Mike's Journal

The work is done

I’d hoped to be ready to embark on The Great Sitting in its entirety June first, but, as is often the case, things take just a bit longer than they should. I somehow always fail to acknowledge this, and it’s probably one of the reasons I’ve been told so often that I’m overly optimistic. I set my goals high and believe that they are within reach. When I come up short adjustments are made. I guess this just feels better to me than thinking that something is impossible.

For many reasons Jeff and I had agreed on a June 1 departure weeks ago. Leases were terminated, jobs, etc. But as June 1 approached it became clear that I still wasn’t ready.

Adjustment: Jeff and I decided to meet in Pt. Reyes June 1, ride back to Santa Rosa June 2; finish things up, and set out again as soon as possible… For three days we’ve worked 'till exhaustion, and after two years of sanding, painting, plumbing, building, planning, wireing, tilleing, cleaning, and painting again the work is done.

Yes, there is a sense of completion, and though the end result is fantastic, I’m most grateful for the moments spent with friends and family working by my side: sharing the bond created by movement towards a common goal; completely focused, like ants moving grains of sand. My parents have been absolutely amazing and someday I’ll think of the perfect way to show them the depth of my gratitude…. I’ve had so much help. My time with Nick has been priceless; he is such an amazing human being, a friend with his strength and character is hard to find. Gratitude, gratitude, gratitude; so much that it’s all hard to place: Jeff, Kenny, Chris, Scotty, Ann, Pete, and the others. Thank You all!

My final task was irrigating the orchard. The drip system was so simple to install that I wondered repeatedly why I hadn’t done this years ago. Perhaps subconsciously I was ensuring that no matter how busy life got I’d spend enough time out there in my sacred place. Without irrigation I'd have to; hand watering.

Most of the fruit is developing nicely. At 4:00pm Jeff and I enjoyed sweet, sun-warmed apricots, fresh from the tree. They were perfect! Our friends over at Marmot don’t know what they’re missing.

Tomorrow we ride to Davis

Posted by Mike at June 5, 2004 10:25 PM