How comforting it is to sit down at the computer and file to the blog. A part of my life. It is cold, cold, cold. -5 at sunset and worse tonight. The donkeys practically raced into the barn, and are in for the night. Tomorrow, buzzing about an ice and snow storm. A real winter.

Had a milestone of sorts today. Traded in the Tacoma pickup for a small Toyota SUV. I like the satellite radio, which I have wanted for awhile. No more news for this cowboy.

Cars and trucks do say a bit, I think. When I moved to the farm, I bought a giant eight-wheeler, I was so crazy and out of perspective. I managed to get it home and nearly took out the bridge into Hebron. Never drove it again. Then I got a Chevy Silverado, a huge thing. Then a small old farm pickup. And then a big SUV with rims, deer guards and headlights. Then the Tacoma, and no more trucks. I am not a farmer. I don’t need a truck. I told Maria, there is no longer a me, there is an us, and a truck is not us, it is me. The trucks were harbingers of a different, more grandiose time, the beginning of the process where I lost my mind as well as perspective and money and drama flowed through the farm and the barns.

This new car feels like me. Like us. No more trucks. That is not a statement I need to make anymore, to me or the world. I even forgot to bring my camera to take a last photo of the Tacoma, which served me well. The salesman did the usual car salesman stuff but he was a nice guy. My last truck.