mesmerizing story and I felt like I was there with you ... I'm sorry for your loss. Why do I always want to know more about the details, what was up in their life, who they left behind .... this world is getting harder to accept and appreciate unless you have faith, close friends and a purpose .. Thank you for sharing your journey with him ...
Beautiful tribute, Monica. So odd that you had the thought to look him up so close after he had passed. Like he was prodding you, take a gander, the way back so many moons ago he egged you on to jump in the water.
I feel that way about the late 60’s and early 70’s… way before smart phones, the internet, 9/11, The Patriot Act and Covid. We were truly wild and free back then.
I know what that feels like and I keep wanting to experience that again as I head towards my 70th Birthday! Problem is the pool of ‘available partners’ (that one would even want to spend the energy to get to know), has shrunk down to next to nada!
Thank you for sharing. I don’t think that I talk out of turn when I say that we can relate. My heart aches for all those who aren’t able, for whatever reason, to see even a glimmer of hope and hold on for another day or another moment. May we all find comfort and connection and strength.
Oh My. I can relate on every level... USFS, spectacular altitudes, trout filled high mountain lakes and streams, summer lightning strikes and downpours, missing a chance to apprentice with a forest nurseryman/tree and shrub guru/magician, anddd the young woman who gave me her whole heart and stuck beside me that Rocky Mtn. Forest Service summer before I shipped out to the South China Sea and Nam. James Gang, Blind Faith, Cat Stevens, CSNY. I loved her, her music, the mountains, every moment, to the core. I loved those old forest service shacks and the cabin we lived and loved in, (but I coulda done without the mouse turds in the silverware drawer!) I was writing to her today. She speaks to me every 20 years or so, only briefly. She has a life. I have a few photos and an envelope of poems and unsent letters. And, just as I finished nursing today's letter, I opened your tribute to your Old Flame and as I read your's my tears flowed with you, for you, for him. I love and honor the way your heart, your words spoke to life, to love, to celebration of his life. God Bless you Monica for taking another kind of leap today and sharing with us.
Aw. Thanks for sharing, Jim. Mouse turds in the silverware drawer! Haha. Yup.
Here's a song to our summer loves. The summers before covid, before 9/11 even, before the gender bender insanity... when things were simpler. When we were young and wild and free.
I live on The Palouse now. The winter wheat's getting high, but not yet headed out like in the photos on the Lightfoot song. Thank you so much for sharing that song and your response. I'm older now, but my heart and spirit still runs free. I miss the ocean, but then even as much as I love the high country I eventually always end up missing the ocean and shore. Growing up right smack dab in the middle of the other mass formation psychosis, The 60's, I never imagined things could get as crazy as they were back then, but They did get insane beyond any level I ever imagined/experienced. I didn't cause this insanity we live in, but I sure wish I could fix it, or, find a place of refuge from it. No running, hiding or escaping this ONE though. My heart is really heavy lately. I wanna forgive, forgive myself, but I guess its all just gonna have to run some unknown course for awhile. Summer is late coming this year, but we've been having a few gorgeous days. Prayers help every time in all things. I'm no good at cutting and paste-ing, if I could I'd send you the Blind Faith tune - Can't Find My Way Back Home. We played that one til the needle wore out. She held out her hand to welcome me home. I got swept down the rapids of another river and lost my way back to her, to home. I better shut up now, cuz all I really wanted to say was to pay respects to your courage of heart and pen, and how much it meant to me today.
Thank you for responding Frontera Lupita. Monica has created a beautiful place today where we could rally around her heart song and become a blessing to each other. Highlighted by such good music. Yes, The Palouse is uniquely beautiful. I tried to look up Frontera, La Frontera and such. Texas, Argentina, Peru, Spain, literal = The Border ??? where is this place?
