Pike's "Peak"

I was in the checkout line at the local grocery this afternoon, with my usual selections of perishables and non-perishables, when the young man scanning my merchandise took particular interest my stuff and started mumbling excitedly about homesteading and other such business and held out his hand and said "my name is Pike, how are you, I would like to learn the secrets of buttermaking from you, you seem to have a...passion!"

Where did this come from, I do not know. I didn't say much, I just mentioned how I was making sage butter for stupid Thanksgiving with my stupid father. And I explained how he always insists I make butter for when we get together although when he says it it always comes out like, "I'll pretend I'm interested in Curt's life because it seems like the right thing to do, even though I find his whole existence ridiculous and I can't believe he thinks butter-making is a legitimate hobby for a grown man, I bet I'm not even his real father, so yeah, bring some butter you disgrace."

Well, I guess Pike asked me some innocent question and I guess I may have been a little too eager to share and I guess I made my passion apparent. And Pike told me that butter-making, and other such returnings to our agrarian roots are wonderful, legitimate things to do with one's spare time, that as human pursuits they are old, old, old and that they will probably outlast more fleeting "manly" pursuits like watching men chase around after balls on the television set and bowling. I told him that these were both also activities with ancient roots, but that I got what he was saying.

And he told me about a local Homesteading Club that he is a member of. He said, "Curt, you should join!"

I told him I have a lot going on, but that I will think about it.

And I will, when I have a little more time.