven by whims.
I've decided to list the things I want to, but probably never allow myself to participate in. Maybe getting them out of my head and into the open will inspire me.
*A trip with nothing. Throw a cooler, my tent, sleeping bag, and some extra clothes and blankets in my car, quick stop for essentials (water, food that won't rot), and drive. Someplace new to me. Unplanned. Stay at least 3 days and 2 nights before heading in the direction of home. I can camp, sleep in my car, under the stars, in a crappy hotel room, in a penthouse suite. Even if I'm cold, wet, hungry, sick, broke, and miserable. On the chance I'm not miserable, it could be the time of my life.
*Try something new that I usually wouldn't let myself do. A rappell off of something much higher than I'm comfortable with, going on a road trip with new friends to a destination unknown. Nothing completely insane, but something new. Baby steps, here.
*Take a risk. I spend so much time protecting myself, my friends, my friendships, my family, theat I rarely give anything sapce to grow into something new. I used to say that I didn't like things nailed down in all four corners- I preferred things welded to the ground with an airtight seal. That doesn't leave room for friends to become lovers, acquaintences to become friends, or to realize that the people you trust can't be trusted. Sometimes I'm going to have to take a risk at losing something for the chance to gain something better.
*Play a concert for all my friends. I don't think anybody, friend or family, has heard me make instrumental music in about 6 years. I don't care if I'm talented or not, I love music. I love making music. There are two events in my life that make me feel complete- being outdoors and really connecting with the world around me, and when I've got my violin under my chin. I love it, and I always will. I put a personal ban on playing for other people. Somewhere along the line I let myself believe I wasn't good enough. Not good enough for the friends I had, not a good student, or a good musician. And maybe I wasn't. But I wasn't as bad at ANY of those as I thought I was. So why should I let my own misconceptions from years ago keep me from something I love? I want to give a concert for my friends. Maybe outside, where there are lots of trees, and running water nearby. Both my elements.
It's a start. And perhaps I'll do those things, one at a time. And it will take time, patience, and maybe a swift kick of self-esteem. I try not to make promises I can't keep, but I do hope that I can manage to let down the wall I've put between myself, my ambitions, and every single person I've ever encountered. I call them "rules" or "logic" but it's all fear. I'm afriad of getting hurt. Of being embarrassed. Of failure. Of once again being told sorry- but my best just wasn't good enough. But who are you to judge me? What about you makes me want to believe your opinion more than my own? Maybe in taking these risks, and tearing that wall down, piece by piece and scar by scar, I'll find the answers.
I've fallen into the habit of being what I have affectionately dubbed "Safely Adventurous." I have no problem doing, going, or trying something new, within reason. Logic must have its say, after all. All things have rules, even if they are self-imposed.
Rule #1: The risk of death must be minimal. Enough said.
Rule #2: Exactly how many laws are we breaking? I don't have much of a problem breaking a few rules, but I'm not going to do anything that's going to land me in jail. OK, let's be honest, I'm pretty much all-in for good-natured trouble, and if it leads down Crazy Street now and then, I've been known to take that road. But I won't openly walk into a situation that could get messy very quickly.
Rule #3: I won't hurt anybody. I've got a temper and a quick tongue, but I'm not malicious. This includes people, animals, trees, and creations.
Rule #4: I will only go along with something if I want to. If it looks too dangerous, too stupid, or just not my thing, I'm out. I'm all for new experiences and broadening my horizons or whatever it's called, but I'm not goign to do something I don't want to do just for the sake of doing it.
Seems fairly simple. Four rules, all along the lines of, "Don't do anything monumentally stupid." You have no idea how constricting they are. Being responsible wears you down. Maybe it's an infinite cycle. Think about it- you generally become more responsible with age. As you age you get worn out, run down. In effect, you become more responsible as a form of self-preservation. Being so darn responsible takes it's toll, and the cycle continues. Maybe there's something to be said for remaing perpetually young-willed and driven by whims.
I've decided to list the things I want to, but probably never allow myself to participate in. Maybe getting them out of my head and into the open will inspire me.
*A trip with nothing. Throw a cooler, my tent, sleeping bag, and some extra clothes and blankets in my car, quick stop for essentials (water, food that won't rot), and drive. Someplace new to me. Unplanned. Stay at least 3 days and 2 nights before heading in the direction of home. I can camp, sleep in my car, under the stars, in a crappy hotel room, in a penthouse suite. Even if I'm cold, wet, hungry, sick, broke, and miserable. On the chance I'm not miserable, it could be the time of my life.
*Try something new that I usually wouldn't let myself do. A rappell off of something much higher than I'm comfortable with, going on a road trip with new friends to a destination unknown. Nothing completely insane, but something new. Baby steps, here.
*Take a risk. I spend so much time protecting myself, my friends, my friendships, my family, theat I rarely give anything sapce to grow into something new. I used to say that I didn't like things nailed down in all four corners- I preferred things welded to the ground with an airtight seal. That doesn't leave room for friends to become lovers, acquaintences to become friends, or to realize that the people you trust can't be trusted. Sometimes I'm going to have to take a risk at losing something for the chance to gain something better.
*Play a concert for all my friends. I don't think anybody, friend or family, has heard me make instrumental music in about 6 years. I don't care if I'm talented or not, I love music. I love making music. There are two events in my life that make me feel complete- being outdoors and really connecting with the world around me, and when I've got my violin under my chin. I love it, and I always will. I put a personal ban on playing for other people. Somewhere along the line I let myself believe I wasn't good enough. Not good enough for the friends I had, not a good student, or a good musician. And maybe I wasn't. But I wasn't as bad at ANY of those as I thought I was. So why should I let my own misconceptions from years ago keep me from something I love? I want to give a concert for my friends. Maybe outside, where there are lots of trees, and running water nearby. Both my elements.
It's a start. And perhaps I'll do those things, one at a time. And it will take time, patience, and maybe a swift kick of self-esteem. I try not to make promises I can't keep, but I do hope that I can manage to let down the wall I've put between myself, my ambitions, and every single person I've ever encountered. I call them "rules" or "logic" but it's all fear. I'm afriad of getting hurt. Of being embarrassed. Of failure. Of once again being told sorry- but my best just wasn't good enough. But who are you to judge me? What about you makes me want to believe your opinion more than my own? Maybe in taking these risks, and tearing that wall down, piece by piece and scar by scar, I'll find the answers.
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