![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.ancientrails.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/the-green-man-wildwood-ezgif.com-webp-to-jpg-converter.jpg\")
<\/a>Kavannah: Histapkot. Contentment.\u00a0 \u00a0Seek what you need, give up what you don\u2019t need.<\/p>\nTarot: #4, The Greenman.\u00a0 “…he brings order, discipline, and the “organized action” needed to manifest ideas into reality.” May it be so for my writing.<\/p>\n
One brief shining: Ruth and David came up, their new, tender relationship feeling its way. David, “I’m nervous.” Patriarchs, eh? We sat, David on the ottoman, Ruth in the chair, me in mine, and talked of many things.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Do you remember? Meeting the parent or grandparent? I do. When I met Kate’s mom and dad, Rebecca and Merton, I had had, as Ruth said David had, a pep talk.<\/p>\n
I was not nervous. At 42 I knew who I was and what I was doing in our relationship. I loved Kate. We were getting married.<\/p>\n
Rebecca opened, “So, I hear you’re weaving a story.” Oops. She had taken that line from her loom. She was an accomplished weaver. Her slightly forced smile, her body language. The tone.<\/p>\n
Merton, the anesthesiologist, was quiet. He twisted his ring a bit, one he set with a stone from his rock tumbler.<\/p>\n
Part of the pep talk prepared me for this. “Mom and Dad think you’re after my money.” Since Kate made four times what I did as a Presbyterian clergy, I could just understand. An odd suspicion. Without evidence.<\/p>\n
In retrospect it may be that Kate had told them that after we married I would resign from the ministry to focus on writing, cooking, Joseph.<\/p>\n
See. That proves it! He’s taking advantage of her. I could feel certainty behind her not reaching the eyes smile.<\/p>\n
I ignored the implication. “Yes, that’s right. A novel, Even the Gods Must Die.”<\/p>\n
The booth at the Capital Grille got smaller. The sound of cutlery on China. I shifted my napkin in my lap. She had heard what she expected. I did not then, nor did I later try to dissuade them.<\/p>\n
Moral grounding can only show up in deeds. Words are too slippery. Too often shaped to the ears of the other.<\/p>\n
They never changed their perception. I didn’t care. Kate and I knew each other. Who we were. What we wanted.<\/p>\n
When she came home from work, I had a hot meal ready. The dogs had been fed. I’d written my thousand words for the day. We could be together.<\/p>\n
Our life blossomed. Let Rebecca and Merton stay in their xeroscaped home deep in the labyrinth of Sun City, Arizona. Seniors only. Golf carts mandatory.<\/p>\n
Here’s the irony. I got the money. When Kate died. I felt sad about her not getting to enjoy more of it. Relieved that I would have enough. So much more than I ever expected.<\/p>\n
Rebecca and Merton died long ago. I scattered their ashes into a river flowing into Burntside Lake, near Ely, Minnesota.<\/p>\n
Who knows whether Ruth and David have a future. They don’t, not yet. I don’t. If they do, I hope David sees me as welcoming, trusting of his intentions.<\/p>\n
That’s all I wanted.<\/p>\n
In that booth at the Capital Grille.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Imbolc and the Moon of Tides (2% crescent) Tuesday gratefuls: Tamales from David’s mom. Ruth smiling. Winds. Melting snow. Final C.T. of this round. The lives of our days. Rene Good. Alex Pretti. Say their names. Sparks of Joy and Awe: Young love Kavannah: Histapkot. Contentment.\u00a0 \u00a0Seek what you need, give up what you … Continue reading At the Capital Grille<\/span>