Long John

The term “arrested decay” is not original to me––I kind of always knew at least one chapter of the book would have that title. It’s a term specifically connected to Bodie and how it is preserved as a ghost town that is also a California state park. It is because of this form of preservation that makes Bodie unique from other ghost towns, as well. Preserved as people left it instead of polishing everything up and having actors walk around in character as 19th century citizens, Bodie is instead a quiet place to be in. It’s very large and, with it being at such a high elevation (about 84oo’––~2560 meters for our metric readers), exploring it is quickly exhausting.

The once booming town of Bodie, now a State Historic Park. Taken on one of my trips there.

All of this works to create a distinct tone or vibe––one that I really wanted Long John to capture and one that I think I’ve met throughout the series. So, even if it’s a title that’s a little shoehorned into the book and this dialogue, it was essential for it to be there. Fun Fact: I almost titled the chapter “Mourning Brooch” because it’s such a good term, but a little too edgelord for me.

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