To avoid confusion, the word “bottom” in this essay is not a reference to part of the human anatomy. The “bottom man” is one who has a particular responsibility in a survey of evidence of human habitation in one of the many small canyons in Canyonlands National Park.
This tiny candy cane is a talisman for my feeling about the future. It was the gift of a small boy with a large heart – and it changed my mood from dark to light.
Imagine you are at a social occasion where you don’t know most of the other people – a cocktail party, the wedding reception of your mate’s third cousin, a retirement party, a fundraising gala, etc. And you’ve exhausted your skill of small talk and had more white wine and small mystery bites than you intended to consume. You are standing alone close to an exit, ready to leave early, and a man comes over to you, and says, “Excuse me, but would you consider this list.”
Sometimes I think I have nothing new to say or write about. But on some subjects, my thinking hasn’t changed. So, I review what I’ve written and published over the last 30 years and bring my thoughts up to date. Here’s an example:
Called ristras – hung on the porch of my studio for decorative reasons. Handled with rubber gloves because the chemical compound they exude can sting delicate skin around the eyes and nose and lips. But hot peppers have their positive uses.