The Narrative Image

EPISODE 1 I’ve gotten into the habit of describing myself as socially retarded. A few scattered internet friends tell me I need to stop doing that and instead only describe myself in positive terms. It’s got something to do with self fulfilling prophecies and the power of positive thinking – something about changing reality with the power of my mind. But I don’t know…the fact that I hear this kind of thing from internet friends instead of local tangible friends kind of tips the scale back toward social retardation (In truth, I get on very well with people up until the point at which they really start getting to know me). Anyway, I suffer from a variety of personal insecurities. So when I end up actually wanting to spend my Friday nights attending free screenings of the last episodes of a popular science fiction television show, it concerns me. Even I know this is wrong. If I like the show, and I do, I should flat out own up to the fact that I like it…go watch it and enjoy it and be mys...

It all started with a story about how, when faced with the prospect of moving, a little girl reluctantly ventured out into her familiar yard to personally say goodbye to all the trees she had come to know. I wondered how you would say goodbye to a tree…did they have names? She (now peering from the eyeholes of an adult body) looked at me with incomprehension and laughing wonder, “No (of course not), they’re TREES.” She said as if that obviously explained it. Even so, I got the impression that she talked to them and maybe felt the texture of their bark and reminisced of lazy summer days stretched out hammock-like in the junction of larger branches, or recklessly hid from the world of semi-evil adults, high in the leafy canopy. Editor’s Note: Turns out she (the little girl who went to say goodbye to the trees) didn’t and doesn’t talk to trees. I’m guessing now that they merely shared quality time together in silent communion. It may also be possible that her imaginary friend Jennifer,...

Note: I’ve mentioned this before, but a really great resource for Portland residents who like to hike is Portland Hikers.org: Portland Oregon’s Hiking Network http://www.portlandhikers.org/ The following images are derived from following the Warrior Rock/Point Lighthouse hike as described here: http://www.portlandhikersfieldguide.org/wiki/Warrior_Point_Hike Even though I was once an art major, I couldn’t think of any more names to describe the colors of mucus that I was able to blow out of my nose. After a week, I was convinced much of it was brain matter. I couldn’t think anymore, most of my parts hurt, and the coughing was starting to aggravate my ribs. When the weekend arrived, all I wanted to achieve was the oblivion of sleep. But at that unexpected moment in the dark hours before dawn, as I eyed the threshold to unconsciousness... some electric stimulus - a message passed along an ethereal network - the inspiration from a muse, invited me to wander. The drive to Sauvie Island w...