Since I’m about to use up my monthly hotspot data supply—and because I have no quick and easy way to charge devices at this primitive campsite—I have to make this fast.
Current location: Jeff Busby Campground, Natchez Trace Parkway. PLEASE visit this link to learn more about this American national park, a pristine ribbon of road traveled by 5 million people each year. No billboards. No suburban sprawl. Speed limit 50 mph. Runs 444 miles from Natchez to Nashville. Popular with cyclists who’d rather not get rear-ended by a diesel-spewing 18-wheeler.
I’m in limbo—waiting to get an official thumbs up and start date from Shiloh on my potential volunteer position there. Which would offer the chance to get settled into a regular daily rhythm more conducive to the writing and creative pursuits. Life on the road, as thrilling and inspiring as it sometimes is (which is where I find myself at the moment), offers only irregularity. But maybe I should heed the sage advice of Victor Frankl, who said: “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”
(Merle Haggard wrote songs in airports. So there’s that, too.)
Good news on the knee: 100% recovered from the mid-summer injury! I hiked up a small mountain this morning with no probs whatsoever. Felt great, in fact.
I hope all is well in your life and you can enjoy some real-world moments today away from screens and the insanity of the hyper-connected world. (Quick tip: just pile up at a campsite with no water or electricity for a few days, where you will learn that a falling maple leaf in the real world will trigger twice as much cerebral dopamine as a Facebook video of a falling maple leaf. Just sayin’. )
As always, thanks for your support and readership!
Peace & Love,
Mark
been dying to bike up the Natchez someday (umm my motorcycle ha im old AND lazy!!) totally get the hotspot thing glad to hear knee is full strength what a blessing and a job at Shiloh what a dream did take the bike up there few years ago from Florala via Monroeville then Tuscaloosa such a hallowed pastoral place!!! but im sure ive said that you should get a stand alone charger for devices it can jump car battery too i got ione last summer after leaving truck door open while camping and being fairly stranded when tried to start her up......headed back south from U.P. next week and looks like the snow we got a week ago will be all melted phew lol
Mark, awesome insights. Thanks for sharing your blog.
We've been mired in the mix of work deadlines here in Dallas.
Let's touch base next week. I sure hope Shiloh works out for you!!