Monday, November 17, 2008 - Winchester KY
< previous day | archives | next day >
A fork in the road
From here in the middle of Kentucky I can head either directly west toward New Mexico or south toward more immediate warm weather.
I'm going to Demopolis
I must admit this cold snap is influencing my decision and I'm leaning toward heading south. It's cold. I'm going to Demopolis. I spent a delightful 3 weeks last December photographing the wildlife at Foscue Creek Park and watching barge traffic on the Tombigbee River.
Night camp
Wal-Mart parking lot in Winchester KY
- Darn. I'm writing this bullet point after the fact and I can't remember whether this Wal-Mart offers good boondocking or not.
Proficiency in Knowledge of the World
There are all degrees of proficiency in knowledge of the world. It is sufficient, to our present purpose, to indicate three. One class lives to the utility of the symbol; esteeming health and wealth a final good. Another class live above this mark to the beauty of the symbol; as the poet, and artist, and the naturalist, and man of science. A third class live above the beauty of the symbol to the beauty of the thing signified; these are the wise men. The first class have common sense; the second, taste; and the third, spiritual perception. Once in a long time, a man traverses the whole scale, and sees and enjoys the symbol solidly; then also has a clear eye for its beauty, and lastly, while he pitches his tent on this sacred volcanic isle of nature, does not offer to build houses and barns thereon, reverencing the splendor of the God which he sees bursting through each chink and cranny.
Essay VII, Prudence Ralph Waldo Emerson
