Chapter 19 Summary

Ray arrives at his mother's house and decides to sleep on a couch on the back porch instead of in a bed inside. He visits with his family, and after they go to sleep for the night, he walks into the nearby woods to a place he is very familiar with and spends an hour meditating. He reflects on the nature of existence and happily believes that existence is not real. The next day, Christmas Eve, he drinks wine and watches television. The following week his mother is out of town, and he spends the days alone while his other relatives go to work and school. He goes into the woods and meditates every day, saying prayers and spending time with the dogs.

Chapter 19 Analysis

Ray is obviously familiar with and comfortable in the local surroundings. He remembers that he spent the previous...