Author: asiwentwalking

Plover Preservation

Panorama PointNebraskaJuly  2013 Standing on the highest land form in the state of Nebraska, looking southwest.  In the far distance, we can see the Rocky Mountains.  East and southeast holds the multitude of windmills of the Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska, or MEAN, wind farm.  Looking west, bison. I understand also that this is the… Continue reading Plover Preservation

Telescope Peak

Death Valley National ParkCaliforniaMarch  2019 Telescope Peak is more than 11 000 feet high.  My friend Mike once climbed up and over this peak on his way to Mount Whitney. Calling the park where Telescope Peak is located, the telephone conversation begins this way… “Death Valley National Park.  This is Aubrey.  How may I help… Continue reading Telescope Peak

How We Talk Here

AlabamaNovember  2013 Before Lisa and I head out on our trip to Alabama, one of my students, whose vocal style hints of her formative years in the South, suggests that I be “real patient” when I attempt conversation with the folks down there. “Yeah, why’s that?” “They talk real slow,” she says, real slow. Reminds… Continue reading How We Talk Here

My Brother Laurence

the California CoastJanuary  2009 January 23I fly into SFO and am greeted by a friend of my brother.  He shuttles me to Laurence’s apartment in the Mission District. As we greet each other, I note that Laurence is nearly gaunt, but in good spirits.  He is feeling much better since he began taking morphine yesterday. … Continue reading My Brother Laurence

Worms In Relationships

Harrison Hills ParkPennsylvaniaJuly  2018 While hiking on the dirt path, I notice two five inch brown earthworms on the ground, near to each other.  I pick one up — boys can do this without getting grossed out — and place it right on top of the other.  They wriggle about, each oblivious to the identity of… Continue reading Worms In Relationships

Jerry Siegel’s House

ClevelandOhioMay  2017 We’re on our way home from Cleveland Clinic in a rental car, Lisa is driving.  It is quiet for a few minutes before she says, “Y’know, this whole thing with anal glands…”  She lets the thought hang. This is not Lisa’s standard introduction to conversation. Nonetheless, anal glands are real.  Dogs have them,… Continue reading Jerry Siegel’s House

Blood Rock

Mount AscutneyVermontSeptember  1984 We are on our way up-trail to the summit of Mount Ascutney, a former volcano in Windsor, Vermont.  Our snack stop is on Blood Rock. Blood Rock.  In 1925, a self-important gentleman named Houghton Hoisington was using a hand ax to carve his initials in the stone of the overlook.  As he… Continue reading Blood Rock

Rough Ride at Red River Gorge

Red River GorgeDaniel Boone National ForestKentuckyMay  1998 The publicists, in their usual inclination to the obvious, didn’t resist the play on words, calling this area “gorgeous.”  And it truly is, the little of the place we saw. There were stunning rock formations, hillsides loaded with sassafras, and the mountain laurel and giant magnolia were in… Continue reading Rough Ride at Red River Gorge

Plant I D

Mount RogersVirginiaJuly  2011 We start up the Rhododendron Trail which leads to Rhododendron Gap.  There’s a certain symmetry in that, don’t ya think.  The Rhododendron Trail follows a wagon road over the hill but we are on a re-route.  My guess is this new section was built to let the land recover from erosion caused… Continue reading Plant I D

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