Suzday Greetings and Open Thread

 I took Catfurday off!

Photo is from a September 2009 trip to Alaska. 

It was a gift from our youngest!

The next morning, early, while most were still abed.

I would certainly like to go back, overland.

Such a trip would be a very big deal.

But, it would be epic!

⚓

"Peekaboo!"

 

            From Ramona’s point of view, human people were madly interesting when she was a shy young thing. Before she saw Ralph, or figured out the rest of her life right there on the spot, she was like an obsessed teenaged girl.
            You can see how this would go.
            If she saw a fellow working on his car at night. His suspended light source would draw her attention as she did her own research. Like the proverbial moth, she might creep close and look over his shoulder to see what in the world he was doing. His grunting, talking to himself, and moving things around would be totally mysterious to her.
            If he saw her and she knew he saw her, she would skedaddle right quick.
            Her mom had told her to stay clear of humans because they are unpredictable, above all things and might possibly take a shot at you.
            Children playing would be fascinating. She wouldn’t understand clothing. Why do that?
            Her father said human people wear those things because they don’t have enough body hair to stay warm, and besides their body mass is too small to produce much heat. Humans are slaves to the elements, he told her.
            Windows would be like her own TV screens or monitors. The trick would be to watch the show without being seen. She found that this was actually pretty easy because people are so self-absorbed. They don’t look around much, generally speaking. They don’t look at the sky much, or look at their windows. Children are different. They look at everything, then when they try to report what they have seen, well they bump into a bland wall of disbelief usually. Not always.
            Some ladies still hang laundry on a line to dry because it smells so nice when dried that way, and the sun sterilizes like no electric dryer can.
            When she was young, Ramona liked to watch the ladies hang their laundry. They were usually so busy that they never saw her there. If one, sensing something, looked up suddenly, Ramona would do that thing where they change their wavelength to something out of the visible range for humans.
            Peekaboo!
            In fact, this interest in humans is how she met Thaga and Ooog, years before. She watched Ooog gardening and wondered why he did that. Was he making a strange artificial forest or something? What were all those plants for anyhow? What did they do with them? Surely, they couldn’t be food, she thought.
            She was standing motionless in the tree line watching Ooog one day, when Thaga walked out to the road to mail a letter. When Thaga saw Ramona there, she jumped, but managed to steady herself quickly.
            “Oh,” Thaga laughed, “You scared me a little. But not much. I just didn’t expect to see you there.” Possibly, Thaga and Ooog knew of the Forest People. I would suppose so.
            Ramona wasn’t scared either, for some reason, of the little woman in the big apron. She held her ground while the little woman talked to her gently. Thaga even kind of sang to her.
            Thaga took Ramona’s hand and said, “Why don’t you come to the house and spend some time with us?”
            At the stone cottage, they became friends. Ramona learned to speak good English. Thaga learned quite a bit of Saslingua, though it’s hard for English speakers to pronounce. And Thaga, as well as Ooog, answered a lot of her questions about the Hairless. So, she didn’t have to do so much research.
            Of course, Ramona wasn’t Ramona until Thaga named her. Her name, given by her mother, was impossible to say, in Thaga’s opinion.

💚💮💚

She Couldn't Help Wondering

 

