By ty dehner
The soft muddy soil spreads out beneath the tall cypress trees that have been growing over the decades in these wetlands that sit just east of the big modern city. There is a shallow layer of dirty water, looking like glass, settled between the wild grasses and mounds of dirt. The calm breeze makes the moss slowly sway, providing a calmness in this area with no direct sunlight.
These bogs sometimes have stories shared by locals about happenings that occur when the weather is right. Most just dismiss them to the art of telling a scary story during a stormy night or for a party during Halloween. Few people ever venture deep into bogs, preferring to stay safe and warm in the open areas that they can see what might happen. But for a rare few, the bog provides an escape from the world we live in today. Here a person can be who they want, no one to bother them, no one requires them to follow the rules. Just be alone, content, and maintain their life as they want to.
After an afternoon of sightseeing in San Diego, I returned to my hotel in Oceanside, California. A block off the beach, my room on the fifth floor had a great view of the ocean and one of the longest piers on the California coast. With all the walking I had done I favored some time enjoying the hot turbulent waters of the hot tub. So, I slipped on my bathing suit and headed up to the rooftop where the swimming pool and hot tub were located. When I stepped out onto the patio, the view was impressive with a glass wall around the top floor so the vistas would not be spoiled. I was also glad to find no one using the facilities so I had it all to myself. Since it was late afternoon and, on a Friday, most people would only be checking in or busy with other activities.
Trey and I have been friends for quite a while now. We’ve played a few times, but mostly we’ve developed a great friendship. We were going to the movies today, the first time we’ve hooked up in a couple of weeks. When I arrived at his apartment, he was fiddling on his computer. I made myself comfortable on the sofa as he finished up his stuff. We had plenty of time before the movie started. After he finished, he came and sat in the chair next to the sofa. We talked about what we both had been up too in the last couple of weeks. While we talk online a lot, we still always have something to talk about in person. Trey looked pretty hot in his 14-hole black boots and matching black t-shirt with bold white letters spelling out “Skinhead.” There was a shine to his shaved head reflecting the sun coming through the blinds of his small apartment.
