Inconveniences
Out behind an old one-room school, a reminder that it closed its doors before indoor plumbing. Dempsey Corner had students until 1961, but those days were numbered long before, so the expense of modernity was not forthcoming. This outhouse is about as close to rubble as you can get, slowly sinking, standing over fertile ground. You might think that someone my age wouldn’t have much experience with outdoor inconveniences. But I spent a lot of time at a camp run by my family’s church, and visited many cottages still stuck in the past. I’ve not so thrilled with the concept of primitive living. When I stumble from the woods, bitten, sweaty, and exhausted — I feel no appeal in hauling water, starting a fire, or crawling in a tent. What makes me eager for adventure is everyday accessibility. To disappear somewhere wild for thirty minutes or three hours, and come out with a tale in tow.
May 9, 2026
Dempsey Corner, Nova Scotia
Year 19, Day 6754 of my daily journal.
