Herding cows in a Jeep

I never imagined myself as a rancher. Cities were my thing. Yet here I am in my old Jeep (holes in the floor to let water drain out) herding cows, steering them back to my neighbor’s pasture. I love it when they visit Pineapple Hill, love living in the South Carolina boonies. I’m done with the neckties and wing tip shoes of ad agency work.

herding cows in a Jeep Pineapple Hill South Carolina boonies

Bad things happened, an entire run of them that shut me down, caused me to withdraw from everything except my inner self.

One afternoon, in a hammock, I took a photo of myself. Just my legs. But there was no one to send it to. No one to understand.

I needed a sidekick so I sketched an armadillo because they’re crusty on the outside but not within. I made him my butler. Crusoe’s manservant Friday.

We began interacting—my hammock photo speaking to that critter, that critter speaking back.There’s a folder of cartoons somewhere. For now there’s just this one. (LINK)

Eventually after that I began writing novels.

I’m still a hermit, marooned you might say, but leaving my shell more and more—my inner self seeking its freedom through writing.