There, out in the darkness

I paused today. I took another walk. The trails here are breathtaking, even better with an iPod in pocket. So, there's some things to think about. Nature. Spending all summer in New England, and now being here again for a few weeks has really made me see things. Like the stars, for example. Nowhere I've been [in my limited log of places I've been] have I seen a night sky like I've seen here in New England. These people up here sure know how to turn off the lights and see the sky. It's breathtaking--thrilling--beautiful. I enjoy every second of it.

The iPod. What a damn invention. Now we truly can have a soundtrack to our lives. I remember this one time, a friend [JJ Gittes] and I were at our buddy's [we'll call him Rice] home. He was having a bad day and we happened to stop by to ask for a casssette that he had recorded for us. Well, things hadn't gone well with the recording session, and eventually he did get the piece recorded. Problem was, he couldn't get the tape out of the recorder. Long story short, the whole recording device fell to the ground, smashed and broke into a dozen pieces. Rice picked it up, told us "this would be a good time for you to leave" and slammed the door shut. JJ and I stood on the doorstep, heard Rice lock the door, saw him close the blinds and we thought aloud, "wow, I guess he's serious about it." So, we walked to the street, across Rice's newly diagonally-[in both directions]-mowed lawn and got into the car. When we turned on the radio, a terribly sad saxophone solo played on the jazz station. It was the first time I knew I had a soundtrack to my life.

God bless the iPod. Today, I didn't need to cross my fingers that the jazz station would play the right tune. As I walked through the woods, hands in pockets and nifty winter cap covering my ever-growing hair, I listened to some splendid sounds :) Hoorah for alliteration.