The VA, Kensington, and Hemingway

 At the Veterans Administration Hospital in Detroit with Judy for a podiatrist appointments (orthotics). Seeing lots of military men and women mostly overweight and not moving too quickly to their doctor visits making me feel guilty for being able bodied and not serving my country.  Few moving without the aid of canes, wheelchairs and other mobility devices. It's sweaty where I am sitting.  My mask is getting damp from the heat. This place is very institutional in appearance with beige walls and a lonely wheelchair across the hallway from me.  There are lots of wives pushing their husbands all with caps proclaiming their service.  Did see one high tech prosthetic leg.  He a big man and was walking pretty slow but no cane.  Peering at all these folks, was thinking that everybody has a story to tell, whether it be a war story, a love story or a horror story.  It can be seen in their faces. 

We received a more lovely day than expected today and took advantage of it for a trip to Kensington with Marie and Eli looking for birds and chipmunks to feed.  Marie has the necessary patience and quiet to attract these creatures to her.  Eli not so much, his anticipation shows and his success is less. 

And we saw our first snake of the season, a garter snake that I managed a little luck to photo.  No one freaked out seeing him slither across the leaves.  He seemed small an somewhat vulnerable; anyway pretty cool.

We watched the first episode of the Ken Burns documentary on Hemingway.  Many of the commentators were writers themselves and went on and on about his words, life and foibles.  It was like listening to a music critic speak about a recording, sometimes you have to experience the words or the notes and a dissertation does not do either medium justice.  

My purpose is more academic.  I want to learn how great writers perform their craft.  Hemingway was shown to have many drafts and rewrites many of which were typed on an old Corona typewriter, then penciled over and crossed off.  The lines were composed again in pencil over the previous words.  I want to grow as a writer.  Seeing this may help.

As I an writing this on the second day, it is early, before sunrise., I and hearing lovely songs from my balcony.   The morning birds have arisen and I love hearing their songs and chirps.  It provides a certain tranquility prior to the day's beginning.

all for now

stay safe