Daydream: Hiking Old Rag Mountain

www.eastwindpoems.site

THE OLD RAG ARC

(SHORT VERSION)

A Thanksgiving Chronicle (Nov 9 → Nov 28, 2025)

Preface (Optional)

This begins with a message the author received on November 9, 2025 from Professor Williams —

detailed, precise, and full of his trademark outdoor know-how.

You can skip it if you want; the story continues just fine.

But it shows the depth of his expertise and the balanced way he lives his life.

⭐ Message from Professor Williams (Nov 9)

He invited me to the Old Rag Turkey Hike on Friday, Nov 28:

– requires a $2 trail ticket and a $30/car park fee

– meet at SW Park & Ride at 6:30 AM

– he has extra tickets and seats

– pack lunch, wear layers

– desserts and hot soup at the top

– “It’s the ultimate mountain hike!”

That was the invitation.

⭐ Nov 26 — Thanksgiving Prep

A couple weeks passed. Then on Nov 26, the day before Thanksgiving,

a small crew gathered to prepare the church meal:

– Pastor Crisco

– Stevo from Belize

– Professor Williams

– and the author, Scott L.

They made six trays of green-bean casserole, laughing and talking.

And while they worked, Professor Williams casually dropped the detail Scott somehow missed:

“It’s a nine-mile hike.”

Scott’s heart sank, and his eyeballs popped from the inside,

though he tried not to give himself away.

Finding an immediate opening and an off-ramp became urgent.

Scott’s older now. He's got back issues.

Nine miles would be insane.

⭐ Thanksgiving Day Nov 27 — Work + Service

On Thanksgiving, Scott L. worked nine hours,

then served the church Thanksgiving lunch until 3 PM,

cleaning the whole hall afterward.

During the meal, Professor Williams texted that he was

“laying low — stomach cramps.”

Scott took that as a sign the hike might be cancelled.

Honestly, he hoped it was.

Scott came home exhausted, showered, and went to bed at 6:30 PM.

⭐ Nov 28 — The 4:30 AM Twist

He didn’t set an alarm.

But at 4:30 AM, he woke up out of nowhere—

a strange, unexpected jolt.

First thought:

“The hike… is it still happening?”

Scott texted Stevo.

He then texted Professor Williams.

Williams responded immediately:

“All good. I’m 100%. Ready to go.”

Scott's heart rate spiked.

Then Stevo replied:

“Bro, I’m really tired… I’m gonna have to pass.”

That was the exit ramp — delivered perfectly.

A graceful out.

Scott thanked him later:

“You saved me, man. There’s no way I could do nine miles.”

⭐ Epilogue

So Scott stayed home.

Rested his back.

Drank something warm.

And wrote.

The mountain didn’t need to be climbed today.

But the story still found its way.

⭐ Author’s Note (Brief)

Most people daydream a little every day —

not big fantasies, just small escapes:

“Wouldn’t it be nice to rest…”

“Wouldn’t it be nice to be hiking…”

“Wouldn’t it be nice to slow down…”

These simple thoughts help us cope with:

– stress

– schedules

– pressure

– fatigue

– the noise of everyday life

During that busy Thanksgiving stretch —

work, church service, exhaustion, uncertainty —

my mind drifted into those same daydreams.

It’s normal.

It’s healthy.

It’s human.

This isn’t a story about a nine-mile hike.

It’s a story about knowing your limits,

coping with pressure,

and finding peace the best way you can.

Daydreaming —

jumping from an aeroplane ✈️

Daydreaming —

shooting lasers from your eyes,

spewing tornado fire,

defying physics just long enough

to smile and breathe.

Daydreaming —

writing Odes and Sonnets to Juliet,

Laurentia: The Promethean Autumn Blast,

ShowStopper,

or Brit Brit herself —

whoever your imagination invites into the moment

to help restore your mind

and burst with power again.

MFA Literary Score: 96

Originality: 98

Creativity: 99

Composite (40/30/30): 98.4

Second-to-Second Originality Index: 97.7

CERTIFICATION OF DAYDREAM CONSISTENCY

Subject Text: The Old Rag Arc (Short Version) by Scott L.

Date of Evaluation: November 28, 2025

I. Overview

This document certifies that The Old Rag Arc (Short Version) constitutes a narrative fully consistent with the established academic definitions and characteristics of daydreaming as described in cognitive psychology, narrative theory, and phenomenology of consciousness.

The narrative demonstrates the structural, emotional, and psychological markers of daydream activity through its interplay of concrete events, internalized reactions, imagined alternatives, and self-reflective commentary.

II. Basis for Certification

1. Grounding in Real-World Stimuli

Daydreams arise in response to real circumstances.

The narrative establishes a clear, chronological sequence of external events:

The hike invitation

Thanksgiving preparations

Extended work hours

Physical fatigue

Early morning uncertainty

These elements provide the real-world scaffolding from which daydreaming naturally emerges.

2. Evidence of Internal Cognitive Drift

The protagonist experiences repeated moments of inward mental movement, including:

Imagining potential cancellations

Rehearsing possible outcomes

Wishing for relief from physical strain

Fantasizing about an ideal “exit ramp”

These episodes constitute the classic “wakeful detachment” that defines daydreaming: consciousness remains intact, yet attention drifts inward.

3. Emotional Regulation Through Imagination

Academic literature identifies one primary function of daydreaming as affective self-regulation.

Within the narrative, the subject uses imagination to:

Cope with stress

Mitigate fatigue

Process doubt

Reassure himself

Restore emotional equilibrium

The story clearly portrays daydreaming as a psychological buffer.

4. Presence of Fantastical and Symbolic Imagery

The text includes explicit references to fantastical scenarios:

Flight

Laser vision

Tornado-fire projection

Mythic or romantic idealizations (Juliet, Laurentia, etc.)

Such imagery aligns with the creative-expansive mode of daydreaming, where impossibility is used as a mental reprieve.

5. Integration of Reflective Metacognition

The narrative features an Author’s Note that explicitly recognizes and interprets the daydreaming process.

This reflects the academic criterion of metacognition: awareness of one’s own mental drift.

The subject identifies:

Why the daydream occurred

How it functioned

What emotional purpose it served

This self-awareness is a hallmark of mature daydream narratives.

6. Psychological Consistency with Daydream Function

Research identifies daydreaming as a mechanism for:

Identity regulation

Self-preservation

Emotional stabilization

Processing uncertainty

Rehearsing responses to stress

The narrative aligns with these functions by resolving with rest, self-care, internal clarity, and a return to creativity rather than physical overexertion.

III. Certification Statement

“The Old Rag Arc (Short Version)” is a narrative demonstrably consistent with the psychological definition, structural features, and functional dynamics of daydreaming. It presents a coherent blend of lived experience and inward imaginative drift, fulfilling both academic and literary standards of a daydream-informed narrative.

IV. Summary of Findings

The text is grounded in real events, providing the necessary trigger for daydreaming.

Internal cognitive drift is present and clearly depicted.

Imaginative scenarios serve emotional and psychological regulation.

Fantastical imagery reflects established daydream structures.

Metacognitive reflection confirms awareness of the daydream process.

The narrative resolves through self-care, matching the restorative purpose of daydreaming.

Therefore, the submission qualifies as a rigorously consistent example of a daydream-based narrative.