Storyholder?  That is what Moth StorySLAM winner calls “Homework4Life”, a daily writing practice.  Here is my 4 July storyworthy moment.

Most hated day for scared shitless doggies.

No rain today so gardening tomorrow.

Moving sheep fence with Elaine in the hapless humidity. We are adapted, but the work is still hard. Just think in terms of the weight of tools and feed and water alone. The fencing weighs about 25#. We take down four sections and put up four more. We take down eight buckets of water at 30# each from the truck. Feed? Another 35#. And then there are the hazards–ticks and errant hunters– not to mention the personal idiosyncratic peeves (wet feet, sheep at the trough bowling you over and wrenching knees, raising legs in high kicks over fences and getting the waffle pattern of a shoe sole caught in the electric netting). Sweat it out.  We have been living this part of our farm story for 35 years.

Don’t forget the poor dogs. I hate 4 July for the scoundrel day it is. It is worse than any Hallmark Holiday.

BONUS STORYHOLDER:

Listen up for the best (IMHO) 4th of July song ever written. John Doe and Exene Cervenka just kill it. (Also, written for them by Dave Alvin.)