Blog 432 – 10.12.2016

When I was a teen and fancied myself a poet I remember writing, “As my life I would wish of beauty to write, of love the adventure…” I did not pursue the writing career I imagined I would as a boy and young man. I became a soldier so I could go to college on the GI benefits after I got out of the Army never even thinking I might end up in South Vietnam writing daily letters sometimes two or three to a wife back home and also daily letters to my mom. So I did become a man of letters of sorts but not the journalist or author I dreamed I would be. For about a year and a half, and in arguably the last quarter of the game, I have been writing this blog and when I retire from my day job in a few years I plan to write those books I always dreamed that I would.

I have been for several years now holding a vision in my mind of a writer’s cabin where I hope to spend the last forty years of my life, if I get that long, making up for the last forty years that I failed to write the books I intended. Don’t get me wrong, I do not regret my life, my loves, my children, the jobs I have had, the adventures, the trials and tribulations, as well as the heights and depths of pleasure and enjoyment that I have experienced in my life. I am grateful and glad for all that went before and the seeds of several best sellers are there. If I live I will put them down and leave what I hope will be the legacy of a life well lived.

I do not need a mansion or even want one just a cozy little cabin on a hillside with a view where I can watch the changing season as I pour out of my heart the beauty and the love I have known in this life. I will not only be writing to you but about you, Dear Reader. I have seen several cabins that would do across this country and in my travels around the world. There are so many beautiful places and with a good WiFi signal I could live anywhere. I have even thought of dragging my little home on wheels across the country and seeing how much more of this great land that I can see. I have also thought of buying a piece of property and building a little place with my own hands on it while I continue to live in my trailer till it is complete. More likely since I have no real desire to own and pay taxes or insurance on a place of my own I will try to find someone looking for a crotchety old caretaker/watchman to keep an eye on their place and live over the garage or in the caretaker’s cabin and just keep an eye on things. That is the job that I have been training for all my life – to keep an eye on things and write down an interesting, thoughtful, and encouraging account of them. What does a fellow do when all his dreams come true? Why, dream another, sweeter one, Silly Rabbit.

Your friend and fellow traveler
David White
Watchman/Writer