Floating: ruminations from the open-air abyss Item Type Thesis Authors Nyberg, Brandi Jo Petronio Download date 25/09/2021 13:20:45 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/11122/10523 FLOATING: RUMINATIONS FROM THE OPEN-AIR ABYSS By Brandi Jo Petronio Nyberg, B.S. A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing: Nonfiction University of Alaska Fairbanks May 2019 APPROVED: Daryl Farmer, Ph.D., Committee Chair Frank Soos, M.F.A., Committee Member Jennifer Schell, Ph.D., Committee Member Rich Carr, Ph.D., Chair Department of English Todd Sherman, M.F.A., Dean College of Liberal Arts Michael Castellini, Ph.D., Dean of the Graduate School Abstract This thesis is a collection of environmentally centered personal essays, some of which are also research driven. Many of the essays within are place-based and several reflect on what the word ‘home' means. The research-driven essays involved conducting literature reviews within academic journals and, in some cases, weaving that information with personal narrative. Throughout the thesis, there is a loose narrative arc that follows the author's nomadic wanderings and search for home. Although a home is never quite found, the author does find a deeper meaning on what it means to call a place ‘home.' While the order of essays jumps from one place to the next geographically, they are ordered in a chronological sense - although not completely. Throughout the collection, the author is in direct conversation with many writers who have inspired her own writing, including Edward Abbey, Henry Thoreau, Barry Lopez, and Terry Tempest Williams. The purpose of this project is not only to entertain readers but also to educate. The author hopes that her writing will encourage readers to strengthen their connection to place and the environment and become engaged with pressing environmental issues, such as mountaintop removal mining. iii iv Table of Contents Page Title Page ........................................................................................................................................ i Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... iii Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................ v List of Figures ............................................................................................................................... vii Acknowledgements...................................................................................................................... viii Dedication ...................................................................................................................................... ix Chapter 1: “The Mound” ................................................................................................................ 1 Chapter 2: “Orlando” ...................................................................................................................... 6 Chapter 3: “The Smell of a Jaguar” .............................................................................................. 12 3.1: References.......................................................................................................................... 27 Chapter 4: “A River's Balance”.................................................................................................... 28 Chapter 5: “Have You Heard the Good Word of The Bus?”........................................................ 49 Chapter 6: “Seneca ROCKS”........................................................................................................ 53 Chapter 7: “Coyote”...................................................................................................................... 57 Chapter 8: “Jewel in the Desert”................................................................................................... 62 Chapter 9: “Oldest Mountains”..................................................................................................... 74 v 9.1: References.......................................................................................................................... 81 Chapter 10: “Walking” ................................................................................................................. 82 Chapter 11: “Keylime and Cooter Row Backwards” ................................................................. 90 Chapter 12: “Requiem for a Serpent” ......................................................................................... 111 Chapter 13: “Adrift” ................................................................................................................... 119 Chapter 14: “the bad place” ....................................................................................................... 131 Chapter 15: “Oh Compost! My Compost!” ............................................................................... 133 15.1: Works Cited .................................................................................................................. 137 Chapter 16: “Vultures” .............................................................................................................. 138 Chapter 17: “Garden of the Last Frontier” ................................................................................ 140 Chapter 18: “Harboring a Home” ............................................................................................... 144 vi List of Figures Page Figure 1 Rowing through some flat water in the rubber rafts....................................................... 62 Figure 2 The roaring flood separating our group in Elves Chasm................................................ 68 Figure 3 Finally free, Glen and Audra rejoice and kiss. ............................................................... 71 Figure 4 Original plan of execution. ............................................................................................. 95 Figure 5 Intended vs. Actual Route ........................................................................................... 109 vii Acknowledgements I would like to thank Daryl Farmer, Frank Soos, and Jennifer Schell for acting as members of my Thesis Committee, and Mary Beth Leigh for acting as my outside examiner. Furthermore, I would especially like to thank Daryl Farmer, my Thesis Chair, and Frank Soos for their guidance in writing and revising my thesis. Without their assistance, my work would not have the depth it now does. I would also like to thank the following magazines and journals for publishing versions of essays within this thesis: - American Whitewater for publishing “Jewel in the Desert” and for publishing part of “A River's Balance,” under the name of “First Loves and First Swims.” - Peacock Journal for publishing “Seneca ROCKS” in both their online and print journals. - TINGE Magazine for publishing “Have You Heard the Good Word of The Bus?” - Marathon Literary Review for publishing “Walking.” - Canary: A Literary Journal of the Environmental Crisis for publishing “Oldest Mountains.” (forthcoming) - Garo for publishing “Requiem for a Serpent.” (forthcoming) viii Dedication For my parents, who have always been supportive and proud of me, even when I took to living in a tent and working jobs that made little money. And for my husband, Dale, and our dogs, Banzai and Ayla. Thank you for bringing so much joy and adventure to my life. ix Floating: Ruminations from the Open-Air Abyss “Why have we chosen downstream motion over ambition, scorpions over briefcases, toad concerts over creeping nihilism? Why don't we own patios like the rest of those cocktail desperadoes out there?” - Ellen Meloy, Raven's Exile x xi Chapter 1: “The Mound” In a car packed full of people, I ride with my window down, letting the amber dirt road dust my face. I stare at the seemingly endless landscape of tall pine trees, which appear like an optical illusion - line after line for as far as the eye can see cutting through a backdrop of pale sky. Ocala National Forest, Florida is the world's largest contiguous tract of sand pine and scrub oak habitat and home to several clear fresh water springs and rivers. It's also known as a place where many dead (presumably murdered) Floridian bodies are dumped. But, my friends and I, we're not looking for a place to dump a body. We're just looking for a place to camp. It's 70 degrees outside but will top 90 before next weekend. We have one last chance to enjoy this beautiful weather before the heat becomes unbearable and the mosquitos outnumber molecules in the air. Apparently, every other Florida resident has the same idea on their mind - all of our favorite campsites are overrun. All of the campsites we've never even heard of are overrun too. Not just with tents, but trucks, RVs, motorcycles, engines and generators and grills. Who ever said the woods were peaceful? We stop at another campsite - a last resort - the kind with toilets and showers and people and everything else we came out here to get away from. Of course, it's full too. A friend of mine approaches an overworked Forest Service Ranger on duty, shows him the map. “Any idea of where we might find a place to camp?” The Ranger sighs, looks at us like he might feel sorry. “Forest is packed this weekend. Seems like everyone's out here. Look, just camp wherever you find a