Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
|
|
bump for Tyrus, Paola and Family. People gathering some thoughts and this should Not go off the front page til they can post. lrl
|
|
Ottawa Doug
Social climber
Ottawa, Canada
|
|
Tyrus,
Your dad was THE free soloist of his generation. I know that he wants you to grow up to be your own man and do what you want to do. It may take time to find that 'thing', but keep looking and I'm sure you'll find it.
Remember, grow up to be yourself, that's what your dad would want.
Travel well,
Doug
|
|
B
Trad climber
Oakland, Ca
|
|
TB,
I am sorry to hear of your loss. We all loved and admired your Pop even if we only met him at OR like I did.
John was a true pioneer.
Best wishes and prayers for you and your family and friends.
Billy
|
|
Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
|
|
|
Jul 10, 2009 - 01:29am PT
|
Still grieving my friend today so went up to my own little River of Rock by Palomar Mountain to sort things through.
tolman..."for John to have stopped climbing would have been for him to have stopped living."
Werner, "I ain't buying that."
From working with John Bachar, great guy and cool Amigo over the past months this is my perspective.
I think the truth lies in the middle. John was working on making a life transition from the climbing that shaped his life, to a life that would include climbing, but would now be much more focused on Tyrus, Paola, and family.
John was changing his life direction to include a multifaceted scope of goals working to achieve a solid foundation for his loved ones and a future of challenge and new life developement for himself.
So as these ranges seem to go on forever so did John's goals and dreams. It seemed life with JB was not so much about "climbing" as it was creating the rest of his life.
Everyone has told you, Tyrus, how much your Pop loved you...but you know Dude he loved you so much he was changing his life for you.
And Paola, I must tell you that not only did he love you he respected you and that combination makes for a wonderful, forever life.
Transition is complicated and difficult. It involves life change, developement of new attitudes and lots of adjustments. It appeared to me that John was in the midst of all of this. John was in transition for his loved ones and his future.
In my opinion John was in the middle of saying goodbye to one life and beginning another when this tragic accident happened.
If I were superstitious I would say that his rock was a jealous lover... this rock that owned and loved him for so long would just not let him go on to another life.
But that is not true. Some feel we all have a number of days given us and we need to treasure them and love those in our life path. John loved each and every one of you. He made that quite clear. Peace to You All. Lynne
|
|
L
climber
It's a big ol' Moon a talking to my heart now...
|
|
|
Jul 10, 2009 - 02:09am PT
|
What happened to you, Stzzo? You're not yourself...
|
|
marko
Boulder climber
Simi Valley, CA
|
|
|
Jul 10, 2009 - 04:37am PT
|
At one point in the conversation John hung from a slopy slot with one hand about seventy feet off the deck. He never lost the rhythym of the conversation. This was where a lot of so called men would be crying for mama. He casually rotatated at the wrist for a couple of seconds, boned out, taking his time, telling Johnson and me about the Goats, a politically conscious band he dug, and how he had heard about the Swimming Hole.I had seen first hand over the years that the man had gifts, but every time you watched him do his magic it was as though you were alive to hear Coltrane play Giant Steps, or Love Supreme. The man moved like Ballachine with the power of Bruce Lee; only an idiot would'nt be slack jawed by the experience. The man was poetic in life and will be beyond,and his humble graceful movements over the terra will not go unnoticed. He found rhythyms in places only the boldest will ever dare to go, and he committed himself to that ethos completly. He dedicated his soul to the Earth long before he flew from mortals reaches. This was a man who sung a great song that will always ring in the coccles of my heart. Peace and Love Brother, from Marko and Terrill with Great Affection.
|
|
marko
Boulder climber
Simi Valley, CA
|
|
|
Jul 10, 2009 - 04:51am PT
|
Tyrus,
I lost my dad when I was four. It is probably harder for you than it was for me because you are older and knew your dad better. I knew your dad from twenty four years of meeting with him at many different crags, but never got to be as close with him as I would have liked. But I can tell you with complete certainty that your dad encouraged those around him, and he encouraged me. He inspired people and always seemed to me to be an intelligent compassionate man. Peace, marko
|
|
S.Powers
Social climber
Jtree, now in Alaska
|
|
|
Jul 10, 2009 - 06:39am PT
|
Your dad was one of the greatest. I am honored to have climbed with him.
Be strong, like your father!
|
|
Seamstress
Trad climber
Yacolt, WA
|
|
|
Jul 10, 2009 - 11:50am PT
|
Tyrus,
I am so glad that you gave your feelings a voice and shared your feelings about your dad. You had a unique and special relationship with him that no one else shares. Some call him a friend, some call him an icon, and others call him foolish. You are the only one who can call him dad.
