Here’s something I just wrote my dad.
—

Some thoughts.

It’s interesting being here in the East. People here have a mentality, a
sense of culture, that Southerners aren’t aware about and folks out West
simply don’t care. I’ve found myself most often leaning up against the wall
in some corner, viewing the goings on with admiration yet alienation,
woefully inarticulate and… I’m not sure where that thought was heading.

Ken’s kids are… well, let’s say that Donut Man probably is below their
level of sophistication. And BHV is, well… You have to understand that
these kids read Sherlock Holmes and listen to classical music. Well, they’re
also Star Trek junkies. “Okay, you can watch ONE more episode.”

I’m not sure, but most of the people I’ve come into contact with around here
seem to be Presbyterians. Kilroy, when he had to read several sermons and
write summaries of them for alternate chapel, remarked that Presbyterians
impressed him with their intellectual arguments. This as opposed to the
bombasticism of Baptist fire and brimstoners. “Emotionalism” is not
paramount here. Intellectualism is. And an appreciation for ‘high’ culture
and its art forms.

Alice just walked in and invited me to accompany her and a friend to an
excursion to the James River. I declined. “What are you doing?” she asked,
looking at the computer monitor. “Writing a letter to my dad.” “Oh, that’s
America Online!” “Yeah, I installed it. I guess I’ll have to ask the
Wallaces when they come home if that’s okay.” “Oh, I’m sure it is.”

Why did I decline? I dunno. Maybe because I really like being by myself.
And with as much socialization I’ve had with all these new people I’m
meeting, a house to myself is wonderful.

When I mention “Integrity Music” to people, they nod and say, “Ahhh,” sure
signs that they’re not real familiar with it. Praise and worship what? But
it’s a Christian company, you say?

The “Great Task,” Ken called it. “Not great as in good but in BIG,” he
added. This is the task of making labels for the books and organizing them.
It’s what I’ll be doing whenever I’m not doing something else he’ll have for
me to do. But it’s great. I love doing it. It’s so mindless. My “C” comes
out so strong that I have to kick my consciousness and tell it to hurry up.
It doesn’t have to be perfect, just mostly so. Ken and Kate both seem to be
high “D’s,” but I don’t know how accurate I am about that. Ken probably has
a bunch of “C” in him. He likes his library organized JUST SO. “It’s okay
if you don’t do it perfectly,” he said, showing me how he types up the labels
and glues them to book spines, “I won’t fire you or anything.” But he hates
to delegate. He said he’s convinced he can do anything better himself.

Elmer is walking over to see me. “Yeeeooaaawww…” he utters hoarsely. Now
he’s licking his paw and then using it to rub his face. Now he’s resting.
My gosh, he’s fat. But he’s oh so mellow. You’d probably like him. He’s
incredibly friendly in his laid back way.