Day 13: Always at War and Always at Peace.

This morning was absolutely beautiful. The weather was nice and the ride to Dwain's was peaceful. I did come to the conclusion that my legs will be so strong when I leave here!

We had a nice breakfast of cereal and stuff--just like yesterday. We were both in good moods, but both a bit tired. It is Friday. So our talk was of inanities.

And then Dwain cracked the whip.

I did a couple of more black walnut book matched boards today. Yesterdays came out fine. We worked pretty late today, so I got to break apart the rig. Both boards had good seams, but one of the boards was "V" shaped, just slightly. I could not figure out how I did that, so I called Dwain to look. He was stumped too! I've decided it was magic.

Then it was back on my scrapers. Why make scrapers? you ask. Why are you not building dulcimers? you ask. Remember, I'm learning the art of making dulcimers, and that requires knowing how to make specialized tools. Making a dulcimer is easy. Making a dulcimer that is of superb beauty, projection, voice and action is trickier. And to make it all of that and pretty, well that is just work.

So I spent the day making the scrapers.

We had a watermelon break, and Dwain bought me some garlic! I have been sitting outside on the porch for two hours and the mosquitoes are flying around me. But the clove of garlic I ate is keeping them away! The trick to repelling mosquitoes is to meditate and visualize that your skin is tree bark--I think of oak. And eat a clove of garlic a day.

Then I wanted to make a house for my scrapers because it seemed silly for me to spend three days making tools and then just throw them around in a box. It takes a lot to get a scraping edge on the steel. So Dwain gave me a mints box, and I figured out a jig to get the little boards straight. Then I glued the little boards on a piece of card stock. I weighted the whole thing for about a half an hour, and va-voom! My scrapers have a house.

This was a nice lesson, and it really helped reacquaint me with shop stuff. I've used many of the tools in the shop, like the table saw. But the last time that I used one was in graduate school. So this is definitely good.

Then we had dinner, which was great because I was fading, and fast. We had veggie burgers and asparagus. I had a double-stacked burger with buffalo wing cheddar cheese on it. Jeez Laweez it was good!

And then we went out for ice cream. It is a great shop right on the Erie Canal. The weather was great and we got to talk more about love and life. It is fun to share with Dwain and hear what he as to say about many things.

He has started another instrument, and it has been really cool watching him go from the wood that we cut to the beginnings of a machine. And while he is doing this he is also finishing up the Grand that he has been working on. It looks gorgeous!

And the sunset was as beautiful as the start of the day. Today was long and I'm tired. But I am also so fulfilled. I'm learning much, and practicing what I'm being taught. I'm almost at peace.

I am always at war with myself, and I am also always at peace. The balance has shifted more to the peace. Or, I should really say harmony. I don't really know what peace is. Or I'm not ready for it. But I'm in a harmonious place with me--finally.

Just being with Dwain and talking about love and life and dulcimers has caused me to reflect. And I'm glad that it is in Dwain's company that this gets to happen because I can see myself growing into him in so many ways. Oh, he is much more polished than I'll ever be, but I love my bumpkin bourgeoisie. Dwain just sent me this lovely note:

Thanks, Mark. It has been very good working with you, and hanging out with you. Really enjoy your company, your sense of absurdity and humor, wit, the way you cloak a vast intelligence.

Dwain

This is how I want to be known.