It will be impossible to do this at first but please don’t spend too much time trying to understand why he died. It is human nature to try and figure out why, assign blame, and wonder what if. We all will die and leave behind people who need us and love us. It isn’t fair or unfair. It just is. A famous old prayer asks God to grant the serenity to accept the things that I can not change. That can be incredibly hard to do. Just remember that your dad truly wants you to be happy. When the day comes that the grief subsides and some laughter comes, it is not a betrayal of your love for your dad. It is an affirmation. Life is so precious. You need to live and love yours.
In life, we all face difficult times. The true measure of a man is how he deals with the difficult times. You are young to handle such a challenge. Let your dad’s friends help. It is their final gift to him and helps them with their grief. No one can replace your dad. Today many remember him with tears. Tomorrow his memory will bring a smile.
From another who lost too soon
|
|
Eiger
Mountain climber
Zurich, Switzerland
|
|
|
Jul 10, 2009 - 03:21pm PT
|
I hope all the family have now turned up Tyrus and they and you are coping as well as you can together.
|
|
Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
|
|
|
Jul 10, 2009 - 08:41pm PT
|
Bump from the Leichtfuss Family to Tyrus....from the kiddos all here tonight for Vacation Bible School BBQ and praying for ya Guy. Love from Danny, Reese, Aspen, Joshua, Torrey, Levi and Ethan. (oops!, all here but Levi and Ethan they be in Belgium.)Lynne
|
|
Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
|
|
|
Jul 10, 2009 - 11:13pm PT
|
hoh man!
|
|
dfrost7
Social climber
|
|
|
Jul 11, 2009 - 12:55am PT
|
Tyrus, your dad - a real star. If not the first, one of the first, names you learn when you start climbing. I know he was for me. What a wonderful thing to be his son. I know you will always be proud of him and all he accomplished. You have so many big brothers, and sisters, who will always be there for you. God bless you.
|
|
dfrost7
Social climber
|
|
|
Jul 11, 2009 - 01:32am PT
|
I'm bumping this up again. i hope no one minds.
|
|
sherry
climber
santa clarita, ca
|
|
|
Jul 11, 2009 - 09:09am PT
|
I am so sorry, truly, we have lost a magnificent light in this world. Don't think of him as gone only climbing the highest mountain peak of all, "Heaven!" God must of needed one more Angel to watch over and guide. My prayers go out to you all.
|
|
Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
|
|
|
Jul 11, 2009 - 02:41pm PT
|
Tyrus, I am thinking about you especially today. In case you didn't know.....my best friend, my husband, Dan died 18 months ago. I know sorrow and pain and the myriad of feelings that accompany them.
Some people don't believe in God, some say they just don't know. But I know he is there. In my worst moments after Dan died, I tried to find a quiet place and then I just yelled "help" as loud as I could. And it has always come......sometimes right away, sometimes it took awhile to unfold or for me to even recognize it. Crying with you and praying for you today. Lynne
Edit: I just want to add that how we view things.....perspective, is so important and we must again find a quiet place to think about things. I was so angry when Dan died. On the way home from the hospital I pulled into an empty parking lot and literally screamed and raged and cried and beat my steering wheel nigh unto death, at such an unfair, unkind God.
Later my Dad (a physician) said to me, not knowing how I felt, "wasn't it so wonderful that Dan lived to raise all his kids and saw grandkids come into his life. Hardly anyone lives as long as he did after being treated for Hodgkins Lymphoma." Dan lived nearly 30 years after his bout with the disease.
So too Tyrus, I know that on more than one occasion God kept your Dad's life before you were born so you could be born. Can't answer all the deep questions, but sometimes it's good to focus on the good that we do know. Peace, Dude
|
|
pud
climber
Sportbikeville
|
|
|
Jul 11, 2009 - 03:41pm PT
|
Tyrus,
I only talked to your dad a few times but he was always around the same people and places that I frequent.
I posted a few things about your dad that I admired and I always had a great deal of respect for him because of his character and strength.
I don't know if you are interested in motorcycles but, if you ever want to try off-road trail/desert riding or if you would like to go to a Roadrace and hang out in the pits trackside, I would be happy to provide a time and place for this to happen.
I know you are quite a bit North of Ventura County but I participate in Roadraces at Infineon raceway in Sonoma on occasion as well as Mazda raceway in Monterey, Ca.
I have two sons that are young but are good dirt-bike riders and love riding with friends. We have a bike that would fit you if you ever want to go. It's a great sport and not too hard to learn.
Besides bikes, we do alot of climbing so give us a call if you travel South anytime soon and we'll hit some local climbing areas.
Just make sure it's cool with Mom !
-Wayne, Karin, Nate & Eli
|
|
dipper
climber
|
|
|
Jul 11, 2009 - 08:00pm PT
|
Tyrus,
I read about your dad the night before I went for a pack trip into my favorite place, the Sierra Nevada.
Just got back out, lounging at the Dow Villa in Lone Pine.
I thought of you and your dad a lot while out fishing and climbing and taking pictures.
Your dad inspired many,many people to great deeds.
Know that you have a world-wide support network. Lean on us whenever you feel the need.
We all care about you and miss your dad too. even if we never met him.
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!