Have I mentioned I'm not big on being fake. Two people being fake ended up in a huge row at the park one day. I'd already noticed that certain groups refused to mingle with others. Not sure of all the details, but the row had something to do with a Howell getting one of the odd glowing folks pregnant and lying about being married. Marriage, or in the current case permanent partnering, is something that is being pressured onto all of us who are single. There's also a fair bit of talk about having everyone contribute at least one child to the gene pool even if their preference is same gender. I'm really not sure how I feel about this, and have been regretting sleeping through bio classes. I've spent more than one afternoon trying to understand the importance of what some of older folks are talking about. I need to really emphasize the try part of that. Ms. McClutchy got frustrated with my repeated questions on bio diversity, heritage tracing, and avoiding inbreeding. Carole Funke understood it and tried to help me understand it better, but even she had her limits on repeated questions. The bits I understood I applied to the plants in my garden. With really good results, so while I still didn't get all of it. I understood that for the future health of our community, and possibly the world, I would have to do my part to contributing to the next generation. I've spent more than one afternoon trying to understand the importance of what some of older folks are talking about. I need to really emphasize the try part of that. Ms. McClutchy got frustrated with my repeated questions on bio diversity, heritage tracing, and avoiding inbreeding. Carole Funke understood it and tried to help me understand it better, but even she had her limits on repeated questions. The bits I understood I applied to the plants in my garden. With really good results, so while I still didn't get all of it. I understood that for the future health of our community, and possibly the world, I would have to do my part to contributing to the next generation. While there were no obvious changes in the seasons or years, beyond moon cycle counting. At some point I realized I'd hit middle aged status. I suppose that was something that would have been celebrated with a party at one time, instead I told the garden about all the things I had wanted to do as a teen. While realizing I really needed to knuckle down on the work I'd been doing. The nice thing about having a perfect garden. I'd figured out, okay I accidentally smashed some fruit one day, how to use some of the berries with the mre stuff to make it slightly more palatable. I still didn't really know what to do with the fish I was catching. Some of the smaller minnows I just hooked back onto the hook and used as bait. Every so often I'd catch a fish that was a perfect specimen. Through trial and error I found that by packing them with just the right amount of wet snow so that an ice crust was formed kept the fish in a form of stasis. Without any tanks or bowls it was the best I could do. I had dedicated the very bottom shelf of the cupboard to the fish and once a day packed fresh snow in. I'd already learned the hard way that the fish would die and stink up the garden if I didn't. There was an unexpected, by me, bonus. Having a snow layer below the seeds and harvested plant produce was helping with their preservation. While it was one more chore to do daily it also helped with freeing up time, which was usually spent repairing plumbing. With an eye towards future decisions to be made. I bartered, traded, and scrounged over several moons until I was able to have a double bed, which was so uncomfortable I still slept in the rocker, and walls to separate it from the rest of my shelter. I officially had a bedroom. Now I needed someone to share it with. I was continuing to meet with both Autumn and Carole. Although Carole had let slip that she'd promised to Harold. Rumors about Autumn were starting to reach my ears, but I was unsure if they were true. I knew eventually I'd have to ask Autumn what was up for now I stick to writing the usual notes, but there's only so many times you can write about finding a perfect toad or fish before you get a note back that says don't write me again. As has happened a few times. Truth time, finding enough stones let alone wood for my big project had not been easy but I did it. With a few test runs at home before taking the cart down to the corner lot near the largest group of homes, yeah that still feels weird all these years later calling these shelters homes. I determined that fruits and vegetables could be safely kept out indefinitely, but fish and the odd plants that I suspect might be herbs could not be.
I even managed to get the typewriter working and using berries for ink and banana leaves for paper put together a couple of pamphlets that people could take. One was on how to grow the very common plants, the other was on how to identify the edible fish. My movements were getting stiffer and sometimes I found myself forgetting tiny details, all indicators of elder hood and dementia. Time was running out and it was past time for me to partner up with someone. Just as Carole had already done. Checking on the stand on my way to the park, and I discovered that not only were people picking up produce, but they were leaving stuff behind in exchange. This boosted my spirits up, the community was honoring an unspoken code of cooperation and reasonable sharing. I also replenished the two fliers I'd made.
2 Comments
Addy
5/2/2020 06:06:03 pm
Time is ticking! Jullio is doing well with figuring things out but needs to find a partner sooner rather than later.
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Mama Dragon
5/2/2020 07:01:10 pm
I have a note that simply says don't wait on skills. The only major drawback with the byo neighborhood is the limited places to fish or find seeds. I would have liked a different clear for first clear, but was not to be. The joys of randomization. :)
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