Ranger Twitch's Observation Tower

This is Tower Seven, signing off. Far below the constellations, craggy ridges and deep valleys rise towards Sleeper Mountain, climbing to a curious silver outpost above the trees. A staircase leads upwards into Ranger Twitch's home in the sky. A small fire crackles in the cast-iron fireplace, radiating a soft glow over a sleepy mountain dog, Iris. It's been a long day of traversing the mountain and forests below. Tucked in her plush fleece, the faint chirp of crickets and wind lulling her to sleep. As we prepare for our visit, let's take a moment for a brief wind-down exercise. Tonight's exercise is really a simple breathing exercise. So when you're ready, let's begin. So first, get comfortable in your bed. Now just bringing the attention to the breath, just noticing where you feel it. In the nose, the throat, the chest, the diaphragm. You're nice and relaxed. We're going to be taking a deep breath in for four, holding it for four, and then breathing out for six. So are you ready? Let's begin. In for four, two, three, four. Hold it for four, two, three, four. And breathing out for six, two, three, four, five, six. In for four, two, three, four. Holding for four, two, three, four. Out for six, two, three, four, five, six. In for four, two, three, four. Holding for four, two, three, four. Out for six, two, three, four, five, six. In for four, two, three, four. Holding for four, two, three, four. Out for six, two, three, four, five, six. Great. Now returning the breath to normal. Below the steel observatory, a family of deer grazes on the grass near Ranger Twitch's lifted Jeep. Two fawns linger close to their parents, drawn to the lingering warmth of the resting engine. The Jeep, his second home on beadlock wheels, spends as much time off road as it does on pavement. Its forest green body and soft black top are built for any terrain, ready to cross rock formations in rain, snow, mud, or sun. On the Jeep's side, Annie, the owner of a pottery shop in town, painted a round ranger emblem with a large sequoia in the foreground and a white snowy mountain in the background. If you look closely in the center of it all, a fawn, not unlike the one near the car at this very moment, grazes peacefully in the tableau. And no matter how many times he takes the car to Billy's car wash, there will always be mud on his tires and dog hair in his seat cushions. The odometer reads 285,000 miles, and he has driven them all with his dog Iris in the backseat, window open just enough for her to stick her snout out and breathe in the fresh mountain air. (dog whimpering and snoring) Every ranger needs a companion, and William Twitch is no different. His drooly Bernese mountain dog, Iris, is always by his side. Her tri-colored coat is sleek and soft,...