            Dianne thought about the river trip for a few days. But really, she was thinking about the blond child in the air and the blue light, inexplicable, beautiful, and compelling. She had to know more.
            Just plunging into the forest hadn’t worked. She and Larry had found out exactly nothing that way. In fact, it seemed as if the very forest had rejected them. Dianne thought there must be a way. She figured she would leave Larry out of this particular venture. He didn’t even admit to having seen what they absolutely did see.
            She decided to investigate on her own. This involved getting a ride upstream with the yellow inflatable raft. There was a park with river access. Her brother was willing to assist. He left her there, afloat, and promised to pick her and the raft up in town when she got there. All she had to do was call. Their parents were not consulted. They didn’t want to worry them over a little solo rafting trip. After all, the river was a sweet calm little river and Dianne would wear a floatation vest.
            It was a pleasant afternoon trip downstream. She passed stands of trees, farm fields, houses, and all, just as she and Larry had done before. She knew she would recognize the right spot. It was rather memorable with its huge Douglas firs standing near the river, and that particular large granite boulder.
            She thought of the laughter they had heard on the beach. It didn’t dissuade her.
            When she got to the right spot, the water thinned out near the west bank of the river, it ran slowly over the pebbles. Dianne steered the raft into that shallow water and then onto the very beach itself. She climbed out, getting her feet wet, pulled the raft further up onto the beach, took its rope and tied it around the boulder. So far, so good.
            The rest of the plan was to sit there and wait, and see if anything happened. Maybe she’d try some dialog with whatever lived in that section of forest. It couldn’t hurt to try.
            So, she picked a likely looking bit of river driftwood and sat down. She looked all around herself.
            The beauty of the place distracted her and quieted her thoughts. On the opposite bank there were the same tremendous firs as the bank where she sat. The water ran smoothly, but not silently. It seemed to sigh, or murmur subvocally. One gull, a long way from the salt water screamed from way up high. Crows added their harsh commentary. The sun glinted on the moving water. A mysterious woody scent came to her, and like scent does, it reminded her of something. But she couldn’t say exactly what.
            Rising up behind her were mountains. Implacable, silent, so very present, saying nothing audible
            Then she remembered with a start why she was there.
            She folded her hands and shut her eyes. She spoke.
            “I just want to know who you are. I come in peace, as they always say, but I really do.”
            She felt the wind lift her hair a little. The cuffs of her jeans were still dripping. Her feet felt cold in their wet socks and Keds.
            “I’m good at keeping secrets, if that matters a lot,” Dianne said. She waited.
            “I’m not going away,” she added. Then she laughed at the incongruity of the situation.
            Someone sat down beside her. She opened her eyes and turned to her left.
            She was startlingly beautiful. That was Dianne’s first impression. Then she noticed the hair, so many colors combining to create the effect of a rich complex light brown. She must have stood around seven feet tall when standing. She was some kind of epic female figure. Her eyes were blue and amused, but a little reserved looking.
            Dianne didn’t dare speak, in fact, she was speechless.
            “You saw my daughter and my grandson,” said Ramona softly. “He was in his star form.”
            “It was an accident,” said Dianne. “We didn’t mean to sneak up on anybody.”
            “The man isn’t here,” said Ramona.
            “He won’t admit that we saw anything. I left him in town,” said Dianne. “I couldn’t stop thinking about what I saw.”
            “Well, since you won’t go away, I thought I would come and sit with you for a while.”
            “Oh! Did you hear me? Were you nearby?” said Dianne.
            “I did! You came to solve a mystery, so here I am to help you. The bones of the story is that those like us live apart from those like you, in forests, on mountains, in deserts, wherever there are the means to do so. My family lives near here.
            “Most of humanity thinks we’re a charming folk story, or something like a horror story. Some find the story horrible, and some can let it be. Some want to be involved.
            “My English name is Ramona. The children you saw are Cherry and Koba. We like to name our children after beloved natural things. Koba means star though.”
            “I’m Dianne.”
            “Which kind are you, Dianne?”
            “I think I’m the kind to let it be. I just couldn’t forget. I kept thinking and wondering. And I won’t tell!”
            “It’s pretty hard to catch us with our guard down. Maybe that bunny Cherry and Koba were chasing bolted for a reason. Maybe we were meant to meet?
            “The forest protects us. Also, it’s unlikely that anybody gets past Ralph, Cherry’s father without a reason. But I’m glad you can keep a secret. Will you keep ours?” asked Ramona.
            “Yes.”
            “Thank you,” said Ramona. “Want some help getting that raft back out into the river?”
            Since the interview seemed to be at an end, Dianne accepted Ramona’s help. She untied the raft from the strange big rock, and climbed into the raft and Ramona shoved it out deeper into the river.
            “I’ll never forget,” said Dianne.
            “I won’t either!” said Ramona.
            As Dianne drifted down toward the west, she saw Ramona step back among the trees.

🍁🌲🍂

Meowy Purrsday to All!🐈🐈‍⬛🐈

 Sweetie wishes you the best of everything.

(He's very interested in the camera!)

He feels that it is high time for fall to commence.

🍄‍🟫🍂🍁🍂🍄‍🟫

Celebrating The Arrival of September

 

It was September 25, 2022.

That's Mt. Hood there on the horizon.

We were headed south!

I wish you a day full of happiness!

Let it enfold you!

