part 2

Its november 15, its been about 2 weeks but it feels like ive been here forever. The people are so welcoming, the atmosphere is warm, and the landscape isn't so much breathtaking as it is breath giving. I feel inspired, I feel as though writing about this place is almost forbidden, nothing I say can do justice to the reality of it. however with heroes there is always a villain, and to beauty there is always a beast, so as beautiful as it is up here on the mountain, there is an ever unrelenting force of evil trying to destroy it. Its the little things that drive people mad up here: the bad habits, the unpredictable weather, the old buildings that always needs fixing etc. everyone up here has a good side and a bad habit, it goes without saying that almost everyone does, but it sounds almost fictitious when watching these people, straight out of some book. ryan, the big hothead, hes gentle as much as he can be but has this terrible temper that will get him into trouble someday. dan, he's nice and loves jokes, but hates to work. he goes to town everyday, sometimes for supplies but mostly for "supplies" you know, the kind that don't really exist. ralph, head of the retreat center, he's very gentle, easy to talk to, except its hard to find him to talk to him. He's probably the most anti-social leader ive seen, sometimes I think he loves books more than people. anyways, thats just a few examples. I'm sure ive got some annoying trait I'm not aware of that people look at and say "I'm better than that" just like I unfortunately tend to do to others. we all have strengths, and I see that in everyone here, but weve all got weaknesses, and if you don't remind yourself of, and continue to help strengthen those strengths, you will wind up the grumpy old man who puts up a fence and hates his neighbors for stupid little reasons.

dan drove me to church on sunday. a lot of the buildings around here look very old fashioned, brick houses with columns, little cafe's and bistro's; It takes me back to a time I never got to see. the service was alright, the preacher's message was solid, "we need to help those in need, tear down our fences and become a community" or something along those lines. after service dan sortof passed me off to some people "my age" because everyone on the mountain is very concerned about me not having any social life up here. meanwhile I have more than enough friends here already (mainly the people who are concerned). Its difficult for me to see age like them, people are people: friends are friends.

I met this guy named tony: musician, good looking, you know, every girls dream type of guy. He doesn't have a huge ego like I was expecting and in time I think he would make a good friend, then there were 2 or 3 other people I met, one guy was tall, well dressed, obviously came from a well-off family but we had quite a bit in common. then there was a girl named Heidi. I have no idea where I could've seen her before but she looks very familiar, she said the same to me while I thought it, which was strange. I don't know much about her, but I look forward to finding out more.

on a different subject: the work here is hard, I won't lie. working 8 hours a day 5 days a week cutting trees and hauling logs with very little sleep and no pay can get to you if your not careful. I just remind myself everyday that I am doing God's work and that is enough for me. Its pretty funny that ryan complains about the job more than I do, and he gets a nice house and salary. It just goes to show that its your demeanor and purpose that matters, not what you have or what your getting. some volunteers came for about 3 days and cut and hauled as much as they could before leaving, they took to calling me "paul bunyan"because I split open the piece of a 95 year old ash tree (30 inches in diameter) with an axe. I don't mean to boast, but I was honestly impressed with myself that day.

on a side note, when people say "chilled to the bone" you think that its just cold outside. but no, chilled to the bone is the only way to describe when you can barely move your fingers because it feels like your bones are literally freezing.