Blog 45 A Different Hill Today (Gary)

This one I climb by myself, and wind through the dry blond grass to the top of a small mountain a short distance away from a major mountain artery.  There is some traffic noise but I enjoy this piece of isolation.  I am sitting amongst old oaks in a barren space.  The ocean breeze whips around me.  I can look toward the ocean, but smoke from a forest fire keeps me from seeing beyond a distant ridge.  It's warm, about 72°, and few bugs to bother me, although they usually don't anyway.  I find the more you relax in places like this the more they leave you alone. 

           I am here early, waiting for the men in our Men of Fire group.  What a gift to be able to do my work here.  It's a dream fulfilled to be able to meet on a mountain.  Usually we meet in my garage (although I call it my barn for another desire).  We have been meeting here once a week for about a month.  Life is good. 

            Today I wear my new wedding ring (I have lost two).  I am determined to keep this one.  My wife gave it to me for our thirtieth wedding anniversary.  I guess I am a keeper.  I asked for this design—an elk in front of a mountain.  The name given to me in a Native American Naming Ceremony is Quiet Elk, which I changed after my New Warrior Weekend to Wild Elk.  Maybe it should be Crazy Elk.  You can decide that.

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