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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 14, 2012 - 11:07am PT
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John, you make-a me cry! Thanks. You a stand-up-a guy. Gonna tell you how sorry we all are about the mom you lost, and all the rest of us who lost a loved parent, aunt, or uncle (Ron), just harden the soft up.
We are in it together with respect to our elders. by that i mean we are all the same, if we are quote normal.
Children and old folks, our responsibilties relent, then they return, so many of us are UNPREPARED for the job of caring (or "care-giving"--6 x 1, or half-dozen of the other). The older you become, the less this seems to be true. You spend more time aware of death, but not necessarily thinking of it. Not to the extent that you are obsessed, or fascinated, not that at all, but maybe more like bugged by it like a fly, it hasn't harmed you, but it's not pleasant. And it won't go away no matter what. You need to make your peace with it, because it will always outwit you. You are puny, but large. He is puny-looking, but undefeatable.
So in the face of this, the wise, or the ones who can or think they can afford it, prepare themselves for the inevitable. The grasshopper doesn't do this, and I was one, in one way. I haven't gotten much in life in terms of wealth. I never thought of happiness being at the bank. It's not, in fact, as folks like to say. I did not figure the cost of interment, last rites, etc. The funeral director quoted me $750, extreme low end for cremation. Cheaper than I figured. Do I'm buying a plan. (I haven't made a will, because I haven't got anything worth leaving, it's all analog, bound, or on the heavy side. Future junk, for sure.) But that's just the start. If you need a minister, $$. A hall, $$. Singer/music, $$. Even a single floral display, $$...
So it adds up fast. Play the Boy Scout angle, be prepared. Dad certainly was. The family appreciates it and so do my sibs. Duh.
Tad, it's good that I caught this on the way out the door, almost, for the obsequies for Boomer. Accept my condolence for your loss, know that I will be praying for you and yours at church this morning, and raising a glass to both our dads. I hope you got some rest, too.
Chico's closer to Redding than Merced, but you are more like Merced than any town I've ever seen, there, nita and Andy. I am going to want to stop in and visit when I head north to climb in the Castle Crags with Tad. It's my goal for the spring, to get up in them crags. One of them.
Be with the one you love.
Here's to Roger and Boomer.
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 14, 2012 - 11:28am PT
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A photo of a drawering of me da'. I masterpieced this one at age 9/10 it seems. Such an un-quixotic man was easy to drawer. My mother, such a ravishing glamorous lady, I could only try to capture her.
Thank you for the complimentary things, neebee.
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 14, 2012 - 10:32pm PT
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Tad, how is it going? He's not here, he's there.
We'll be there soon enough. They'll be waiting.
Look ahead, not too much, just enough.
Take your mind and shove it.
"What's the big deal about being THE First? Did not I just enjoy what you and JG and MS created from what I created?"--GOD, actual reording
"Yeah, but the work was actuallly less than the reward! We'll talk."--God
I would say, having seen to Boomer, we have some things to share, but it's up to you. I'm in the directory. BJBerningham.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Nov 15, 2012 - 12:56am PT
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Sorry to hear Tad's sad news, and thinking of both you and Brian. You both had outstanding fathers, so cherish the memories!
Brian's dad was born on the Norwegian national day, too. Syttende mai. Although darned if I know what a concrete vibrator is/does.
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 15, 2012 - 02:20am PT
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The Moonlight Vibrator:
It only brings you back to normal.
It makes you cry for those who miss it.
PPlease pay attention, Taco, I love you...
I want to immerse myself in music,
To know it made you feel like I did.
I want to climb some choss pile
To make you feel like I did.
I'd rather I'd climbed a clean route,
No iron to be found there,
Than to know I'd left you hanging
In a dark and dank-ass chimney.
Brrr...
Gee, I liked your rhyming.
Well, I liked your timing, big boy.
Mouse and Nature, together.
Daddies Make You Cry.
WTF.
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Wayno
Big Wall climber
Seattle, WA
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Nov 15, 2012 - 02:26am PT
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Dads are where its at. Peace to you, Mouse.
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 15, 2012 - 02:37am PT
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And to Ana and Tad and Ron and Any.
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Fletcher
Trad climber
Fumbling towards stone
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Nov 15, 2012 - 03:13am PT
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Whoa... all of this just came into my awareness this evening.
Peace to all of you...
[Click to View YouTube Video]
Eric
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 19, 2012 - 01:12pm PT
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Three blind mice, see how they climb.
They all chased after the ranger's wife,
She cut their rope with a belaying knife.
So never chase after a ranger's wife.
It could have gone far worse.
Ho for Shasta County!
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Nov 19, 2012 - 01:17pm PT
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Late, but better than knott, to the party I would add that Moon Unit is a
really nice lady. If you met her at a party these days you'd think her just
another charming and well-grounded soccer mom, with a gud sense of humor. ;-)
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 19, 2012 - 04:07pm PT
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Forefathers, three sons.
Dads' Jam.
Family Tree Climb.
I'm schediuled to meet with Ron Golcman in January for Royal Arches.
"Royal Arches in January." Last words we said to one another at Facelift. This is gonna be an interesting winter-spring. Nice.
You two buffoons think we got enough skill? I only have a couple of hundreds of climbs and repeats I can claim. I want a complete dossier of each climb you've ever done, a recent doctor's report on your physical state, and financial statement. Or is that a deal-breaker?
I mean, I always say you climb better when you trust the ones on the other end. You need to vett your new climbing buds or you could be hurtin', so you'd best be certain.
I get up from my nap and find the expedition's already left!
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Nov 19, 2012 - 04:46pm PT
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Ron, you need to make full disclosure. You know, the sledzing thing.
