report from the front

[StepCher@aol.com]

got back late last night from a trip to shelter island w/friends who have a 
house there.
shelter island is a quaint little island (duh) off long island swarming 
w/deer (they graze in the yards) and other wildlife. saw many. took two very 
long walks--saturday by myself and sunday we went on a 2 1/2 hour trek thru 
the nature preserve, coming home to discover...well, you know. been trying to 
get away for at least a day every weekend to breathe clean air and remember 
tranquility. it helps, especially after a week like this past one when the 
air was particularly smokey and the stench was intense. 
on trip home by bus (it goes thru midtown tunnel), we were stopped and two 
guys introducing themselves as "u.s. army" politely searched the bus. driver 
commented they were "very thorough."
sc