I waited all day yesterday for either motivation or message and could summon neither. It’s been a while since I felt bad about letting a day go by without posting something to Ubi Libertas Blog, and I drifted off to sleep last night without regret.
Much of my Sunday was consumed with writing, but not anything I intended to post right away. This was something bigger. Practical and not political. It’ll pop up here soon.
The whole day was a washout, weather-wise. On top of two inches of rain that fell earlier in the weekend, we got almost an inch more by this morning. That was a lot less than forecasts were saying as late as sundown yesterday — a line of angry storms rolling off The Plains was supposed to drop another three inches, along with hail and the threat of tornadoes.
Miraculously, the band of heavy weather split and went around The Mountain to the north and south. That’s not the first time we’ve seen a system divide before it gets to us. It’s the damnedest thing.
We completely dodged the twisters that did damage to parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa the other night. I can’t help wondering how much longer our good fortune will hold out.
Emerging from the camper this morning felt like going for a swim. Everything was wet. The sky was gray and the clouds were low. The air was heavy as it could be, but there was no fog and no rain.
The penetrating dampness made my old bones ache.
Optimistically, I walked down to the lower level to check for signs that the rain had persuaded the grass seed to begin sprouting. Nothin’ yet.
I decided it was time again to sample the redbuds’ seed pods. I chose a tree just down the road, harvested several of the greenish pods, pinched off the stems and munched away.
Both their flavor and texture reminded me of young pea pods, picked fresh from the vine. I remember snacking on those back when I had gardens (and will again someday soon). I happen to think they’re pretty tasty.
I have no idea, really, when this wild edible will be “ready.” All I can do is keep checking back to see when it’s at its best.
Sometimes when you give what you give, you get what you get.
Aaron Lewis
Deb and I often have said that in all the time we’ve been here, “We haven’t met a single asshole.” Almost without exception we’ve been treated like family, always with the simple goodness that lives throughout this culture.
As the young fellow who sold us Mercy observed a few years ago, our experience reflects the kind of people we are. In short, and according to him, we get back what we give.
Eventually, we did encounter our first asshole in Ozarkansas. It was bound to happen sooner or later. The fact that we’ve gone three years and still have met exactly one says a lot about this place.
We do love it here.
Volunteer of the Day: Saw greenbrier (Smilax bona-nox).
Take care of yourselves, Patriots. Stay calm. Stay sharp. Stay free.
#WiseUp #LibertyOrDeath #Ungovernable
#LetsGoBrandon #FJB