July 1984I WALKED HERE. DID I mention that? I walked the last ten miles or so. Kind of a penance. Or a tribute. I left my scooter at Ma’s, packed a ruck and walked here. Mostly in the dark. Guess I felt self-conscious walkin through town with a ruck and these old jungle boots so I left about, I don’t know, when the moon was comin up. Got to the culverts down there about dawn then came around the back way. Real slow. Real quiet. Thinkin some about the old man but mostly not thinkin.
Sun’s low now. It’s too early to hear the evening sounds from the fields or woods. Too early for the deer to show along the edge. All the creatures rest at this hour—except maybe a few nonunion squirrels.
When the sun hits the ridge it’ll disappear quick, like in any mountainous region. I’m going to stay. Stay
