The Story of a Wendell Berry fanboyHaving been a fanboy of lesser people and having had a chance to meet some of them, I was somewhat prepared for my evening on Friday. What can one expect from a short encounter with someone who one has put on a pedestal and even sought to emulate? One can expect disappointment. So I tried to go into the Wendell Berry reading working to keep my expectations in check. I got there a little early and was able to get a seat right on Mr. Berry's left shoulder. There were two other author/poets that shared the bill with him. He read first though. He read an amazing poem about hope that left me with tears. He then read a new story of Burley Coulter. Burley is one of the central characters in his Port William fiction series. Hearing Mr. Berry read the story in Burley's slow southern drawl made me feel as if I were with him around the fire, hearing a story, while sipping "White Lightning" after a coon hunt. This was the highlight of the evening.
After Mr. Berry read, the two other guests read from their work. It was good, but paled in an
unfair comparison. After the these readings there was a short break during which, I reached to touch Mr. Berry's arm to thank him for coming. His arm was old. It felt like the arms of other old men I'd known, Grandpa, men I grew up with. He was thin and his skin was loose. This was not what I expected from the long-time farmer. His age continued to show during the subsequent question and answer session. He needed to have each question repeated and frustration with the microphone was ongoing.
After the reading ended, around 9:45 pm, there was a reception with all locally grown food. (The food was delicious. It really is different.) During this time, many people lined up to have Mr. Berry sign their books. After my food, the line had died down and I took my copy of
Hannah Coulter out for his signature. I told him my name was "Andy" and he seemed to think that was a good name (His most recent book is entitled
Andy Coulter: Early Travels.) While he was signing I asked him "Is it difficult for you to talk about these issues outside of a relationship with Jesus?" He didn't hear me, but answered, "I've been talking about these issues for years. Its not hard. The problem is I'm going deaf. I can hardly hear."
The evening was great. I do not get many opportunities like this. My reading of his work will be different for the time that I was able to spend there.
I wanted to try and get some more pictures of little Molly out for those of your who are not close. Molly is doing really well. She is beginning to have a little bit of trouble with her poop. No blood in her stool yet. We are hoping that it clears up. Amanda is doing well too. She is feeling great as long as she doesn't push herself too much. Today is her first day totally on her own. Mom left last Wednesday and I was off on Thursday and Friday. 
In an attempt to squeeze every last drop out of our time before Molly comes, we decided to make a run to the "Norwegian Riviera" (Duluth, MN) this weekend for a quick over quick over-night. I'm not sure what it was about this place, maybe just a break from the everyday, maybe the cool atmosphere, maybe swimming in the Holiday Inn pool with the boys, or more probably the beautiful lake, but it was a huge emotional relief.
When Dave, Joni, Brad and Sarah all came out last night, we had planned to go to Stillwater (a great small town about 15 minutes from us on the St. Croix River) for dinner and a little time near the river. When we got there we walked to the marina to look at the boats. We saw a sign for boat rentals and thirty minutes later the nine of us were on a pontoon cruising down the beautiful St. Croix. It couldn't have been a more desirable night. The sun was warm on our necks, the bluffs on the Wisconsin side were tree covered and the water was like diamonds. Brad, Ben, Caleb and I stripped to our skivvies and went for a dip. It was a good night.
