At this point, we’re about 9 months into creating whatever Duck and Wave is ultimately going to be.

How do I know this? Because I believe it was the duck opener in South Carolina, or right around that time, in November, I was headed down to the pier to surf, when I saw a line a mile long of waterfowl hunters waiting to put their boats in the ICW.

It was at that moment I thought, not a bad place to be as an avid hunter myself, choosing between ducks and waves. That morning, I chose waves. This morning, I’m choosing to put this entire journey in writing, a great exercise for those with an ADHD brain like mine but I digress.

It hit me, what’s better than ducks or waves? Ducks AND Waves. However, my love for songwriting and I guess to a larger extent, lyricism, landed me on Duck & Wave because it’s a double entendre. A double entendre is a phrase or wording designed to have a double meaning for those who are unaware but why is that important?

Well, like many others, I was going through hell with my mental health last year but suffering in silence. I would avoid getting together with people, walked around with my head down in public not wanting to engage in conversation and generally couldn’t be bothered because my thoughts and feelings were scary and overwhelming.

I eventually came to realize a simple duck and wave response to a hello from a stranger is a massive step in the right direction so so I began building on actionable things like a duck and wave incrementally until I began to get better.

Luckily, I’ve had enough therapy at this point to be forthcoming with my family when I get in these dark places, I’m sure some of you know the abyss all too well. But this isn’t a dark tale. It’s a story of triumph and perseverance, put more aptly this is an account of stacking good days and hopefully, helping others. It’s not always easy but it’s worthwhile.

I don’t know how much time I have on this earth, none of us do, but I’ll be damned if I spend it fighting the demons in my head instead of being grateful for the time I get to spend here with family, friends, and strangers.

I went back and forth on the name of this series, eventually landing on Heaps of Time. I hope I have it. I hope you do too but let’s live as though we don’t.

See y’all tomorrow.

P.S. – I changed the name to ‘The Log’ 2 weeks later but for the purposes of leaving past me’s my writing undisturbed, just roll with it.