Waterford, IN

Creek Ridge County Park

Run Time: 63:33 + 2-minute kick

AllTrails for the win again. I drove our youngest to Chicago for a flight back to Oregon, listening to his music all the way — some fantastic jazz that made the drive very enjoyable. I then visited two of our big customers there. My hotel was east of Michigan City, in a beautiful little town called La Porte, and I found this trail on the way.

It was a short loop trail, with little elevation change, but it was all shaded, which was a plus on this day. More than half of it was non-paved, which is a big plus. Some families were using the playground in the center, some dog owners were using the dog run, and at least one “foursome” was using the disc golf course. There were a few bugs, but they only bothered when I was walking. More incentive to run.

At the turn of the year, my wife invited everyone in the family to subscribe to a random album generator at 1000albumsgenerator.com. I have been faithfully listening to any daily pick of which I was unfamiliar, and a few of which I was familiar, and rating them. I have also been adding some songs to my playlist.

The best days are the days when it recommends a musical artist of which I have no knowledge. This day it recommended Sigur Ros’ album Agaetis Byrjun. Unfortunately, I am unable to get the accent marks on the appropriate letters, and to combine the a and e into one combo, as one should when mentioning Sigur Ros and Agaetis Byrjun. Sigur Ros is an Icelandic band, and this album is phenomenal. I normally eschew expanded tracks versions of albums, but I listened to all 34 songs of the 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition, including 12 live songs and several demos: 4 hours and 23 minutes total. Some songs I listened to twice. I saved 16 songs to my running playlist.

This music is not going to be for everyone. It is very slow, with long songs, and repeated sequences. The singing is in the high-note range, something I also do not normally find pleasing with male singers, and on one album (not this one) they apparently sing in a made-up language, not that it would matter, because I do not understand the language on Agaetis Byrjun. It has some creative instrumentation, which I really appreciate. A great find.

Another great family recommendation: my daughter invited all of us to subscribe to the Important, Not Important newsletter last year, and it has become my primarily news source. The June 28 edition included a guest essay by Dekila Chungyalpa, the Founder and Director of the Loka Initiative. She wrote about deep resilience in the time of crisis, specifically with respect to environment, climate, and as an antidote to the Anthropocene mindset.

The essay included a link to an online course: “Psychology of Deep Resilience: Addressing Ecoanxiety and Climate Distress for Individual, Social and Ecological Well-Being.” In our family Signal chat, my daughter indicated her interest in the course. I took a look as well, and I have been thinking about it ever since. The tab is still open on my Chromebook, and unlike some of you, I do not keep many tabs open.

I have worked in the tow truck industry for 45 years. I contribute to the fossil fuel industry every workday. It is time for that to change. I do not know how I will pivot, but I think I can, and maybe this course will help. I have long thought about issues related to indigenous cultures, even embarking on a couple of literary false starts with the theme of reversing our collective departure from “First Nation” ways.

I often wish I were back in school, though I like the freedom of reading what I want and writing what I want, without assignment. This course just strikes me as something different, something interesting, something I have not seen before. Or maybe something that is sitting in my ancient subconscious, asking to be released. Who knows where or how it might alter my course?

Plus, if I do the course, that will give my daughter even more incentive to do it as well.