There comes a moment in every narrative where the main character not only questions primary motivations but also decides to make major changes in plot directions.
Today is such a day.
The Reluctant Leader, who has listened, advised, observed, reported and acted, is passing the baton to the next person on the Committee.
It is time to say goodbye to the leadership role, leave the Committee and retire to the cabin in the woods.
Every Committee member faces this day, some with sadness, some with gladness, and all with a sense that one’s duty has been completed and curiosity sated.
Our species is well on its way toward recontinuing its reconfiguration of the environment in which it initially adapts and later transforms.
The majority will follow along, bleating like happy sheep, adopting the latest technology, as it always has.
A few stalwarts will maintain a lifestyle away from the state-of-the-art for various reasons — affordability, learnability, stubbornness and lack of need for more efficient, interconnected whizzbang gadgetry to increase social cohesiveness.
We’ll create new labels, imagine new futures and pine for golden days of yore.
We’ll repeat ourselves, repeat ourselves, repeat ourselves.
I, the narrator, whose personality is intimately tied to the main character in this narrative, have lost the incentive to be here, no longer needing to seek my father’s approval or prove my worth to my wife’s parents by writing a blog that substitutes for the child I never sired with my wife for them (even for reasons outside my control).
I am free.
And that is as it should be for someone like me.
Goodbye, so long, and thanks for all the Phish posters on walls of paintslingers extraordinaire!
treetrunkdings 
Rick,
Although your prose is often over my head. I enjoy reading your blog and letting my imagination soar. I am glad that you have reached another milestone and wish you nothing but happiness in your future adventures. God Bless!
Dan
Thanks, Dan. I am turning my blog over to a friend who has quite a different sense of humour and view of the world than I. All the best in your future!
all this being on the committee, being off the committee – you now no longer HEAD of the committee – retiring from the committee – me on the committee without realising before I realised – via your wisdom – that I was ON the committee all along…
… phew… Treetrunk, where am I now??!
transforming the environment is one thing… now to transform yourself in the cabin in the woods. yes, what inspiration! me, I cannot be a sheep – I do not bleat – I do not follow (well, except treetrunkrick on this space and a coupla other renegades) – oh, am I stalwart, am I follower? never sheep! – repeat, repeat, repeat.
signs are that you’re all grown up, rickles. a touch of sadness, a touch of gladness. free: a wondrous moment! celebration of you, yourself, your letting, your truth all mixed up in dreams and play and intrigue and games and life. wowee. you’re IT: as you should be.
ahh, but they di’nt tell ya? You are the new leader of the Committee — always happens that way. One day, you’re perfectly innocent (keeping in mind that no one is innocent (or is that perfect?)) and the next day you’re in charge of all the killing and arresting the guilty in order to maintain the fake sense of order we keep — good luck! — insanity is right normal, after a bit, as long as you’ve got your bits and pieces on you at odd times. HINT: It’s your gussets they really want. Question is, what do you want now that you’re in charge of the Committee?
They can have them! I WANT to give them my gussets! And I want World Peace! … looks like it may be impossible to keep my position as leader, what with the fucked up freakin state of things and humanity. I need that holiday on Mars, for starters. Probably, the best plan is to disappear from the committee (I love that word, all those double letters mm tt ee) and leave them to their own devices (oh my gawd, that’s REALLY bad form, aint it?!) Probably, the best plan is to rule by example… gussets it is… Probably, the best plan is…
repeat, repeat
hot air
You are a quicker learner than they said you would be – you have discovered the complete and only secret of leadership: hot air, repeat, hot air, repeat.
I thought you had already booked your Mars journey, at least for a one-way ticket. The return flight is up to the ingenuity of your fellow passengers, of course…if, if you want to return!
As far as whirled peas go, every garden has its quiet spot. It’s just a matter of perspective — the world has always been fucked up, or not, depending on how you react to it. Happiness and world peace are pursuits, not destinations, a place in one’s thoughts, not a physical presence.
There I go again, acting like the Committee leader! You’re trying to trap me into taking the job back from you, aren’t you?
mm tt ee — those letter combos will dog me the rest of the day! %^)