❤️

A Walk In The Forest

 

            Cherry and Koba were both free range children. Why not? Every inch of the Great Forest was their dedicated playground. Ah, but the Silver River is another matter. The river moves through the Great Forest, a sort of interface with the outside world.
            One day that fall, Cherry and Koba were visiting Bunny Town and getting to know the new children, who were now old enough to come out and play, and get to know Cherry, and her nephew, Koba. It was always alright with the mothers and fathers if their children played with Cherry near their burrows. They were not allowed to range the forest at their young ages.
            However, in any family, or extended family clan, there is always one. That special one who has a lust for adventure. One with a born-in need to raise his little head, lay back his ears and look further than his nest mates. Alas.
            This year the visionary was Leap, named for his father. From his birth, as soon as his eyes opened, he had been trying to leave the burrow. In fact, his mother was glad to have Cherry keep an eye on Leap. It gave her a few moments to attend to the other three without worrying.
            So, on that day, Leap and Cherry and Koba were sitting in the grass beside the trail running past Bunny Town. Leap was demonstrating his jumps to the cheers of the others. He obviously would be a very fine big rabbit someday.
            Suddenly he stopped jumping right in the middle of the path. He was facing the river and his nose was twitching, and quick as a bunny, as they say, he took off at a dead run up over the hillock between Bunny Town and the Silver River.
            Cherry and Koba had no choice but to follow him and bring him back to his mother.
            To gain the advantage of height, Cherry rose into the air over the path. Koba his blue star form, did the same.
            “Can you see him?” Cherry called.
            “He’s going straight to the river,” said Koba.
            The rushing water must have called to Leap, for that’s just where he was heading, as fast as he could go. The children followed close behind, and did capture little Leap just before he lept into the water. So it appeared that for that day, all was well in Bunny Town. Leap’s parents, Leaper and Missy, said he would have to stay indoors for two days, as punishment, to remind him about the rules.
            Oh, but while the children were catching Leap, an inflatable raft was drifting down the river, heading toward town. The occupants, two biology students from the local college, glanced up into the air near the tree line. Their mouths dropped open.
            They didn’t know what they were looking at. One hears of orbs, of course, but everybody knows that’s not real, thought Larry. But there it was, right there. A blue light, about as big as a beachball maybe. It was brilliantly shining, like some sort of heavenly body, he thought.
            Dianne, the other student, said, “What’s that!” when she saw Cherry’s small blond form aloft beside the blue light thing. “It’s carrying a rabbit!” she hollered.
            “No way!” said Larry, steering the raft toward the pebbly beach.
            “What are you doing?” said Dianne.
            “Can you imagine what would happen if we got photos? Don’t you want to be rich and famous, Di?” said Larry, with a plan in his eyes.
            He managed to beach the raft and tie it off on a very large granite boulder, which was right there and handy. They grabbed their cameras.
            Now, we know the situation with the Mouth of the Mountain. She is no longer able to swallow passersby, even those who are trespassing, but she does know a thing or two.
            As Larry and Dianne passed her, she laughed. They looked at each other, and kept walking.
            “Who was that?” said Dianne. Larry shrugged.
            “I see that blue thing down that path!” said Larry. Larry was no poet.
            In a moment they were among the trees. The path vanished, leaving only brush, in the dim light. Pushing his way through a large scratchy bush, he said, “They can’t be far ahead of us!”
            The light went out. It was as dark as midnight. Dianne grabbed the back of Larry’s belt and hung on. “I don’t know about this..” she said, but he kept walking.
            Something very large and dark flew over their heads. They could barely see it, but they could hear the big wings thrusting the air aside as it moved deeper into the forest.
            “Keep your camera ready,” said Larry.
            “I think we’re going in circles,” said Dianne. “I’m seeing the same brush, and broken places where you broke them, Larry. Let’s go back. I don’t think we’re getting any photos today.”
            But he wasn’t done yet. He pulled Dianne around in the dark for nearly an hour before he stopped and sighed.
            “I don’t even know anymore how to get back to the river,” he said.
            “There is a little light over there, let’s go that way,” said Dianne, pointing to her right.
            Larry was tired enough that he listened to Dianne, and complied. In a few minutes they could hear the river murmuring ahead of them where the light was stronger. Their steps quickened and soon they walked out onto the beach of the river.
            The raft was still there, just as they had left it. Larry untied it from the big boulder and shoved it into the water, allowing Dianne to hop in first. Just as it was clearing the rocky bottom, Larry hopped in too.
            The raft resumed its drift to the west.
            “You know what, Di. I didn’t see a thing, and neither did you. Right?” said Larry.
            “Right,” said Dianne, but actually she had, and she never forgot it either.

🍂🐰🍂

The Letter to Sneaky Sue

 

 Maurice locked the front door on the farmhouse for the very first time that night.
            Then he sat down on the floor of the front room on his pile of folded blankets. But he was drowsy. The song was very much in his mind; he played the tune again.
            Then he thought of writing to Sue, but he fell asleep while thinking of what to say. It had been a long time, and a lot had happened to him.
            He fell asleep thinking about wildness, and then it was morning and bright sunlight was coming in the windows. He took his book and the pen out to the kitchen counter, because the window faced east and the light was brightest in there. He would write standing in the light there at the counter.

