Hmmmm… I’m working hard (it isn’t hard. It’s fun) on the little compilation of nature essays based on my years of hiking in San Diego. It is a focal point for a book that is SO SMALL as to be almost invisible. 5800 acres out of the vastness of the world. But it was there I learned my true size. 9 inch feet and a stride of just under two feet on a good day. 7 writing classes, a shitload of grading, some dogs and a few friends. That’s the book.
I’m continuing to refine the prose at this point and I decided to add photos. I don’t know if it will ever be for sale. Some people will be inflicted with it for Christmas.
It’s an answer to the question no one is probably ever going to ask me, “So, Martha, what did you do with your life?”
“I went hiking a lot with my dogs.”
At 18 I would not have thought of that as an answer worthy of my brilliance and my energy, but I didn’t know much about life. Now I think I did good.
“Summer is the season of inferior sledding” - Inuit proverb 
What an inspiration, but I will leave you to it. You can write much better than I can and I do not know the size of my feet. It is size 41 in Sketcher shoes. I still have my collection of walking boots, similar to your wonderful sketch, but they now remain unused after tramping around the Bernese Overland for so many years. I look back on those days with a slight tear in my limbs.
I have the boots in the drawing — they are Italian La Sportivas. For a while I hiked in Raichle Boots I bought in Zürich when my beloved Merrells (that I wore for years and resoled several times) finally gave up. Then they started making trail running shoes and that changed forever what I wore most of the time on the trails. I love these La Sportivas and who ever cleans out my closet after the end will find them well cared for and nearly new. 🙂
I think you did GREAT 😀
Thank you! Me too! But who knew? 🙂
i like the drawing. You did a lot of hiking and i also guess by the end of your book you might be able to say -‘I’ve made a good bunch of drawings and sketches to picture my life’ or ‘I have translated many of my emotions into art as my second language’ 😉 🙂
Naw. I think art was my first language but I couldn’t find any speakers at home. 🙂
Aww.. Art is my first language, too.. One of my brothers and my mother also speak the language. They have different accents but I understand those 🙂 thankfully
🙂 My mom refused to learn the language which made it difficult for my brother and me. But it didn’t stop us.
Our mom, I can tell from the gestures of her eyes, appreciates my accent but sometimes I see fear in her eyes about many of the words that I use which she fears to add in her dictionary. Still her appreciations, both spoken and hidden, helped me a lot. 🙂
❤ At the end of my mom's life, I did a painting while she and I were in the same room. She did not say, "Art is a dirty word in this house." She just chatted and asked how it was going. I think she quit fighting there toward the end. She never understood that people do art because they have to; they're impelled by something like their personality or?
Hug your mom. 🙂
❤ 'Hugs' 🙂
I love the drawing! I’d love to read your book. You’ve lived an interesting and fascinating life. Marylin should write a book too as she’s also lived a fascinating life, nothing humdrumb about either of you. You have much to look back on and reminisce about.
Marilyn has written a book. It’s on her blog page. The 12 Foot Teepee. More important — to me — than having stuff to look back on and reminisce about is having stuff I want to do in the future. I was inspired to put this book together by “A Walk to the Water” by Daniel Graham. It’s just a great book and the author is a fascinating young guy. He has a blog here — but hasn’t posted in a while.
Oh dang, I missed that. I’ll have to go look at Marilyn’s site. Ive seen the teepee but thought it was a pic of a teepee in her yard. I have friends with a full sized teepee in theirs which the kids used often even the parents 🙂 Thank you for letting me know, appreciate it.
Definitely check it out. 🙂
P.S. I did this boot drawing for Danny, as it happens. I don’t remember exactly what led to it, but yeah. It’s actually a color picture and under the boot is clay from a Colorado clay mine. 🙂
I LOVE it!!!!!! Seriously. And I’d seriously read your book too! You’ve lived such a rich life, full of adventure, interesting options and choices. Heartache too I’m sure, but still you are amazing.
I think you did excellent!
Thank you! Bear is at me right now to continue this but it’s too hot and she’ll have to wait. 🙂
Can’t wait to see it!
I think the best parts are the photos of my dogs. 🙂
My book would have extremely limited distribution.
I will put it up for sale, but mostly I think it’s going to serve as a relatively inexpensive and possibly meaningful Christmas present for friends and family. My ambitions in the famous author direction have completely died. Fuck it, I say.
I know what you mean. I don’t write for money. In fact, I don’t do anything for money anymore. Money and deadlines and catering to idiots ruin the fun. (Wife hates that. Wants me back in the wage-slave’s role.)
You did great.
❤ Thank you.