Bat fortune

(Andree here) Hi everybody, forgive my lack of post for the past few, for I was down in Battle Ground and Washougal seeing how Erik was after his Native Indian retreat. He -- and Nancy, don't forget! -- continue to fight, and found deep sustenance and consolation in the powerful medicine of the retreat. Erik seems to have been particularly moved by the dancers who fasted for 4 days. I have always found the power of the ascetic way compelling regardless of its originating culture; there are some things we cannot know until we have driven ourselves to the very brink.

Oh and there's been a number of personalized flythroughs by bats in and around E's house, lately.

When my parents told me that I about leaped from my chair. You see, in the Chinese tradition, bats are good fortune indeed, and a harbinger of longevity as well. (What could be better? Maybe a dragon with an Aladdin's lamp and a three-olive martini, but I don't think we'll get one of those.) One bat visited while I was there. I saw it. We were trying to persuade it back outside where it could eat bugs and bring more luck, and after about three rounds of the kitchen (we were on the floor) it fluttered out the kitchen window. We told Erik.

Something up there wants Erik to take heart and it's making no bones about it.

Puppy news: The puppy's name is Cub!