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 19, 2012 - 05:01pm PT
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Up front ain't in it, I guess.
For what it's worth, the only sled I have had in my life is one called Citizen Kanebud. Kinda took me into another dimension, know what I mean? And I don't mean Vancouver.
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 19, 2012 - 05:10pm PT
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Tad, you have two ancient ropeboys capable of doing 5.6 and She is watching over us. What's to worry about except we forget a few of our scrips or fall asleep at the belay? We can have two of us at the stations, so that shouldn't be a big deal. Or we just do single-pitch routes. NOT!
Ron, I think I can still get some more of that CK bud. It is the ticket to contentment for at least six hours! You will nod off, though. Guaranteed.
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 19, 2012 - 06:40pm PT
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I think I can trust you now.
The sled thing is negotiable, obviously, since approaches suck.
I've not kept up since the mass suicides on EVE-rest, so am interested (sic) in the niceties of powering these sleds. We gotta pull them dudes or can we hire some dirties?
Would you like to try some Castle Craggin'? That and the Thundering Thumb, and Tom's Stone, who came home, to his wife and family...The Thundering Thumb is just as fickle as any finger, moreso in some cases.
I'm workin' out. Getting the scrips renewed. Vitamins. Walking. No beers.
Dads are worth lots more than this effort.
Y'all remember that.
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 21, 2012 - 03:18pm PT
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The Mouse does not reserve any rights to his background and likes to brag, too. So, given my missing thumb, I had ACL surgery on the right leg in 1979, a resounding success. My left knee needs to be braced when strained by such as climbing.
My right lens is now plastic, but I see well at a distance, need reading correction.
I have all of my teeth, Ron.
I'm retired, still smoke, still drink--but not to excess, except for the other night at Boomer's wake, and haven't got a cannabis card.
I climbed in Yosemite starting in Fall of '70, living there full-time till March of 1972. Worked at the Mtn. Shop guarding the rurps from Werner and folding Go Climb A Rock Tshirts. Great skill set developed at getting xc wood skiis prepped, mounted, etc.
Spent lot of time in the weekenders' camp, until the year 1983, when my climbing activity ceased, with the exception of the odd vacations to YV in 1986 and 1988, when I climbed the sh#t out of everything with several different guys from all over, esp. Kelly Laakso, who returned in 1990 to attempt Lurking Fear. Courtwright Reservoir trip in 1995 was my last official roped climb. I have been up Sunnyside Bench Regular halfway with my then 68-year old father-in-law to enjoy that view.
Major climbs: EBMCR, many times; The Flakes, same; HC spire, same; Braille Book & Sequel; Chouinard-Pratt; CPFMCR; Leaning Tower; S & E Faces of Wahington Column; NWF Half Dome, regular route; Salathe Wall; 5.4 plus, JT and many routes there and at Tahquitz & Suicide & Pinnacles; Mt. Shasta; Mt. Lyell; Mt. Winchell; Memorial Stadium, UCB; and Mt. Elizabeth Bermingham. RIP.
Mentors include the Rev, Lloyd Price, Roy Naasz, the Bird, Millis, neebee Gonzales and Steve Grossman not in any particular order
I liked golf, but it's stupidly wasteful.
I liked fishing, but it's not satisfying.
I liked racquetball, but it's way homo.
I just want to write and climb and write about climbing now.
I've found a couple of good men, one of whom happens to be a Flame.
My pleasure to await developments.
We are at war with our ages, gents. Let's kick some butt.
For the Fathers, lads!
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 21, 2012 - 03:45pm PT
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Had me fooled there for a few minutes, Ron.
I said to myself, that looks like a SM-62 Snark, the ICBM. But then I clicked to enlarge and it's the Reg II.
Dad liked my array of US rocketry, with all the makes and models in plastic that I had to put together. They weren't to scale with each other, but this wasn't a biggie. I had the hots to go to Vandenburgh and watch the range tests, but never got the chance. The Aerojet-General rocket-testing facility was out east of Sacramento by Mather AFB/RIP.
We got a tour of both places as Cub Scouts. Haven't seen anything like the rocket test we saw ever since, except maybe at the base of Nevada Fall, where it's almost as loud!
The ex is just arriving here with the child, so I'm out of here till tonite.
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 21, 2012 - 06:42pm PT
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FTF it is, then, and the oldest belays first.
My hat's off to my ex whom we can now call by her REAL name, Dolores.
I wasn't sure she did it, but I asked her, "Did you ever get your PhD at Mills College?" She told me she did, in 2005. Just what we need. A doctor in the ex-family.
Her hand on my head, well, it did not happen, but Valerie was thrilled. Bevin, too. Kind of how I thought it would go. Val wanted me to tell her future. I told her she's on her fourth or fifth husband. what's to tell? It's probably a given...
It turns out thay made the drive to Merced from Castro Valley and then they're going right back. They mainly came to see Merced, because Val is visiting and hasn't been back to Merced for forty years. She told me she has some Woodstock film footage, too, which she may send to me on CD. I was basically along for the "guide," as I see it, except Bevin would not cop to that. We two had a great time picking "arguments" and she liked my attitude about standing up for my opinions. I told her, "If you have an opinion, give it. No one has to agree, and if they do, they are being foolish." "You're right." [Plus one, Dad.]
The visit included In 'n Out, Mig Bike, and they treated me to a DD and shake. I counted ten taco wagons out on tour. You need to come through Merced, the next trip out west to climb them Yosemite cracks.
When we were at In 'n Out, I had the gall to ask for a photo of myself and Dolores standing by the In 'n Out painting showing the original drive-in so I can have a matched set of me and my wives in front of a fast food joint. Some un-romantic bastards (thank you, Lolli) might never think to do that.
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