The Lake Walker

A little novel set in black and white like one of those old European movies about death and life. This book stars Rudolph and his opposite Simone who circle a small lake, observing the blue glows that wander the woods, the shores and the waters.

Back in high school I would go to the Neptune Theatre every week. Driving the floating bridge over Lake Washington or going Lake City Way, looking for parking, sometimes under a leafy tree, sometimes on the slant by the IHOP. The Neptune had a green neon sign that floated out front. Inside, you bought your ticket from a boat shaped counter and then you could go up to the balcony. That's where I met Fellini, Bergman, Cocteau, and I wanted this adventure to be an homage to them, a sort of European black and white movie book.

This idea began during a hellish summer when forest fires turned our air into a white smog and the sun was dim as an orange penny. A Martian world, it was hard to even breathe out there. But by September it started to clear and I began to take walks around the lake. I still had a couple weeks away from my office job and I liked to think this would be my morning routine when I finally retire. I would begin every day with a walk around the lake.