Paul left us last week. His plans changed dramatically when a friend of his came to visit; Paul decided to go with him to a vision quest workshop. He’d initially planned on leaving at the end of the month anyway, to spend a few months at home with his family before going to South America. It’s a long story, and it’s someone else’s story, so all I’ll say is that he’s following his heart and we’re happy for him.

I learned that news the day after I learned that Susan is pregnant. She and Chris will be having a child, who’s due in May next year. (For those of you joining me mid-broadcast: Let me emphasize that this is not my sister Susan, but a different Susan. Har har.)

On top of all of that news came the reports about the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. I hurried back to the house to call my sister, who works in D.C., and to e-mail some friends. Everyone I know is okay.

So, it’s been a stunning week, news-wise.

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I’m back to being really happy. The air is crisp and cool, the leaves are just starting to color, and mosquitoes are barely present. It’s paradise again. In the past couple of weeks, I’ve spent a good deal of time doing physical work: helping to dig and haul peat moss to build the new sweat lodge, and braining and stretching another deer hide. From my first two hides, I’ll probably make a pair of pants.

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