A Day Late, a Dollar Short, Yet Wealthy Beyond Measure

Sitting in the wreckage of yesterday’s activities, I’m torn between two important writing projects: this blog, and commenting on the looming University of Alaska Timber Sale (see Something New to Worry About).

I’m beat, feeling shy, introverted, and uncommunicative. I need to keep up the blog while figuring out how to write one of the most important letters of my life. I’m feeling a day late and a dollar short, yet I can’t help but marvel at what a rich man I am, in the best sense of the term. My riches may not be measured in dollars or consumer goods, but I’m a wealthy man nevertheless.

First, I woke up thinking I was late for commenting on the UA timber sale, as the deadline was tomorrow. When I went to the site to pick up links to send to some friends, I found two important new bits of information:

  1. The comment period has been extended to November 22nd.
  2. The mailing address to which comments should be directed has changed!
Lioni n Winter cast planning

We plot and plan . . . cast planning session in the October sunshine (Photo: Sarah A. Zeiger).

The extension indicates that the University of Alaska may be willing to work with the Haines Assembly on a resolution to the issues. I feel hopeful.

Secondly, I’m recharging after a very social start to the weekend. Aly and I hosted a retreat for the cast of The Lion in Winter. Dubbed “Octoberfest in Aquitaine,” the event proved to less zany and weapons-focused than we’d originally envisioned, but that might be for the best. Half the cast came out Friday evening and slept over, the rest joined us the next morning. We ate homemade food and munchies, sampled homemade wines and other beverages, planned sets, played games, and bonded.

Lion in Winter cast clowning around.

Lunch at wine: thirty. The cast clowns around (Photo: Sarah A. Zeiger).

When I walked the group out Saturday evening, I rode into town with Aly for a local bar’s trivia night. My team, made up of cast members and other friends, came in second, behind Aly’s first place team. It’s on now . . . .

Other than one cast member who had been friends with one of the original homesteader couple’s children, no one in the cast had been out here before. Aly and I loved showing off the property, and appreciated our friends’ appreciation of our home, its amenities, and its views. Nothing reminds us of how rich we are than to hear others amazement at our surroundings. We are, indeed, wealthy beyond measure (in spite of imposed price tags—see A $20,000 View).

This leads to my comments on the timber sale. How, precisely, does one impress the importance of intangible wealth on a board whose stated purpose is to convert holdings into monetary wealth? What persuasion can I conjure to convince them that my community’s quality of life has more value than the money they might make on this sale? That’s my task, and my dilemma.

Like most introverts, I need time to recharge after all our recent sociability. Also like most introverts, most people who know me express surprise—”but you’re so outgoing!” Yes, but it takes effort, and requires recovery.

Which I will now do, after posting this on line, late.

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