😂 Actually in this case…the Frontera part is what they refer to in Mexico as the US Mexico Border. In my case it is the CA/Mexican border, where I am in San Diego. As far as the Lupita that’s my alter nickname, as I’m a serious fan of the Virgen de Guadalupe, The Patron Saint of Mexico. I grew up in a small town in a farming area in the SE corner of CA and learned to speak Spanish as child, as our neighbors were Mexican families. I have spent time living and traveling throughout Mexico and parts of Central America. My name is actually Christine and my Spanish speaking friends call me Christina, but my ‘handle’ is Frontera Lupita here on Substack! Mystery solved…for now. 😉
Jun 8, 2022·edited Jun 8, 2022Liked by Monica Hughes PhD
What a wonderful tribute. It's amazing how people touch us, and they're gone. I felt there with you, as you described your meeting him. Your story reminds me of my own reaching out, to those people who've touched me decades back. It also reminds me to keep reaching, as there are many I've yet to thank for helping me in my journey. As too, I've lost a few.
Thanks for your reflection. The cosmos has things in mind that produce such findings. Just as somehow our animals can sense the future. How an instant in time can change things forever. The voice of my late wife appearing in my mind.
Totally choked me up. In those past moments of time we rarely are aware of the significance of what seem at the time to be meaningless experiences but which endure far longer than moments we thought were significant.
It sure is. I remember one evening driving with Chris -- probably another swimming hole run, though I forget the specifics -- and a black bear just came lumbering out and meandered across the two-lane road. We also experienced them very close-up at Kane Experimental station.
mesmerizing story and I felt like I was there with you ... I'm sorry for your loss. Why do I always want to know more about the details, what was up in their life, who they left behind .... this world is getting harder to accept and appreciate unless you have faith, close friends and a purpose .. Thank you for sharing your journey with him ...
Beautiful tribute, Monica. So odd that you had the thought to look him up so close after he had passed. Like he was prodding you, take a gander, the way back so many moons ago he egged you on to jump in the water.
My thought exactly.
And the nostalgia for that time, too... I just want to go back to the 90s.
I feel that way about the late 60’s and early 70’s… way before smart phones, the internet, 9/11, The Patriot Act and Covid. We were truly wild and free back then.
I know what that feels like and I keep wanting to experience that again as I head towards my 70th Birthday! Problem is the pool of ‘available partners’ (that one would even want to spend the energy to get to know), has shrunk down to next to nada!
I, too, lust for the 90s. Maybe we didn’t have cell phones, but damn it was fun.
Yes! I just remembered that we didn't have internet or TV in the Hilton, either.
BRING THAT BACK. We need to go back to the future, goddamit.
Who needs TV when we’re living in the middle of a sci-fi thriller?
Now that I think about it.... we didn't have a landline in that place either. haha!
Holy shit. Now you’re just teasing... 😂 sounds like heaven. Stuck in a cabin with a cute boy at that age. I’d be in trouble.
Thank you for sharing. I don’t think that I talk out of turn when I say that we can relate. My heart aches for all those who aren’t able, for whatever reason, to see even a glimmer of hope and hold on for another day or another moment. May we all find comfort and connection and strength.
Oh My. I can relate on every level... USFS, spectacular altitudes, trout filled high mountain lakes and streams, summer lightning strikes and downpours, missing a chance to apprentice with a forest nurseryman/tree and shrub guru/magician, anddd the young woman who gave me her whole heart and stuck beside me that Rocky Mtn. Forest Service summer before I shipped out to the South China Sea and Nam. James Gang, Blind Faith, Cat Stevens, CSNY. I loved her, her music, the mountains, every moment, to the core. I loved those old forest service shacks and the cabin we lived and loved in, (but I coulda done without the mouse turds in the silverware drawer!) I was writing to her today. She speaks to me every 20 years or so, only briefly. She has a life. I have a few photos and an envelope of poems and unsent letters. And, just as I finished nursing today's letter, I opened your tribute to your Old Flame and as I read your's my tears flowed with you, for you, for him. I love and honor the way your heart, your words spoke to life, to love, to celebration of his life. God Bless you Monica for taking another kind of leap today and sharing with us.
Aw. Thanks for sharing, Jim. Mouse turds in the silverware drawer! Haha. Yup.
