June 14, 2003

Suddenly We Are on a New Planet

Inside Geo’s Mind

We are looking out through the mind and sight of Geo Fresnell.  He is a man, 42 years of age, 5’4” tall, with brown hair, a closely-trimmed beard and hazel green eyes.  He is a “psychologist on sabbatical” he would say if you asked him, following his statement with an infectious laugh.  And if you told him that his laugh was infectious, he would say to you “that may be true, but nobody has reportedly died from it yet.”

Geo continues thinking: Here we are, traveling single file along a path in a forest.  The path seems to be made of fresh loam… newly created.  It is hard to tell what time of day it is, because the trees are so tall.  Oh.  There’s the sun.  My guess would make it about 3:00 in the afternoon, this summer, the 14^th of June.  June!  Where will we sleep for a house tonight?  What is it going to take to make a shelter here in this beautiful forest? “

As he rounded a bend in the trail, Geo saw the large lodge to which the trail led.  “The trail seems to end here….” Geo said.  “cordwood nicely stacked… bags here by the door…. A note.”  Geo stopped and read the note: 

Welcome to your new home,Geo. This is the Osprey Lodge on the river Tao.  It is late in the day, and your vegetables will not be ready for harvest for awhile.  Please find in these bags the vegetables to make ratatouille, always a favorite.  Served over the cracked wheat (cook it just the same as you would rice), it really does make a good meal.  There’s a chicken in there too.  I would suggest barbecuing it separately and serving it along side the vegetarian dish… and that way everyone has something to eat.

Some of your favorite forest critters arrived earlier in the day, so you are not alone here.  Look for Ursa and Aster, the moles… they are eagerly awaiting your arrival.

Welcome to our community—your new home, if you will have it.

Gordon Hashimoto, Gordon’s Grocery Store.

7:39:58 PM