News and Notes
Dave, My Friend, Died
26 November, 2011
TO VIEW MUSIC VIDEOS PLEASE CLICK ON "NEWS" I'm sad today. Yesterday, the day after Thanksgiving in the U.S., my friend Dave died. It was two days after a plane crashed into the Superstition Mountain where I have hiked. I still have other friends named Dave, but that doesn't seem to help. This morning I woke up with a dream. Three years ago our old dog, Charcoal, decided it was time to die, so one morning, at the cabin, she just disappeared. Wise dog! In the dream, I was at the farm, 30 miles from the cabin, and I spied Charcoal walking in the woods. I went to her, picked her up and she said, "Well, it's taken a while, but I finally made it home". I'm wondring if death is like that? And so I turn to a book by Stephen Levine and quote him when he spoke of death he said, "It's like taking off a shoe that was too tight". But I am still sad. I look across the street at Dave's house and know I won't hear his voice again. We won't be able to give each other a hard time. We won't have more conversations about topics most men don't talk about. Dave and I could. Yes, in my head, I know we all will die; but when a younger, loved friend does, it brings me sadness. Along with a wake up call. To wake up and appreciate the life I'm still lliving. To be thankful for the family and friends I have. To treat all people, even the folks with whom I disagree, with tolerance. Dave would like that, I think.
RMF YouTube Channel
20 November, 2011
Go here for a connection to my youtube channel!
Video-If Jesus Was Norwegian
15 November, 2011
Video-I Am Bear
14 November, 2011
Video-Tell Me Again
13 November, 2011
Video-Triple A, Double D
12 November, 2011
Civility
15 April, 2011
Scorpion Sting
18 November, 2010
"Get to the emergency room", she said. No, not my wife; but the woman at the desk where we were staying in Sedona, AZ. When I picked up a wash cloth in the sink he stung me. Stung in the thumb, the pain was rather amazing! I mean, he didn't seem that big!! A guy, checking his email said, "Let's see what the internet says"! So I ended up calling poision control. Jenifer assured me that I'd have a good chance to live, told me what "may" happen, called me back to check on me and was exactly right. The pain gradually worked its way up my arm, through the elbow, and finally to the shoulder. There was even a time when I would look at my thumb and could not move it. Then, gradually, during a week's time, the pain worked back to my thumb. Two week after the sting my thumb is still numb; but scorpion is dead. (I had shoes on when I stepped on him!) I guess I'm the lucky one! Perhaps I've "STUNG" someone as hard as scorpion did and yet I'm still alive. Still alive and able to feel pain. I'm a lucky man.
Loon & I
27 September, 2010
We were both fishing! Both getting ready to start a "round". For me, the 8th time I've left this North Country, to head for my winter home in Arizona. From loon's light grey color, I'd guess this would be his first. This year's hatch! Most older loons are gone, the young ones still readying themselves. I stopped casting and watched loon dive under my boat, coming up on either side; each time a little closer, back and forth he moved. Finally, about 12 feet away, he stood up with his white breast facing me and opened wide his wings. Stretching his wings, dreaming of the long flight to come? Waving bye? Loon was fishing for norishment to help fill his body for the trip South. I was fishing for nourishment to help fill my heart with memories to sustain me until my, hopeful, return in the spring. I was filled with awe by loon's acceptance of my boat and I in such close proximity. I was filled with awe from the sun reflecting off the still water, the yellow birch, red maple and golden popple leaves, releasing themselves from thier summer homes. Snapping turtle surfaced within four feet of my boat. He stuck his head out of the water and looked at me for 8-10 seconds as if to say "it's almost time"; and then slowly backed towards the bottom. Eagle flew by saying "see ya next year" and "sing the song"! I have long since learned that fishing isn't made for catching fish, rather for making memories; but I did catch and release 2 Northern Pike and 2 Largemouth Bass. I can only hope that loon was nourished as well as I. Perhaps we both reminded ourselves of the beauty of the northland, to hold it within and hopefully, to complete the round with a spring return. A spring reunion. We were both fishing, loon and I.
Tree Down!
16 May, 2010
Some of you may recall that last year, an old oak tree died by our cabin. I wrote about her on June 3, 2009. (You can still read it in the news section-scroll down.) As she had grown towards our cabin, I had to take her down. I burned wood for a quarter century (no more) and can't recall ever taking a "live" tree; but we killed this grand old oak when we remodeled our cabin. I guess the encouragement and energy I sent her last year was not enough; so I cut her down. I take responsibility. I am sad! I have learned much from trees. Still have much to learn! I left her stump standing, so I can sit and be quiet. Feeling stump beneath me, I am conected to earth. Mother earth! Perhaps stump will still teach as I acknowledge my sadness. Tree down and I miss her.
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