Here's a song to our summer loves. The summers before covid, before 9/11 even, before the gender bender insanity... when things were simpler. When we were young and wild and free.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nk-h-u3-5BI
I live on The Palouse now. The winter wheat's getting high, but not yet headed out like in the photos on the Lightfoot song. Thank you so much for sharing that song and your response. I'm older now, but my heart and spirit still runs free. I miss the ocean, but then even as much as I love the high country I eventually always end up missing the ocean and shore. Growing up right smack dab in the middle of the other mass formation psychosis, The 60's, I never imagined things could get as crazy as they were back then, but They did get insane beyond any level I ever imagined/experienced. I didn't cause this insanity we live in, but I sure wish I could fix it, or, find a place of refuge from it. No running, hiding or escaping this ONE though. My heart is really heavy lately. I wanna forgive, forgive myself, but I guess its all just gonna have to run some unknown course for awhile. Summer is late coming this year, but we've been having a few gorgeous days. Prayers help every time in all things. I'm no good at cutting and paste-ing, if I could I'd send you the Blind Faith tune - Can't Find My Way Back Home. We played that one til the needle wore out. She held out her hand to welcome me home. I got swept down the rapids of another river and lost my way back to her, to home. I better shut up now, cuz all I really wanted to say was to pay respects to your courage of heart and pen, and how much it meant to me today.
ahh Blind Faith Can’t Find my Way Home…💓🙏🏻
Here ya Go!
https://youtube.com/watch?v=6jlLBs6YawM&feature=share
PS: I had to look up The Palouse! It looks beautiful there. 😉💓
Thank you for responding Frontera Lupita. Monica has created a beautiful place today where we could rally around her heart song and become a blessing to each other. Highlighted by such good music. Yes, The Palouse is uniquely beautiful. I tried to look up Frontera, La Frontera and such. Texas, Argentina, Peru, Spain, literal = The Border ??? where is this place?
😂 Actually in this case…the Frontera part is what they refer to in Mexico as the US Mexico Border. In my case it is the CA/Mexican border, where I am in San Diego. As far as the Lupita that’s my alter nickname, as I’m a serious fan of the Virgen de Guadalupe, The Patron Saint of Mexico. I grew up in a small town in a farming area in the SE corner of CA and learned to speak Spanish as child, as our neighbors were Mexican families. I have spent time living and traveling throughout Mexico and parts of Central America. My name is actually Christine and my Spanish speaking friends call me Christina, but my ‘handle’ is Frontera Lupita here on Substack! Mystery solved…for now. 😉
Gorgeous tribute. Thank you for writing this.
Beautiful, bittersweet memories. May Chris find the solace and peace in the afterlife that eluded him during his time here.
I'm so sorry for your loss. Heartbreaking!
"I can tell you
My love for you will still be strong
After the boys of summer have gone
I can see you
Your brown skin shining in the sun
You got your hair slicked back and those wayfarers on baby
I can tell you my love for you will still be strong
After the boys of summer have gone."
Boys Of Summer...Songwriters: Don Henley / Michael W Campbell
What a wonderful tribute. It's amazing how people touch us, and they're gone. I felt there with you, as you described your meeting him. Your story reminds me of my own reaching out, to those people who've touched me decades back. It also reminds me to keep reaching, as there are many I've yet to thank for helping me in my journey. As too, I've lost a few.
Thank you so much for sharing this part of you.
Thanks for your reflection. The cosmos has things in mind that produce such findings. Just as somehow our animals can sense the future. How an instant in time can change things forever. The voice of my late wife appearing in my mind.
Totally choked me up. In those past moments of time we rarely are aware of the significance of what seem at the time to be meaningless experiences but which endure far longer than moments we thought were significant.
I am so sorry. 💙
That was a marvellous sweet story to read with my morning coffee. Thank you so much for sharing.
You weave a good story
So sad, taking ones own life. Lovely story.
I'm so sorry 😞
Beautiful and heartfelt tribute! I have lived in Warren all my 50 years and it really is a beautiful little place in the ANF.
It sure is. I remember one evening driving with Chris -- probably another swimming hole run, though I forget the specifics -- and a black bear just came lumbering out and meandered across the two-lane road. We also experienced them very close-up at Kane Experimental station.
Wonderful.