Pachyderm Post: Fallen trees & existence as a we

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Sunday evening was spent at my parents’ house, for a quiet dinner celebrating motherly love, fatherly barbecue, and vaccinations that allow us to hug each other. All of our eyes were getting heavy, but the weather radar told us we should wait a bit longer before heading back home 30 miles north, so we listened. It was just after 1am when our tires hit the gravel leading to our house, where we would try to finish packing up our things to head out of town today to visit Pete’s family that we haven’t seen in nearly a year. But this is what rose up to meet us in the dark. What so graciously has provided us shade and tall wisdom on our walks, now fallen and sleeping across tightropes of fence and power line.

Technically, none of it is ours. The tree was once rooted in the pasture we do not own that is neighboring our property, and it is now laid across a private gravel road, that we also do not technically own, but have an easement allowing access (the only access) to our house. But that doesn’t mean it’s not our problem. It is very much our problem, and we cannot move forward without addressing it.

We’re working to get it sorted out and allow progress that it’s currently impeding. Things are in motion and we should have access to our house some time today to assess for any damage there and continue with our regularly scheduled programming. Someone is helping us.

As I am hurrying up and waiting, I see the symbolism. I feel the reminder. There are so many fallen trees blocking access in this world. So many issues and problems that don’t “belong” to us, that we don’t technically own, but their presence is halting progress. We can be the ones to see and sound the alarm, or we can be the ones to help. We can find our place and be part of the solution if we remember that we need to be. May we all keep close in mind and in heart, our existence as a we, an us, a big community.

// Music & Merch //

We shared our new song "Pigeons" over at Patreon last month.
Here's a snippet of the video. We've got another new one that's settling into itself and asking to be shared soon.

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Mavis melting into the crease of the porch couch.

OE Unedited
This is the section where we share an unedited journal entry or object write.
(Object writing is a daily 10 minute writing exercise, where you write to a particular object in a sensory stream of consciousness kind of way. You can read more about it here.)

Wrote this today as we gratefully wait

roar of a john deere motor
like a jet engine flying in
to this land covered with gravel and cows
chainsaws buzz gasoline conversations
breaking down what’s blocking
splitting what didn’t splinter

cardinals and wrens and bluejays keep chirping
another day, just with rearranged scenery

tucked away we revel in the silence
feel freedom in the fields turning yellow to green
but when we reach across the quiet
we are comforted by the voices there
bouncing and echoing
giving reminders of reminders
that it works best
to work together

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES

Mon, May 24 - 7:00pm CENTRAL
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hosted by Red Dragon Listening Room
Bob Dylan's 80th Birthday Bash
Tribute show w/ Grant Peeples and Clay Parker & Jodi James

Reserve your tickets by writing cmaxwell@premier.net or calling 225-939-7783

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See you down the road (one of these days),
Crystal & Pete (who is getting ready to drive us back home, but sends his love)
www.ordinaryelephant.net

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