People are often curious why I became a farmer. Their curiosity takes the form of questions like, “What made you move out there?“, “No, really – what were you thinking?!“ Sometimes, it’s merely comments to other friends: “Did you hear about Hastings flipping out?“

So here’s my theory – and I say “theory” because I’m not exactly sure either.
I’d been living in Hollywood for a long time and I found my behaviour had gotten …... eccentric.
Not leaving the apartment.
Having bad Thai food delivered 5 days a week.
Playing a video game (Civilization 3) nonstop. NONSTOP.
Peering out the window thru the mini-blinds and not caring that they hadn’t been cleaned in 6 years.
And most unnerving; I was talking in broken English with an Asian accent because my only contact was with the Thai deliveryman.
“Where my Hot/Sour soup?“, “I pay cash – you come now!“,
“You no bring chopsticks!“

So, during a lucid moment, I decided, “I go see therapist – chop-chop!“

After some talking, the therapist – who knew me from a previous bout of the Melancholy, exclaimed, “You just need to get out more! Be the person you used to be! Where’s that vivacious, charismatic Drew?! I know he’s in there!“

She threw some suggestions out; join a tennis club, go to wine tasting events…. I suggested joining a militia group.
She then suggested I start doing two sessions a week instead of one…..

Part 2 – tomorrow.