I woke at around 2 something. Sound of the Owl speaking. Close. I lay there, seeing in my mind, Talkie on her branches. A sitting duck. Listened a while then got up and put on shoes and a sweatshirt. The FatMax flash/spotlight, me, Tay go out into the cold. Walk to the end of the house space here and shine the light into the trees. I try to encourage Tay to bark or at least run some. She doesn't. Does not respond to things in trees. We turn off the light and stand. After moments, again, the Owl Speak. Repeat. 3 times. It's cold so we quit and go in. By now, i am wide awake. I don't want to, but i compulsively look on the phone to check the Maria Fire and a video spontaneously begins of a horse. People are trying to load it in a trailer too small, but i guess all they had. The Fire is OrangeRed just in the background, the horse rearing, it's shrill scream. And i think it was this horse that did it. Suddenly, i thought that Everything is just all too much. This morning i waited for Alyssia to call. She goes down to near Fresno on Thursdays for a class. Leaves the kids with her brother in Sacramento. Arrives back here, home around 2 am. So i wait until she has recovered a little to tell her that i can go pick up the car today when she can give me a ride. The mechanic had called yesterday to say that Car still does not pass emissions standard. Has been there since Tuesday. They did a full tune up but found the problem to be a carburetor insulator. He had looked everywhere he knew and could not find this part. 1986 model. That runs pretty great, uses NO gas. So she called and we talk a little, she's tired but will come in a while. Says that as long as i am TRYING, "they" will give me extensions if i provide the paperwork. At some point, if there is no hope, there is an appeal process.
we pick up the car. He's a very nice person. But keeps his professional distance, smiling just slightly. If i can find the part, he will put it in. Ok. I say....I DO have a 1983 Toyota pickup. Here he does smile before he looks off into the distance.
I stop at Lakeside Market which has electricity again...5 day shut off....and get some FOOD. I'd not planned on Car being gone so long, so had relied a lot on Talkie's eggs.
Pull in here to the parking spot at the Gate Bottom of Campsite A. Get out and walk a few steps toward the gate and there, in plain sight is this piece of cloth. It's silk. I'm sure a Glennis. Lying there, at the gate. The second pic is more the true color.
Just there. Perfectly there. I stare. ??????
It's There. as if to protect. it's long edge aligned with the gate, pointing out, to where any fire might come from.
Earlier, i'd thought....i'll just give up. But then, as always, thought follows....How? How do you Give UP? What exactly do you DO?, to give up? I have never had an answer to that question. And here, a piece of Cloth, from WHERE? HOW? i have no idea but....it's just there. perfectly aligned with Everything. So...ok. we just go. ok.
