"Curmudgeon"

One of several metaphoric take-offs of Mother Lode, this is on the same hill but on the other side, where part of the Mother is seen above at the top... a gnarly tree, chopped yet deeply rooted, still makes its way to blooming... some have even seen it as a woman coming to form as enlightment, so there is definitely diversed views on its metaphoric implications...

On "Important"

From Rand -

"Important" - in its essential meaning, as distinguished from its more limited and superficial uses - is a metaphysical term. It pertains to that aspect of metaphysics which serves as a bridge between metaphysics and ethics: to a fundamental view of man's nature. That view involves the answers to such questions as whether the universe is knowable or not, whether man has the power of choice or not, whether he can achieve his goals in life or not. The answers to such questions are "metaphysical value-judgments", since they form the base of ethics.