Playing the plant some Eroica. Went out for my morning walk with basketball, working on my left hand. Had banana. Read e-mail's. Here is one from one of coolest friends; one of my tribe's inner circle:

"Ray!-

(also known to some rather vicious tribes in Southern California as "O'NEIL!!!")

What up senor ?

Yeah, yes-I am back in the 'Good' ole U.S.-of-A

Sitting here in New York with a raspy cough and

meddlin head....I flew back in last Wednesday Morning(got to me bed at 1:30A.M.

Firstly I apologize for my lack of writing

in the last few months, no excuses besides

the fact that I have been outside the US

living in a commune with no phones--very

limited CPU access and a volcano to

attend to(I was a trail engineer down there

on the Island I was on)

So...on with it my matee!--How have you been

good sir? Still living up in Sonoma County

I take it. Good good good. Doing any hiking?

Any nature wandering? Any San Francisco-ing?

Any writing/reading?

Yes, yes---good man.

I have much to touch base with you about!-

First off--what are yor plans for this summer?

**(I have accepted a job working for the National

Parks out there in California. I start "my tour"

in Humboldt Redwoods State Park. I'll be there

for 6 WEEKS, so Late April-until-Early June.

***Then they move me down to 'Stanislaus National Park/Forest' {Emigrant

Wilderness I believe} for a few

weeks, and finally-

***I end "my tour" in the HIGH Desert in 'Inyo National

Forest' camping above 10,000 Feet staring

straight at that beast-Mt.Whitney!!!

As you see how this is shaping up, if I stick with this

job/adventure--you should visit one, or all of these

camps for a long weekend. I'll have to work during the

weekdays-but the weekends are mine to explore.

I feel that I could get along with nature just fine---it will obviously be the

'people' that could screw with my head.

But as my philosopher friend John Locke described in quite

boring detail--"I'm going out there with a Blank Slate for

opinions-and I'll fill this 'slate' with what I see and learn out there......"

That 'Humboldt Redwoods Camp' that I'll be at is particular

convienent for you maybe. It's 'somewhat' close to Sonoma--and in being there in

the early Spring--it could possibly

be a good way to start off your 'Hiking Season 2003'? Yeah?

I hear(from Jules) that you may be attending school somewhere out in

No.California? True? Good for you m'man.

I plan on going back to classes maybe this Autumn, Winter, or

next Spring? Who knows-I'm having too much fun in the 'real

world', just gaining experience, knowledge, writing, reading, and meeting cats

from all over the world.

I feel as if I have a few more "O'Neil-ish" journeys

up my belt before the 'clay of settling down' and actually

making money becomes crucial.

I wouldn't mind going to school out in No.California(maybe where you are going?)

And all the family and old cronies out in New York constantly call me back. Plus

I MUST go to Europe within

the next 5 years and visit some friends--and go around mountains and pubs with

you my friend until we catch some sort of "post-Kerouacian"

illumination.....Whewww, life!

So----I fly into San Francisco International Aeropuerto

next Wednesday, APril 16th-at 6:30P.M.---I'll probably stay

with some hombres for two days(if I can get a hold of them

somehow)-and then stay up in North Beach for a day ortwo.

THEN--I MUST catch a bus from SF--to--Klamath before April

21st. Whooosh!

You'll be back in Michigan?

Listen man, I NEED your address where I can mail out

correspondances while I'm out in the wild.(for, I will have no access to CPU's,

e-mail, or telephones)

So address sir?!!!!

And cell phone(and real phone) number again? (Ihave it --but just include that

as well, OK Hombre!-

OK goood man, I'm back---Your back, we're alive. Dwell on some of these words

for a bit and get back to me allright kid. I hope to see you soon==even if it's

out in the Wild.

We'll talk soon, write back sometime. Give me the low down.

Drink a thick lager for m-eh!--CHEEERS!-Chris"

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