Sat-Sun 4-5 Aug 62
S U N D O W N
O N A S U M M E R
Well Glory BE!
White Belt walked into Base Camp with a guitar in one hand and a hypodermic
syringe in the other. Sez they rebuilt
his big dirt-chute and re-ground the gears down at the M.D. Garage. Something
about lymph glands wanting to come out and play with us too. Velcome!
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:
Report From Line
Camp Up
“Breakfast: eggs and salt pork. After
several minor happenings, (Editor: What?! What?!) we began the long day. Iron Jaw wandered off and came back after he
had written “Rain Over Squaw”. We all
discussed the poem. Suddenly we
discovered it had been written about another mountain than Squaw. However,
considering it to be too much trouble to move Squaw into the place where the
rain had fallen, we left it be. We spend
the rest of the morning reading and whittling wooden forks and trying to work.
Around the middle of the afternoon we made Muscle Back make some fried potatoes
and battery acid which we repeatedly dipped into for the rest of the day. During this time we had been preparing the
secret Fly-Away Stew. It had been cooking for hours and was ready about
sundown. We proceeded to eat. Each one
of us was making a furious attempt to get the good stuff and not the bad.
(Since it is impossible to give the receipt of this F-A-Stew, “Good Stuff”
refers to things in the stew that are highly favorable.) Soon the good stuff
was all gone. Then the bad stuff started flying. Tough Trapper looked like a vegetable tree
and Iron Jaw looked like a garbage pail. Then when nothing remained to pass
around, we cleaned up. In the remaining light, we held a knife-throwing
contest. Muscles and Trapper won. Then we got our flashlights and went down to
Base Camp. Had soe hot tea, listened to stories, sang, then returned home. Made
some soup and went to sleep. A happy day.”
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: : :
:
SUNBALL EXPRESS came across in a blazing,
glorious sign of Good Medicine. Just as he was reaching the horizon, the
reflection on his underbelly burst into the most dazzling glow any of us had
ever seen! And that’s not all! Just at
that brief moment. He formed a perfect triangle with the now-visible moon and
the first star of the approaching evening!
: : :
:
SUNDAY: After last night’s sing-song and
story and marshmallow session, we got up before dawn. Some didn’t have to get
up – they never went to beddie-bye atall atall.
Just stayed in bull-session around the fire until suddenly the Hawks
were wining off for the early hunt.
# # #
Packed all gear and
layed out duffel bags and maximum survival packs in military line behind the
truck. Held final Creating Classes.
7 7 7
Returned area to
Nature. Picked up all evidence of Man.
Burned all slash. Buried all cans.
Loaded truck in order of getting off. Tipped our hats to ol Ma Nature,
to Father Sky, to the Hawks, to the Trees, and to each of our person private
Good Medicines.
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* * * *
It has been an
all-too-rapid summer. The lessons to some, if they are lessons, have been
painful. Even costly. But we trust that they will be worthwhile lessons in
future years. Nothing that is worthwhile comes easily. Anything that is worthwhile hurts. A child is
the most worthwhile thing in Life. And a child is the most hurting thing of
all, both when it passes thru the mother and when it passes thru the
conscientious teacher. Yet this is the only way to Manhood. Good Luck on your Long Immense Journey, Mountain Man.
T.D.L.
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