 

🌲

    

Dear Sneaky:
        I have been thinking of you and Joseph, and wondering how you are doing? I know it’s been a long time. I’m still alive and I am near Ralph in his Forest. I have been sleeping in an old farmhouse where no one lives.
        A lot has happened to me. I don’t wear clothes anymore because I got fleas in them, so I buried them in the forest. Now, I just wear my fur and a nice bag for my red book, pen, and harmonica. I don’t know what I will do about that if I ever decide to visit you in Branson. But if I do I will figure it out.
        Well, Ralph will probably figure it out. Not me.
        A strange thing happened to me two nights ago. Me and Uncle Bob gave a concert from the top of his Stump House to the Forest. Some people came, Ranger Rick and his helpers, and the lady who writes for the paper in town. Two families of Forest People, a bear lady, and Ralph with his Ramona and little Cherry, and their animals. Twigg and his family came too, and the baby did kind of a light show. But the most surprising guest of all was that guy from space. Mak. He came in his ship!

        It was fun. Just like we used to do in parks and stuff. They really liked it, and I loved doing it. Bob writes good songs. Some of them are a little weird. But, he’s Bob. He used to be a heavy smoker. More about songs in a minute.
        After the show, I came out here and went to sleep. In the night something came in and took my book and read it. In the morning while it was raining real hard this thing like a witch made me play music for her and I couldn’t stop! Oh, Sneaky it was horrible.
        Ralph found me and set me free and made the mean thing disappear. All my stuff was wet, but Ralph made her give my book back. We went down to his place and ate and dried all my stuff. I finally decided I needed to come back here, so I did.
        I walked home through the night. I played a new song about going home alone, to make myself braver. I was walking in the moonlight, and I heard a voice singing a song to my tune. It was beautiful, but I don’t know who it was!
        Someday I will find out. I didn’t feel alone after the song I heard.
        How is Folkie Joe? Does he have any new hits?
        I will tear this page out of my book and find a way to send it to you.
        From your friend, Maurice, A True Howler
        Thank you for being so nice to me when you were a little kitten.

 🍂

 
            After Maurice wrote the letter, he loped over to Thaga’s house and knocked on the door. Soon she opened it, and was surprised to see Maurice standing on her porch in the morning sunshine.
            “Mrs., will you help me mail a letter to my friend Sue in Branson? I’ve never sent a letter before. I don’t have an envelope or a stamp,” said Maurice.
            “Of course I will. I hope you know the address, but we can probably figure something out. Come in,” said Thaga. “Why don’t you go sit in the kitchen with Ooog and I will get an envelope and a stamp for you.”
            He found Ooog sitting at the end of the big wooden table drinking some coffee and eating fried potatoes and onions, and some eggs.
            “Have a seat,” said Ooog, then he went to the stove and got a plateful for Maurice, and also a mug of coffee. “I heard you talking to Thaga. I’m sure she’ll figure out how to send your letter.”
Maurice said thanks and sat down around the corner from Ooog and started on his nice surprise breakfast.
            Thaga came back with a long plain white envelope and a stamp. She sat down at her place around the other corner from Ooog across from Maurice.
            Maurice explained that if she wrote the address like they were sending it to the ice cream shop that it would probably get to her, because there was only one Howler frozen custard shop in Branson MO. So, this is what she wrote:
            To S. Sue
            CO Howler Frozen Custard
            Branson, MO
 
            “I don’t know the zip code, Maurice, but it’s a small city, I believe and the post office will find it, I am pretty sure,” said Thaga.
            So Maurice carefully tore the page he had written from his red book and folded it up  to fit in the envelope. Thaga put it in and stamped it. She put her own address on it too for in case of return.
            “Now, if you go put it in our mailbox, and turn the little red flag up, when the mailman comes by, he will pick it up and take it to the post office,” said Thaga. “I hope she get’s your letter. I bet she does, and will be very surprised to see the return address and wonder who in the world is sending a letter from out here. Then she will read it and be very happy to hear from you!”
            “Thank you!” said Maurice. “The breakfast was very good too!”
            He ran out to the dirt road, crossing the little river first, found the Neanderthal’s mailbox and sent the letter on its way, hoping it got to Sneaky, his old friend.
            After that, he went to catch up with Uncle Bob and teach him the song he had heard the night before, in the moonlight.

💚