As a backpacking guide it was amazing how many tears were shed on trails. Things I learned about clients that I was often amazed were shared with me - a nonconfidant turned confidant. Yet, that is the comfort outdoors can bring to people. An opportunity to evaluate and investigate. To dig into uncomfortable things to find the hopeful portal to the other side.
PS. For whatever reason, Walden is probably my least favorite book of all time. Still, how I love that it is embraced by so many people and has helped to direct their nature perspective. I'd love to read your notes after you read it.
All strength to you, Dru, and thank you for another interesting piece, Yasmin. I’d love to hear more about your memories of the little blue and white house.
I really didn't get on with Walden so I'm glad to hear it's not just me given how many people have been positively influenced by it! (As you said, no shade intended, I'm happy people love it, if a bit baffled)
Whenever I think of the outdoors, I am always minded of the Calvin and Hobbes strips where they are outside in the woods, presumably somewhere not far behind their house. And their conversations, which, while comical, were also very poignant. In the yard of our family cottage, as well as the little Manitoba town of Gimli in which it was located, there were several trees, or stands of trees that looked to me, as I put it, almost as good as if Jim Watterson had drawn them. Especially when the sun hit them the right way. I don't know much about Thoreau or Walden, but love especially those trees we called 'paper birches', and I know Calvin and Hobbes are out there in their little red wagon, somewhere just out of sight, where your eye can't quite catch them....
I love this description, Stephen. I'm not familiar with the Calvin and Hobbes strips but I can imagine them now, and how being outdoors creates the right conditions for conversations you might never have elsewhere.
I have a story of someone sharing joy rather than grief- I was wild swimming in a river with a small group of people. I was in my twenties. A guy on his sixties swam and it was the first time he had since having heart surgery. He whooped for joy and then shed a tear about his joy at being alive and the gratitude for still being able to wild swim
This is heartwarming. Thanks for sharing this story. It must have been quite surprising for you, in your twenties, to see an older man express such emotion.
Yes Waldron is extremely important to American Literature and history overall. I love the book, but also I loved getting to know the historical contextualization of what was happening in our country and why he was defying the current norms when he went off to live on the wild for two years. He was totally bucking the system. This book never sold during his lifetime and supposedly he used it to make end tables and keep his mattress up off the floor. It didn’t become revered until after his death. Anyway, I took a whole lit class on him and loved every moment of it. I hope you will seriously take time to read the book. I’ll take the time to check out Dru. Thanks for the rec.
Fascinating story! I can imagine that if one couldn’t rely on past memories, capturing the present moment accurately and fully would become so important.
As a backpacking guide it was amazing how many tears were shed on trails. Things I learned about clients that I was often amazed were shared with me - a nonconfidant turned confidant. Yet, that is the comfort outdoors can bring to people. An opportunity to evaluate and investigate. To dig into uncomfortable things to find the hopeful portal to the other side.
PS. For whatever reason, Walden is probably my least favorite book of all time. Still, how I love that it is embraced by so many people and has helped to direct their nature perspective. I'd love to read your notes after you read it.
Walking certainly helps conversation doesn't it? ...'the comfort outdoors can bring to people.'
And your take on Walden is interesting.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Stacy.
All strength to you, Dru, and thank you for another interesting piece, Yasmin. I’d love to hear more about your memories of the little blue and white house.
I tried a couple of times to get into Walden, and failed.
I really didn't get on with Walden so I'm glad to hear it's not just me given how many people have been positively influenced by it! (As you said, no shade intended, I'm happy people love it, if a bit baffled)
Oooh, Shelly. Now I'm intrigued by Walden and have reduced my expectations.
Yep, definitely no shade …
Whenever I think of the outdoors, I am always minded of the Calvin and Hobbes strips where they are outside in the woods, presumably somewhere not far behind their house. And their conversations, which, while comical, were also very poignant. In the yard of our family cottage, as well as the little Manitoba town of Gimli in which it was located, there were several trees, or stands of trees that looked to me, as I put it, almost as good as if Jim Watterson had drawn them. Especially when the sun hit them the right way. I don't know much about Thoreau or Walden, but love especially those trees we called 'paper birches', and I know Calvin and Hobbes are out there in their little red wagon, somewhere just out of sight, where your eye can't quite catch them....
I love this description, Stephen. I'm not familiar with the Calvin and Hobbes strips but I can imagine them now, and how being outdoors creates the right conditions for conversations you might never have elsewhere.
I have a story of someone sharing joy rather than grief- I was wild swimming in a river with a small group of people. I was in my twenties. A guy on his sixties swam and it was the first time he had since having heart surgery. He whooped for joy and then shed a tear about his joy at being alive and the gratitude for still being able to wild swim
This is heartwarming. Thanks for sharing this story. It must have been quite surprising for you, in your twenties, to see an older man express such emotion.
Yes Waldron is extremely important to American Literature and history overall. I love the book, but also I loved getting to know the historical contextualization of what was happening in our country and why he was defying the current norms when he went off to live on the wild for two years. He was totally bucking the system. This book never sold during his lifetime and supposedly he used it to make end tables and keep his mattress up off the floor. It didn’t become revered until after his death. Anyway, I took a whole lit class on him and loved every moment of it. I hope you will seriously take time to read the book. I’ll take the time to check out Dru. Thanks for the rec.
Thanks so much, Amanda, this is very interesting. I’ll definitely get hold of the book and give it some time.
Lovely interview. And many thanks for the hiking path recommendation.
Thank you Janisse. We meet some lovely people here on Substack don’t we?
Fascinating story! I can imagine that if one couldn’t rely on past memories, capturing the present moment accurately and fully would become so important.
It’s a condition I hadn’t known about before meeting Dru.
Thanks so much for interviewing me, Yasmin.
It was my pleasure Dru.