{"id":228,"date":"2007-12-07T23:48:35","date_gmt":"2007-12-08T04:48:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.silkentent.com\/Trees\/?p=228"},"modified":"2008-12-07T15:36:16","modified_gmt":"2008-12-07T19:36:16","slug":"story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.silkentent.com\/Trees\/?p=228","title":{"rendered":"Story"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"HolidailiesDecember 7, 2007
\nFriday<\/strong><\/p>\n

Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire:\u00c2\u00a0it is the time for home.<\/em>\u00c2\u00a0
\n\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u201d Edith Sitwell, 1887-1964
\n\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0English poet<\/p>\n

\"Deer\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

Aloof Doe and Curious Fawn at Story, Wyoming
\nDecember 7, 2007<\/strong><\/p>\n

I have found the place to come back to, the place in the Big Horns that I’ll seek next year or the year after that\u00c2\u00a0as a way to get back the mind-expanding, soul-freeing feeling of being able to do anything, write anything, achieve anything. If\u00c2\u00a0Vermont cradles me, reminds me who I was\u00c2\u00a0and strengthens who I am, Wyoming shows me who I yet can be.<\/p>\n

I heard this morning that there might be seven inches of snow by nightfall. I’d stayed in Banner all day yesterday, working. Counting today, I have only six more days before my residency ends. I started the leavetaking on Wednesday, shipping out my cowboy boots, the yarn I bought last week, and some assorted other acquisitions. That package is due to arrive the day after I get home, but as we get closer to Christmas, shipping times get longer. I didn’t want to take the chance on being snowed in up here until Monday, so today I went to the UPS store with the books and papers and other materials I know I won’t need any more this week, but which I don’t want to be without too long after I get back.<\/p>\n

\"PineyI came back by way of Story, Wyoming, a settlement of some 850 people\u00c2\u00a0less than\u00c2\u00a0five miles\u00c2\u00a0from the spot where\u00c2\u00a0I am staying. I was attracted by the name (the place I am staying in is officially called Banner \u00e2\u20ac\u201d Saddlestring is nearby but I haven’t been there yet) and by a brochure I found in the residence for the Piney Creek General Store.<\/a> The spelling on the sign is surely ironic, meant to give a folksy feel to the place. They call the office the Story Real Escape Co., and the deli offers “samitches” (“haffa” and whole) and soup (“cuppa” or “bowla”).<\/p>\n

The snow capping the sign and the bench is what fell yesterday. It was overcast when I got to the restrunt but only a few fugitive flakes were blowing around. The eating area is tiny and cramped but cozy. It was filled with maybe a dozen people, all clearly locals. I sat down at a very small table beside the last stool of the lunch counter, which was occupied by a young woman discreetly nursing her baby. She greeted me and offered me part of the newspaper she had been looking at. It was yesterday’s Sheridan Press<\/em>, which hadn’t yet come to Jentel by mail. I checked out the latest letter about Satellite<\/a>. This one was a shame-on-you-heartless-curmudgeons offering. (And yes, I did go by\u00c2\u00a0his spot\u00c2\u00a0and gawk again this morning. I had to get gas and it was on the way. I could see the top of his watch cap sticking up from the very thick blanket he had spread over himself, a brown blanket that hadn’t been there the other day.)<\/p>\n

I had a BLT with some thin slices of avocado (a haffa, with chips) and enjoyed pleasant conversation with the nursing mother and with the five people at the next table. I got information about places to stay in the area, small operations with individual cabins, modern and well-appointed but inexpensive even in the high season. I had good food and warmth and talk beside a warm heater, and even a bit of the touch of a friendly hand as I held the baby for a bit. I’ve been out here nearly a month, and though I’ve met some friendly and interesting people, I haven’t drawn close to anybody. Everyone who loves me\u00c2\u00a0is back east, and I need a hug.<\/p>\n

\"MadThe drive back to my residence was spectacular, past picturesque pastures with snow-wrapped trees like ghosts lining the creek. I stopped to snap a picture of a doe and her fawn. This was right beside a ranch called the Mad Dog. Sure enough, the dog that I thought was tied to his little house came loping down the lane. He was friendly enough, though, and didn’t scare the deer.<\/p>\n

Tomorrow morning is Christmas Open House at the Story Public Library. As I write, the snow has not yet materialized up here. Unless Piney Creek Road is drifted shut, you can bet I’ll be there.<\/p>\n

Love it? Hate it? Just want to say Hi? Leave a comment, or e-mail me:
\nmargaretdeangelis [at] gmail [dot] com (replace the brackets with @ and a period)<\/em><\/p>\n


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