His Mom and Dad were busy cleaning up the trailer. I took my one year old grandson in my arms and set him in front of me on my ATV. We took off down the wooded logging road slowly at first and then a bit faster. I showed him the woods, the woods our family has retreated to annually every summer for twenty years. I told him to fear not the creatures of the woods, for they would not hurt him if he were true in spirit. I said I would teach him the way. Respect the land in it’s beauty and it will take care of you. I showed him nature, the mountains, the rushing stream all from the seat of an ATV. Yes it sounds corny, the self induced delusions of a fifty-something change of life hippie, this unspoken spiritual communication from one soul to another. Is it real or something based on faith. My engineer side is fighting with my shaman side. What I felt, what he felt, I have no words to describe.
The same kid fell asleep on a ride yesterday with his mom. With me he was animated and fully awake. Some years ago I carried his mother on my back, ran two miles down the mountain in desperation for the epinepherin kit we forgot to bring on our walk. Stumbling through swamps and fallen trees she said “Dad I’m OK”. My first daughter had suddenly “outgrown” her life threatening allergy to bees. Yes, I believe in miracles. I was left to catching my breath.
I know not how or why kids and animals like me but they do. The next morning upon seeing me in the trailer door a one year old says his first words Vroom, Vroom and extends his arms for me to pick him up again. The Grampy connection was made and continues to this day. He wants me and I have to sneak out of their house so he won’t get really upset and keep his parents up all night.
Camp for our family is memories. A generation of our large family at the campfire toasting marshmellows, telling ghost stories after spending the day in the swirling mountain stream. Searching for moose in the early morning or coming face to face with a beaver while swimming with a diving mask. I think daughter and beaver both scared each other. I saw water exploding from two directions and then one daughter standing up.
The family dog, a rottweiler pulling logs out of the woods for the next night’s fire. Memories richer than Bill Gates these are. The love of family, once secure in that a love of community, once secure in that a knowledge of history and the failures of mankind, once secure in that a knowledge of the evil man can exhibit.
Be true to each other will you. Keep me off the Apocalyptic horse and should I rebuild yet another damned computer and write the whole book about all this.
8 comments
Skip to comment form
I think you should write that book. Your ability to relate treasured family memories is wonderful.
you have me in tears… your tale of first words so poignant
i took my grandson for his first walk in the woods yesterday… we went to the pond and said hello to the heron that visits in winter. We went thru the wisteria tangle behind the pond & into the small field with the fairy ring, but they had finished dancing and had gone to their beds to sleep. From there we followed the deer trail to the creek & saw where beavers have dammed it up.
grandchildren are amazing, aren’t they?
gooey in the center. That was lovely.
kids and animals
They have impeccable instincts. So you are nice afterall.
even though you ride the Apocalyptic horse that you were nice. That’s why kids and animals trust you. You care, you see the folly. Beautiful essay that bring me back to why. Time spent with grandchildren is a great way to kepp your perspective.
your shaman side is much valued.