Tuesday - after Columbus day in These titles mean nothing.

I sit here and watch the world crumble.
My corner’s not. that bad. It’s semi-good. But the rest of the world is not much fun to look at.

I’m reading a Tracy Kidder book. Strength in What Remains
It came out in 2009. It’s about a survivor of the African genocide - a Tutsi medical student - ‘a member of a people forming a minority of the population of Rwanda and Burundi, who formerly dominated the Hutu majority. Historical antagonism between the peoples led in 1994 to large-scale ethnic violence, especially in Rwanda’. He gets to New York city and has good luck - or as good a luck as is imaginable. He is a real person. I haven’t searched for him or even for his history beyond the quote I lifted above. I remember when it was happening. I don’t know what the situation is now. And now is 11 years after the book came out. Kidder is a good writer.

I watched most of a documentary about the homeless in Seattle.

Less hopeful than the book - of course. It seemed to say drug addiction is the common denominator. And of course we know how we are with out own addictions. There is no answer to seek lovingly or otherwise.

The picture below is of the combine being fixed. It’s right front drive wheel came off right there as it entered the field in front of the house. Through a neighbor Jim found a mechanic with a friend with a service truck with a lift and they came Saturday and replaced the wheel’s hub in an hour or two. It was a lucky break. See the bend in the metal work above the wheel. Jim feels bad about that. The burn spot from the fire a couple years ago is on the other side.

Combine is back at work. That’s what counts mainly.

I went with Jim to the combine parts recycler/junkyard in Fort Atkinson last Thursday. I sat in the sun in the pickup while the deal was made. It was a pretty time, full of fall, and purpose. I looked out the window at myself in the rear view side mirror and I was shocked at how old I looked. Mirrors have always been my friends. I can lift my chin or play with my gaze, think happy thoughts, and be satisfied, even pleased with the way I look. But there is the junkyard parking lot, there was nothing attractive about me. I said to myself, is that the way it’s going to be from now on? Is it only old age ahead of me? Or age’s even less attractive partner?

Oh well, we stopped for lunch at the sports bar we like in Decorah. I had a bowl of chili and a glass of Diet Pepsi. Well I was away from home,, and my will power is in decline. We also stopped at a farmer’s candy store - not real candy - just self-indulgent stuff. Jim bought a jack and some other stuff I can’t remember and I got a bicycle horn to put in the basement on my walking route. Toot toot. On the way into the roundhouse and Toot Toot on the way out. I’ve done some walking but not as much as I should.

Maybe today will be a good day. There will be mail. I need to get a letter to Katie off. I guess I do have a purpose in life.