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Tobia
Social climber
Denial
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May 17, 2012 - 01:07pm PT
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Lila,
I don't know how I missed this thread until now. Shyness is rapidly becoming an inadequate description of yourself, good for you!
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BooDawg
Social climber
Butterfly Town
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May 17, 2012 - 05:18pm PT
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Lila,
I have been both honored and blessed to be someone who could guide you along on your amazing, personal journey. What I write here cannot express how much I admire your courage in pursuing not only the identities of your birth parents but also your desire and persistence in getting to know who they were and to acquaint yourself with their friends.
I would be honored, when you come to California, to guide you further and to offer you a free tour to give you some human,
natural, and climbing history about Yosemite.
I have sent the 4 pieces of Dolt’s hand-made hardware that you can hold in trust for either your daughter or for the YCA.
Looking forward to continuing the journey…
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LilaBiene
Trad climber
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Topic Author's Reply - May 17, 2012 - 09:16pm PT
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The Road Not Taken
"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."
I simply never could have imagined "meeting" so many incredible souls on this road I'm traveling...I am so touched, and humbled.
And PR, you already know how much I appreciate being reminded of my favorite poem.
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LilaBiene
Trad climber
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Topic Author's Reply - May 19, 2012 - 06:38pm PT
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BooDawg: Your box greeted me on the front steps this morning. What a great way to start the day!
Since we were on our way out to do the usual Sat. morning dash, the box came with us and practically grinned at me from the passenger seat. When we finally crossed the finish line and made it home, I brought the box inside and set it down, but couldn't open it. I stared at the box for a very long time. My little muppet couldn't for the life of her understand why I wasn't tearing open this very special present.
I finally opened it a few minutes ago.
I wish I could express what it felt like to read your letter on Dolt letterhead, and then take the individual pieces of hardware out of the box one by one. Needless to say, I keep picking them up and turning them over in my hands.
Both the Doltpeg and bashie feel strangely electric. I can't hold them for longer that a few seconds at a time before I actually h a v e to put them back down again. Amazing...
I know I've said this before, but I can't help but think that both Bill and Ann are somewhere smiling. All four pieces are going to have a place of honor under my pillow tonight, and probably for the foreseeable future (at least until I can put my "big girl" pants back on!).
Thank you, thank you...thank you, more than I will ever be able to express in words, for being the most profound connection to each of my birth parents. I'm really looking forward to having the chance to thank you in person in September.
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BooDawg
Social climber
Butterfly Town
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May 20, 2012 - 10:29pm PT
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Lila:
Thank you for sharing your experience with the box and its contents.
I'm so pleased that you are touched deeply by touching those items that were once in Bill's hands. Knowing that your life has become richer is thanks enough for me. I like to think that Sheila/Ann and Bill are smiling as well.
I do look forward to hanging out with you when you come west.
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FRUMY
Trad climber
SHERMAN OAKS,CA
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May 20, 2012 - 10:51pm PT
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BooDawg ------ About the coolest thing ever.
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LilaBiene
Trad climber
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Topic Author's Reply - May 25, 2012 - 06:07pm PT
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Five months after sending the letter to my birth mom (almost to the day), it arrived in the mail today marked "no forwarding address". So now I know that she never even knew I was looking for her.
Just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for the many words of encouragement and welcome.
You never really do know how much a kind word can do to turn someone's situation around.
Herzlichen Dank.
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LilaBiene
Trad climber
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 16, 2012 - 10:11pm PT
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Okay...it took me long enough, I know, but I finally did some climbing and what can I say...I love humiliation. :D
Anybody want to go climbing somewhere in the eastern half of Mass. this weekend?!
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Jul 17, 2012 - 12:22pm PT
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It looks like somebody is training for the FaceLift.
I'd love to, but geography has imposed itself. As you likely know by now, there is some climbing around Boston, and if you're willing to drive a little, quite a lot at places in New Hampshire such as Rumney and Cathedral. Probably climbing schools and stuff, too, if you need some instruction. There are also climbing gyms, stores and clubs in the area that might provide help. Plus probably a few people in the area who knew your father.
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LilaBiene
Trad climber
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 17, 2012 - 09:47pm PT
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Perhaps I'll concede to "training" once I can get past 2.5 chin-ups...until then, let's just call it what it is. Persistent humiliation. :D
And I can't wait to subject myself to more.
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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Jul 17, 2012 - 10:12pm PT
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Ditto to the comment by dingus, hell I get teary eyed reading this thread a third time. I nominate it for best thread of the year.
not to worry two pullups is plenty strong for Yosemite trad. See you at Facelift maybe
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LilaBiene
Trad climber
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 18, 2012 - 09:33am PT
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MH, DMT & JB:
The best part of this new chapter in my journey through this life is being able to share something meaningful that creates so many connections across times and places...good, no, AMAZING things happen on ordinary days. You never know what lies above or around the corner.
Did I happen to mention how psyched I am to meet y'all and to be able to contribute in the FaceLift??! Seeing Yos NP will be pretty cool, too, I understand...
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MikeL
climber
SANTA CLARA, CA
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Jul 18, 2012 - 11:58am PT
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Nice story and writing, LilaBiene.
It looks like you've fallen into the arms of people who love you.
(I didn't know you were such a softie, DMT.)
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Klimmer
Mountain climber
San Diego
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Jul 18, 2012 - 12:26pm PT
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Lila,
Thank you for sharing your very personal story.
Very misty eyes you've given me.
ST can be a very powerful way of sharing at times. Amazing and wonderful.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Jul 18, 2012 - 04:22pm PT
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Anyone who can't tell that DMT is an SOF (sentimental old fart) hasn't been reading his trip reports very carefully.
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Jul 18, 2012 - 04:46pm PT
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Just warning you guys that you are getting sandbagged.
2.5 pull-ups is Lila's way of saying she did the third one with just one arm,...
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zBrown
Ice climber
chingadero de chula vista
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Jul 18, 2012 - 05:39pm PT
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^Makes me wonder which arm she used and whether it was an overhand, underhand or side grip. I also wonder why not do the one-handed first then follow up with the two-hander. Why are things so complex? And that's without getting into body position.
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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Jul 18, 2012 - 05:42pm PT
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your right Ron! she might be calling a one-arm pull-up a half pull-up. So she did 5 one armed pull-ups?
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LilaBiene
Trad climber
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 18, 2012 - 07:40pm PT
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HA!!! You guys have me laughing so hard, I have tears in my eyes and my fellow commuters on the bus appear very unsettled by my mirth...
But can I just ask you this? Can you NOT SEE the extremely awkward STATIC mess of a (third) attempt I've locked myself into on that...er...pebble??! Ug-ly!!!
One-armed pull-ups, my TAIL.
:D
(Anyone generous enough to share some advice about how to quit obsessing about how/when I'm going climb again so I don't lose my ability to earn a paycheck? This stuff should be accompanied by stronger warnings...completely counterintuitive.)
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Jul 18, 2012 - 07:52pm PT
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It is too late.
And the cure is worse than the disease.
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