Posting daily at 1pm central about all kinds of things. One day it's dating, the next it's TV commercials. I hope you're entertained. Professional photos on SmugMug – https://benwilder.smugmug.com
There’s something special about being in the woods. Not looking at a forest from a distance, not flying over a bunch of trees, or thinking about the woods. You gotta be in it. Immersed in the quiet mystery of nature. That’s where I love to be especially with my dogs. It’s there I can think clearly, breath calmly, pray genuinely, and one of the best parts is watching my dogs be dogs. They like to chase squirrels, rabbits, and moles (after they dig ’em up). Here’s a video I put together today, a short poem featuring a nearby trail through the woods.
On that one characteristic alone, being black in America, I can’t relate. I’ll never be able to because I’m white in America. But! with what has been broadcast across the country lately between law enforcement and communities of black people I can finally say that I understand, even if it is only slightly. The specific aspect I’d like to address is that of a black person on any typical day feeling singled out, “profiled”, and/or targeted for no good reason. To explain how this happened, I need to include my Nissan Versa.
It’s a beaut, Clark. A beaut.
I’ve had this Versa for about 10 years and she’s a real beaut. However, she’s taken a licking or two over the years, and most recently got into a scurfuffle with a Chrysler. Here’s the damaging footage (impact is 29 seconds in):
What you can’t see in the footage is that the Chrysler basically dismembered the front left side of the Versa. My bumper is detached but barely hanging on, the cracked headlight now points a few feet in front of the bumper, etc. It’s the headlight that taught me today’s lesson.
Because it’s cracked, moisture got in and the bulb went out. So in the evenings, I’ve been driving around with one headlight. Not a problem, right? That’s what I thought, too, but then bam! Hello, class c misdemeanor! I’ve been stopped by the police 3 times this week. F your i, I wouldn’t drive at night, except that some days it’s required for a job I have. So as the sun sets I’m driving around nervous, eyes darting here and there, heart beating faster, strategically positioning myself in traffic, always wondering where a police car is and how I can get past them without being a bother. Then I think to myself, “So this is how it feels to be Odell Beckham after he scores a touchdown, no wait, this is how it sometimes feels to be black.”
In my case, the police are doing their job and I thank them for it. But sometimes (at least the stories reported in the news), the police are singling folks out without cause, not what their job is.
The nerves, heartbeat quickening, doubt, feeling targeted, now I know a little of what that’s like and quite frankly, if it were about my skin color and not just driving with one headlight at night, I’d never want to leave home. It’s not fun, it’s not fair, and if it doesn’t change, that’ll be a gigantic mistake.
If you’re curious about how it feels, disconnect one of your headlights and drive around a few nights with a single beam. It’s a rush!
I wasn’t able to catch the college playoff championship on TV, so I listened to some of it on the radio. I happened to catch the national anthem performed by Little Big Town and wow, did they sound good. If you missed it, here it is:
Since my days of working at CMT, I’ve been a big fan of the group and I continue to be. Their harmony is just crazy. Go on with your bad selves LBT!
Keith Urban’s latest single is #1 on most of Billboard’s country charts, and the video stars one of the most well-known supermodels. Her name is Amber Valletta.
I remember her most from her role in the movie Hitch*, starring Will Smith and Kevin James. In that movie, she played a likable superstar actress. Here’s a great scene from Hitch:
She’s been in other movies, tv shows, and various projects.
-Out of the Wilderness
*I am an Amazon Associate. I will receive a percentage of any completed transaction through the link above.
Well, Nashville had another apocalyptic snow day yesterday. I’m sorry if you were in Nashville or nearby and had to deal with this traffic:
I was determined to stay home, although how long do you have to be in one place before it’s officially called cabin fever? I had only been home since mid-afternoon Thursday and I’m only slightly exaggerating when I started looking like Jack Nicholson from The Shining.
But all in all, we had a fun day. My dogs and I romped in the yard, chased frisbees, wore our Christmas presents…
Asia chased her frisbee, something she’ll do no matter the weather.
I wore my new pea coat I got for Christmas from my parents and I gotta tell ya, I will forever wonder what life was like before I had this coat. It’s so warm. It’s so classy. I just need to figure out how to use the pockets. They’re still sewn up, I think??
Before the cold day came to a close, I managed to get the car out of the driveway and down the semi-steep and icy road and I went dancing. Nothing will warm you up on a cold day like dancing with your friends.
Because it’s cracked, moisture got in and the bulb went out. So in the evenings, I’ve been driving around with 
I remember her most from her role in the movie 
Out of the Wilderness 