THIS MORNING EARLY I HEAR A FAMILIAR SOUND , A LOUD WHITE SOUND OF WAVES CRASHING ON A BEACH THAT IS NOT FAR OFF . THERE ARE SEABIRDS EVERYWHERE AND THEY ARE WILD WITH THE ABUNDANCE OF FOOD AT THIS PLACE WHERE RIVER POURS INTO OCEAN . THERE ARE LARGE STUMPS WASHED UP IN THE GRASS , TURNED SILVER FROM DECADES OF SUN AND RAIN . KELP AND SEAWEED TRAVEL IN THE STREAM WITH ME AS WE ARE WASHED OUT TOWARDS THE DEEP BLUE .
I ROUND A BEND AND ABRUPTLY IT IS RIGHT BEFORE ME - GRAND AND EXPANSIVE . THE ENGINE OF LIFE . IT SPARKLES IN THE SUN AND SMELL IS PUNGENT AND INVIGORATING . THE RIVER FUNNELS INTO A RUN GOUGED IN THE SAND AND SUDDENLY I AM MOVING VERY FAST TOWARDS A FIELD OF STANDING WAVES A METER HIGH AND FROTHING LIKE RUNNING DOGS. I DONT WANT TO GET ANYWHERE NEAR THEM .
I PULL OUT AT A SAND BANK WAIST HIGH AND ROLL UP ONTO THE FLAT GRAY SAND AND THE RAFT UP AFTER ME . IT'S A MOMENT OF TRUTH , I WALK FOR ABOUT A MILE DOWN THE BEACH , GOLD FLECKS SPARKLE IN THE DENSE SAND AND MY FEET FEEL GREAT GRINDING THROUGH IT . I HAVEN'T STRETCHED MY LEGS FOR OVER SIX WEEKS . THAT'S A LONG TIME TO DRIFT IN A RIVER NOT KNOWING WHERE THIS CURRENT ENDS UP .
I LOOK OUT ON THE OCEAN AND I WONDER WHERE WE GO FROM HERE . AT THE MOMENT IT DOESNT SEEM TO MATTER MUCH . I HAVE COME THROUGH THIS LAST LONG STRETCH IN ONE PIECE AND SMILING .
IN THE CLINIC THERE IS A STEADY PACE SETTING UP . THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY INFECTION ISSUES SINCE WE PULLED OUT THE CENTRAL LINE . MY BLOOD COUNTS ARE MUCH HIGHER THAN BEFORE I DID ANY OF THIS . FATIGUE IS STILL MY BIGGEST ISSUE BUT THAT'S WHAT NAPS ARE FOR ,
I AM BACK ON THE COASTLINE AGAIN , THE OCEAN IS LIKE MY BLANKY AND I FEEL SAFE - SEE YOU - KHUN CHUCK
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Dear Khun Chuck,
Greetings from Sweet Apple Creek! We are all here, thinking of you, and sending our good wishes out to you every evening. Last weekend we held a pie eating contest in your honor (the first of what we hope will be an annual event), and little Mabelrose, who is normally not a big eater, beat out favorite Buckminster Jackson to win first prize with the astounding time of 14.26 seconds! Mabelrose is very proud of her blue ribbon, carrying it with her nearly everywhere.
And you, Khun Chuck? We haven’t heard a peep for many days. Despite Mabelrose’s concerns, I feel certain in my bones that this is a favorable sign. I can sense your progress on these wild fall winds, and know that you are traveling under charmed stars.
We wish you very well, and hope that your stars one day bring you here to Sweet Apple, where there will always be warm pie to welcome you.
Fondly,
Merriweather Mapplethorpe
We all miss you, Khun Chuck.
So very much.
love always,
Violetta
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