Mid-morning.
You are back from filling up the storage container with two gallons of gas and
are awaiting a dryer grass to mow though presently it appears that it might
rain again. - Amorella
1017 hours. There is a fifty percent
chance of rain today according to some weather authorities. We had good rains
last night and vegetation is growing gangbusters, like we are still in May. The
August issue of Car and Driver puts the Ford and Accord plug-ins against one
another and the Ford wins. The actual mileage on a C/D 500 mile trip is 41 for
the Ford and 42 for the Honda with the Ford way out front with "fun to
drive". It makes me re-think the Camry standard hybrid, which appears is
going to be far cheaper than the standard hybrids for both Ford and Honda. I
don't like investing in unknowns and that brings up your latest conjecturing in
reference to the soul in yesterday's blog.
I don't see the importance of the soul in the
books. I like the concept and that may be the problem. Just because I like
something doesn't mean it is going to be good for the story. What would the
soul need a 'backbone of humanity' for? Is this an evolutionary theoretical? I
can't see a real purpose for the story. I have added enough already to weaken
the whole structure. In some ways the blog and Merlyn books are just vehicles
for putting thoughts down like chess pieces, it is a game to pass the time.
There is nothing wrong with this as far as I can see, but the expensive energy
to put up such a facade is rather silly when it serves as a general container
for thoughts displaced from mind to letters.
1808
hours. I mowed most of the yard (except hills which Carol mowed). We split a
Subway turkey and ham for lunch and I did my exercises both yesterday and
today. The shoulder is feeling much better but still not up to par. I wasted
the afternoon reading "Car and Driver" and wondering about what kind
of car we really need -- economically, practically and for comfortable on both
short and longer trips. The Camry Hybrid is looking more reasonable at present.
This car business is a fun waste of energy. I will eventually use all this
research and consideration (as will Carol).
2156
hours. We watched two shows, last night's "King and Maxwell" and
"Major Crimes", then, I watched "Under the Dome". Why don't
they write to one another since the dome is transparent? They have more than
enough characters to switch and bait at the conclusion of each episode. This is
what they appear to be doing. What else is new?
Let's go to Grandma 19 and see what happens.
- Amorella
2233 hours. I have slashed words with
only a notions of what to do with the 754, but here they are as raw data for
rebuilding Grandma 19.
***
Grandma 19 (a basic re-draft)
Renaldo
opened his eyes to see a squirt of fire left.
“Hello,
I mean you no harm. “My name is Criteria. I am from Athens to attend the
festival at Santiago de Compostela.
Renaldo
replies, “An unusual name. I am Renaldo a student also traveling to the Way of
Saint James. The brother of our Christ has his bones revered at such a site.”
Criteria glanced, "Are you an
artistic priest?"
“I have worked leading and setting
blue stained glass into several Church windows. I have also carved simple oak
crosses.”
“Do you travel this road to escape
Fate?” say I.
Renaldo stared into the flames.
People in this country hold their philosophies private.
Criteria smiled broadly. “You are
a student,” and pointed to his two leather bound books. “I am learned also.”
“That I am," Renaldo smiled,
“at Toledo. I have with me Aristotle and Pythagoras.”
“I know them both.”
“I have thought on those words
myself,” replied Renaldo.
“How can you belong to yourself
and not belong to yourself at the same time?” responded Criteria.
“You are a woman,” stated Renaldo
bluntly. “How could you read? How are you here?” He said, “You are Greek.”
“I was schooled in the
philosophies.
Renaldo asked, “What is in that
leather pouch that is belted at your waist?”
Criteria motioned to sit. She
opened the pouch and pulled out a human skull. “I carry this to remind me of
what I will be one day.”
“Are you truly a woman?”
“Are you truly a man?”
Criteria said, “We need to get on
our way.”
The
two quietly continued for two miles on the open and nearly empty road towards
the city of Santiago de Compostela on the west coast of northern Spain.
She could pass for a Frank rather
than a Greek. He said, “I have heard stories the Dead walk this way every
night.”
“I
too. That is the reason I crept in and curled up by your fire. I am afraid of
the Dead.”
“If
I see one of the Dead I will bless him. Only tormented spirits would walk this
road.”
How
did you come to be here from as far away as Athens?”
Criteria
laughed for the first time, “I sail. I would rather walk at my own pace than
ride a horse.
Renaldo’s
quiet, simple smile returned. “What is the reputation?”
“I
am Ostrogoth, converted to Arian Christianity. My uncle is Theodoric. Father
wanted another son but got me instead. I am a better son than any of my younger
brothers.”
“Ostrogoth,”
he said in surprise. “I am Visigoth.
Criteria
stopped. “Here we are on the same path, heading to the bones of St. James the
Elder, the brother of Jesus.”
For the first time since he could
remember, his books became secondary. This woman is real, he thought.
Later
that evening they found an inn in which to eat and stay. Two men for a room as
far as the innkeeper knew.
Morning
rose late and so did they. “We have to sell the horse,” said Criteria.
“What
church will you donate the money to?” asked Renaldo.
“The
church of two pilgrims.”
“Where
is that?” he asked.
“In
Rome,” she replied.
Renaldo
stood dumbfounded. “Rome?”
“I
am leaving for Rome by boat. You are coming with me to deliver the money.”
Criteria
said “Up on the horse,” she said. “We travel together to Rome. I will pay your
way home if you wish to return. You are a student of books. You need to be a
student of the world. How much better then will you receive your flock.”
He
climbed on the back of the horse. “I forgot my books,” he said, “I have never
forgotten my books in my life.”
“I
have them in a leather bag,” replied Criteria. “Let’s sell this horse, and be
gone to Rome.” Then Greece, she thought, but decided he could hear that later.
*
Criteria
and Renaldo stopped first in Marseilles.
So together it
comes three divisions in one
Today, a Past,
and a Future is spun;
One by one
through Chapter Twenty-one to deliver
A slow march of
freed words from across the River.
Words delivered
by Ferryboat Captain, Leo Lamar
From the dead of
humanity tilting the Living ajar;
Filtering
through humankind like a somber dew
Through a body of friendship, from Grandma to you,
From smiling Grandma's white teeth and black gums
Merlyn’s mind in a Future this way comes.
***
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