Planting my Feet

Here is my coral dog drawing I did yesterday. I really miss my real dog, Conrad. He would love the beach.

The longer I am here, the less I want to return to New York. The quaintness of hauling wood every morning has turned into one of the necessities that I look forward to. I happily see Randy’s truck approaching with a pile of wood. We chat about politics, the price of oil, and watch a red tailed hawk surf the winds looking for lunch. He brings me the national news that I do not get listening to the local independent radio station At 4:42 it is dark in the shack, too dark to read without a headlight, too dark to draw. But I do not miss electricity. In fact, I like collecting the kerosene lamps that I put away every morning and pull out each night, lighting them and hanging them from the ceiling. Occasionally I add new lamp oil, clip or change the wick. I drew for 8 hours until it got too dark, with 5 or so hours before I go to sleep I will read. I am reading the second of four books I picked up on Saturday at the Thrift Store. The first, The Paris Review, no. 159, fall 2001 that had an interview with Billy Collins. Now I am reading The Good Brother by Chris Offutt. Just before the sun is completely gone, I go outside with my very watered down coffee chocolate drink and look for coyotes, I have yet to see one. But the good news is there are still whales here. Yesterday Randy heard them off the tip of Race Point, heard their spouts. I thought that they migrate at this time of year, but apparently some stay year round. I adore being away from the noise of the city, especially the crowds of frustrated angry youths or drunken NYU students that hang out on the Lower East Side and the clash between the two. Here is nothing but sand, I can do what I want without friction. I like being out here so much I even dread going into town to get groceries. Well, that is not completely true, I like going into the small independent shops, but the Grand Union supermarket is the dregs. It is now completely dark outside and it is only 5:13, I am looking forward to the days getting longer, but with 19 days left I won’t get too much more light. I want to stay.