This trucker says "It's good to be free"

Toe, you sound a bit down. I understand what you're saying, I think. The world has changed a lot, and it changes all the time.

(although I don't think it's as radically different as the Bushies would have us think it is since 9-11--I'm tired of that line of talk...sorry getting political).

I also think that our perception of the world changes quite a bit as we get older. I overheard someone pretty young (early 20s?) refer to sadness as an emotional anomaly. I laughed to myself, thinking "This kid doesn't know how sad life can be." Then I remembered I used to think that happiness was the emotional baseline too when I was young. Maybe it should be, ideally, but it's hard to maintain.

That bitter laughter was somewhat revelatory. I used to be a happier person, I realize, and now I am not. I don't think I'm particularly unhappy, but I don't have as rosy an image of life as I used to. I'm wondering where I made that change, or if it's just the result of experience. Or is it because the world is different now? I don't know.

I am still a damned optimist.

Work continues to be anxiety ridden, but not as much. I diverted a little work to someone else, so that relieved some pressure. I hope you are feeling better today. C* is still under the weather, I feel slightly congested still, but I think we're improving overall.

Anyway, I feel like I'm blabbing in the vaguest way. I had a strong childhood memory this morning I thought I might write about today, but now I can't even remember what it was. Maybe later. I'm going to stop now and think about the Grand Canyon. I can still see our campsite, and the Miller High Life on the picnic table, and the view we had after that hike...