Scott

Every day that I can write I have thought "what can I write about today?" Reality is that I can write about anything I want. Reality is that I may not want to write at all. The great thing about being my own boss in writing is that I can do just about anything I want and no one can tell me not to write or that I must write. Unlike Isabel Allende, January 8 is not the date in which I begin all my book writings but the day that my cousin Scott has his birthday.

Let me tell you about Scott. What Scott probably doesn't know is that he is the person in the family that I most envy. He's always been able to do what he wants - yeah, he listened to his mother and he got his high school diploma, but then he had a sense for desire and adventure and he has lived it every day of his life. He took his inheritance from his grandmother (his father's mother) and used it to buy 10 acres of land in New Mexico, outside of Taos. He built his own home out of adobe brick that he made himself. He planted crops to sustain him.

I envy Scott because he has survived without needing anyone else. He's gone on his whims and been able to build what I am sure he believes (hey, I believe he has, at least) a successful life. He has built relationships with the people of the area. He has made great friends. He works the land and works the land of others. He's health conscious - he eats good food, he doesn't drink (at least, not that I have ever known) and while I think he has enjoyed some medicinal "drugs" he hasn't let it get the better of him. Scott does what he wants and is successful.

He even bought some land in Colorado and in the remote wilderness was building a cabin. His sister (who will be reading this told me once, I believe, that Scott's idea was to be able to survive a winter in this cabin since once the snows came getting out wouldn't be that easy). How wonderful to be able to have enough to live on for an entire winter and to enjoy yourself. Now, I am not sure that any of this has happened because I don't ever talk to Scott, though I did get the opportunity about two years ago when we were visiting Martha and he called.

Here I am, sitting in a crappy desk at work, thinking about how many more years I will be able to work and then where will I live and what will I do - and there in New Mexico enjoying himself every day of his life is my cousin Scott. I'm not sure that I would call him my hero, but in some respects I think he might be. He's done very well for himself. He doesn't have lots of money (maybe he does, i don't know) but money isn't what keeps Scott motivated. I know that because he's never been about dressing for success.

I remember when we were all in the front yard at our grandparents house - this was the day that we were waiting for the limousine to pick us up to take us to our grandfather's funeral - I said to him "you didn't dress up." Scott never "dressed up" because he didn't need to dress up. He was able to be casual and cool! One day when I was probably in junior high Scott and I went for a ride in his mother's car - a big four door LTD (for those who remember when Ford made those). We went off-roading in a fig orchard in that car. I remember him telling me "don't tell my mother." I never did, but that was fun! More fun than when Martha let me drive the LTD - my first driving experience - in a neighborhood. No, I didn't hit any cars, and as I recall I did a good job of driving.

Scott loved to skateboard - I remember him building a skateboard from a ski. He was doing all the things they do with skateboards now, but this was back in the 70's.

This is how the view from up here is - remembering things that are all good. I wanted to share with you my cousin Scott, who I keep saying that I am going to go visit (even though he has an out-house and no inside potty). I haven't been there yet. Not sure why, but I haven't. There are many places I haven't been, but I am sure that Scott would like to have me come visit. I certainly am fascinated to see where he lives and what he's growing and what he's doing to his house and all those things that I can only imagine about because I haven't taken the time to go see him. I know that Scott will not come visit me - he's not a fan of the city life - and I don't blame him. He's too busy to go visit his sister - who will only put him to work - he can't sit still!

Scott - to you I thank you, for you have been an influence on my life. I will tell you that when he heard that I was using drugs he laughed - Jeff? Using drugs? Yeah, right. He's also one of those guys that if you saw him with the long hair and the long beard you'd swear he was a good-for-nothing person. That is where we are wrong to assume. For Scott has been anything but the opposite - he has always been a good for something person. Here's to Scott!

That is my view