Dive-bombed by Bats!

THIS IS NOT A VERY GOOD EPISODE OF THE WALKING PODCAST. 


A few weeks ago, for reasons I explain in this episode’s ad
break, I decided to try something new: instead of a traditional
sponsor for each episode, I’d start asking people I admire to
tell me about a non-profit or philanthropic organization that
they believe in, and then I’d tell you, the listeners, about it.
(I would call this innovation “Philanth-ertizing.”) One of the
first people to reply was Hrishikesh Hirway, who told me about a
great organization (see below.) I wrote back: “Perfecto! I’ll do
this next week!"


Well, I did not do Hrishi's Philanthertizement next week. Or the
week after, or the week after that. In fact, ever since, it’s
like I’ve been cursed. I went to record the next episode of the
show and my recorder broke. I recorded an episode using a backup
recorder, but then couldn’t get the file off it. Then I got sort
of busy and it slipped my mind that I make a podcast. (Probably
not part of the curse, but who’s to say; could be a mind-curse.)
Three weeks went by—no new episodes. Finally, one night after
dinner, I laced up my shoes, switched on my new rig, and walked
out the door to get this episode done. It did not go smoothly.


It was dark. I had a headlamp on. But just as I got to the end of
the driveway, the headlamp started flickering—then zonked out. So
I turned tail, back to the house, to fetch another headlamp—and
just as I did, my phone started chiming with texts from a friend.
(I’d forgotten to silence it.) Inside, I tried to hug my daughter
and knocked her over. Then, back outside and finally walking, I
got dive-bombed by a bat. Then another bat. Then, I discovered a
tremendous tree had fallen over the trail! Then, as I stood in
front of the tree, talking into my recorder, trying to explain
“Philanth-ertizing” so I could get to Hrishi’s ad, I got
dive-bombed by a couple more bats. Then finally, after some more
walking, when I was almost home, an owl flew right in front of
me, very low, like a swift white phantom, and scared me
shirtless. Anyway, here it is: a cursed and atypical episode of
the WALKING podcast. 


This week’s walk is sponsored by Hrishikesh Hirway on behalf of
Women’s Audio Mission, an organization that brings the art and
science of audio engineering to women and gender non-conforming
people. Please consider supporting the work they do. Thank you,
Hrishi, for letting us know about them.