A Collection of Wanderings

Random walks with my dog

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Dear friends,

Writing is inherently personal. A writer takes a part of themselves and puts it down for others to read. There is an intimacy involved, allowing readers to see a part of us. Without this, it is difficult for readers to connect with the writer.

The following is a collection of thoughts and random musings I experienced while walking my dog. It's a peek inside my head—it doesn’t get more personal than that.

Late summer in western Tennessee is a confusing time. The sun rises late, allowing for cool mornings, often accompanied by a light breeze. Such is the case today, making our morning walk enjoyable. By noon, the sun will have awakened and remembered it is summer still. The remainder of the day will be ferociously hot and humid, as if the sun is attempting to compensate for rising late. This morning period is the only time it is safe to venture outdoors for my sanity and Lola’s paws.

We see a few other animals and their people out. The animals sniff each others’ butts. The people stick to polite greetings. It is preferable for all that way.

I haven’t completely regained my strength or energy since having surgery, but these morning walks in the fresh air do me well. The bandage around my next covering the sutures is a reminder that I am no longer a young man. From the moment we are born we are dying. It is the only certainty. My fading vision, the aches and pains of waking in the morning, the bottles of medication on my bathroom counter - these are daily reminders of my mortality.

But there are joys too. The cool morning has brought out many birds who sing and dance. Lola and I will stay huddled inside during the heat of the day, but this morning’s escape is good for the soul.

I normally listen to an audiobook while Lola and I are out and about. It is one way I maximize my reading time. Today, though, I decided to go out sans technology. I do this now and then when I want to be more aware of the world around me.

We started a bit later than usual, to our detriment. The sky was that brilliant light blue, almost white, when there is not a cloud in it. The sun was making its presence known with ferocity, and we opted for a shorter path.

Some of the neighborhood kids were fishing in the nearby pond. They don’t know me, but they know Lola because my wife is their teacher, and she shows them pictures of our dog.

“That’s Mrs. Long’s husband walking Lola.” “Shhh…he might hear you.”

I inquire if they have had any luck this morning.

“We caught two small bluegills but we put them back.”

“I had a big one on my line but it got off before I could pull it in!”

Such is the luck of all fishermen of all ages everywhere.

I wish them good luck, and Lola refuses to move until they have given her the appropriate amount of love. Then we move on, leaving the intrepid fisherkids to their adventures.

I have been reading Inherent Vice by Thomas Pynchon. It is the first of his books I have read, and he is notoriously difficult to read. This is supposed to be the entry-level book for those interested in his works. I have to read it in small bits and let it simmer. I think about it while walking and realize it is quite a funny story. I actually laugh out loud recalling a scene.

“Good morning!”

I look up and realize some neighbors are sitting on their front porch - in the shade of course - and have seen me giggling to myself. I smile and greet them in return. Lola wants to say hi but I am ready to hurry on.

By the time we get back to the house we are both panting from the heat. Lola forgoes her usual post-walk treat and gulps down a bunch of water before plopping on the cool floor. I feel like doing the same but I might not be able to get back up again so I opt for my chair instead. We will remain safely within the confines of the air conditioning for the remainder of the day.

I step out my back door to check the weather each morning before our walk. Today the sun was bright and the air was quite cool. My weather app confirms a temp in the mid-60s (20 Celsius). It appears a cool front will accompany us this week.

I am listening to Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. His book The Covenant of Water was my book of the year for 2023. This one is also quite excellent. I find there are some books I really enjoy listening to, particularly when the narrator is exceptional.

This morning, the neighborhood is quiet. All the kids are back in school, and the adults are back at work. For the hour we meander through the streets, there is an absence of human activity. The walking is slow. Lola stops to smell something in the grass every 10 meters or so. I don’t mind the slow pace. My strength is still slowly returning after surgery. I have nowhere to be except right here.

The grass is growing slower and, in some places, beginning to turn brown. The particular strain of grass growing here in Western Tennessee does not retain its color through the winter. This is a subtle sign of the changing season and a reminder of the cycle of life.

As we arrive home, the morning dew is still visible in my front yard. This part of the yard is shaded until late in the afternoon, after the sun has passed its zenith. Lola rolls in the damp grass to cool off as if she has overexerted herself, hardly possibly at the lazy speed she set. But she has a smile on her face, and so do I.

Guest Author Opportunities

I am seeking writers (or readers who want to share their experiences) to write some guest posts. They could be either non-fiction essays or original fictional work on the topic. The following opportunities are coming up in the next few months. If you would be interested in taking on one of these, please reach out to me at matt.m.long@gmail.com.

• October 29 - Exploring the themes of Cormac McCarthy’s works - looking for essays on identity/belonging, violence/suffering, fate/free will, moral ambiguity/ethics, isolation/loneliness, or the decline of the old West.

• November 26 - Coffee - looking for coffee-themed essays that either share your own experiences with coffee and how they relate to your literary experiences or a fictional story focused on coffee.

• December 24—Life-long Learning. I am looking for essays on your experiences as a life-long learner and how you incorporate continuous learning into your routine. (This topic is a change from the audio version, but I didn’t want to record the whole thing again, so I apologize for any confusion.)

Until next time…