RLS Roads

Today is the original due date, and no sign yet of son #2.  From Liscomb to Rieu, the preparations have been well made in terms of family outings, as AA grows accustomed to the daily drop-offs and his father to the commute in the new CX-90.  To watch the little man grow is a joy beyond imagining, and you can see why people lament its passing as being too quick.  The chance now, while such notions are fresh, to experience it again, steeled as we are by having been through it once before, has crept up in a manner that excites and delights.  

There have been twists and turns, mostly in meeting the moods as they come.  Frustration at stereotyping of expectations by acquaintances, the need to provide support against all corners, the "everything" comment when getting ready for daycare, the learning patience even as the clock is ticking toward events that will not wait.  All just about hanging together, and life seems ready to be put on pause for you to witness a new miracle unencumberered.

For now, we finalize some of the writing assignments in the last term of the MFA.  The goal must be to submit next Spring to the Pottersfield contest.  If the harmonious life of Luke TheRock can be a winner, surely you can join his company with the current work in progress.  Need to blast out the Antarctica portion in full, as well as Mirriam's version of the story to Italy and beyond.  Map out the inflection points and try and get 30,000 words to the COVID cliffhanger by the end of term and then the end will be in sight.  60,000 or so well-polished words should be enough.

For the craft book review, the chance to delve into the RLS canon to review Travels with a Donkey has delivered once more.  Consider this from his first published piece: "A common sentiment is one of those great goods that make life palatable and ever new.  The knowledge that another has felt as we have felt, and seen things, even if they are little things, not much otherwise than we have seen them, will continue to the end to be one of life's choicest pleasures."  Or this: "It is through these prolongations of expectancy, this succession of one hope to another, that we live out long seasons of pleasure in a few hours' walk."

A succession of saunterers, excellent, and of course there is reference to Whitman.

Sehnsucht - he passion for what is ever beyond - is livingly expressed in that white riband of possible travel that severs the uneven country...  

Yes, b'ye.  More upon following the birthing...