Biking the White Rim
This was a Thanksgiving trip. Spent two days with Juddson and Isaias biking 100 miles through some of my favorite scenery on earth. Canyonlands NP.
Fred Again: Tiny Desk Concert
`Once the realization is accepted that even between the closest human beings infinite distance continues to exist, a wonderful living side-by-side can grow up, if they succeed in loving the distance between them which makes it possible for each to see the other whole and against a wide sky.’
– Rainer Maria Rilke
Italy – June ’22
After a year that involved moving back across the country to my old stomping ground of Missoula, Montana and starting a new job, things have quieted down a bit. Thought I would use the opportunity to update this thing, as the post about the Buddhist take on suffering is a bit blunt.
These pictures are all from last summer. After my friends the Parker’s came and visited me in Asheville and after I got rid of most of the stuff (and my precious plants) I had accumulated spending two years in a lovely house in my childhood neighborhood in north Asheville and before I packed whatever I could into a Honda Element and drove west with Mom, I visited my sister in Italy for a little over a week.
I flew into Rome and Rebecca made the epic surprise of meeting me outside the airport (I thought she was in a different town hundreds of miles away). This was my first time in Italy, but it sure as heck won’t be the last! (Unless I meet an untimely demise).
Was wonderful to see so many sights along with my sister. Many good times and here are a few.
The Four Noble Truths
More simply put, suffering exists; it has a cause; it has an end; and it has a cause to bring about its end. The notion of suffering is not intended to convey a negative world view, but rather, a pragmatic perspective that deals with the world as it is, and attempts to rectify it. The concept of pleasure is not denied, but acknowledged as fleeting. Pursuit of pleasure can only continue what is ultimately an unquenchable thirst. The same logic belies an understanding of happiness. In the end, only aging, sickness, and death are certain and unavoidable.
The Four Noble Truths are a contingency plan for dealing with the suffering humanity faces — suffering of a physical kind, or of a mental nature.
Black Mountain
Hiking near Livingston Montana on July 20th, 2020. Thanks for the hiking inspo and being such a good friend Al. These chronicle the first part, the hiking to Pine Creek Lake. From there it was off the beaten path to the summit.
Hilton Head
A week by the ocean with Mom back in early October. I remember being concerned by going to the beach I was going to miss out on my first fall in the east in a long time. That wasn’t an issue.
To Thine Own Self Be True
“As I began to love myself I freed myself of anything that is no good for my health: food, people, things, situations, and everything that drew me down and away from myself. At first I called this attitude a healthy egoism. Today I know it is love of oneself.”
-Charlie Chaplain
Poem by Henry Scott Holland
Death is nothing at all.
I have only slipped away to the next room.
I am I and you are you.
Whatever we were to each other,
That, we still are.
Call me by my old familiar name.
Speak to me in the easy way
which you always used.
Put no difference into your tone.
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.
Laugh as we always laughed
at the little jokes we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me. Pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word
that it always was.
Let it be spoken without effect.
Without the trace of a shadow on it.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same that it ever was.
There is absolute unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind
because I am out of sight?
I am but waiting for you.
For an interval.
Somewhere. Very near.
Just around the corner.
All is well.
Love you always and forever Dad.
El Capitan (Bitterroot Edition)
Not to be confused with the granite monolith in Yosemite sharing the same name. These chronicle the first half of a trip to El Capitan, the 9,983 ft mountain in the Bitterroots south of Missoula, at the border of Montana and Idaho.
I got my butt kicked. We left the car at 8am and got back around 11pm. Lots of bushwacking, some wrong turns, and a few 5th class moves. Bagged it.
Pyramid Peak
There are several Pyramid Peaks in Montana. We spent two nights up by the one in the Swan Range. Thanks to Kate for picking out the route.
