Cleaning Out the House

This is heart-breaking sometimes. Cleaning out the house is like de-constructing Dad and Mom's lives and - by extension - saying something about our own. It's very hard. Lori found a treasure today that we didn't know existed: a small, postcard-sized book titled "Autographs of My School Friends." It was Dad's from March -June 1940, going to school in Sanders, AZ. From entries in it, I guess it was the end of the school year and he was moving somewhere. Maybe going away to high school. He'd have been about 13. This may be about the time that Mim headed West and Dad went out on his own. Dunno. A number of entries are from his basketball team mates. In fact, near the beginning is a page Dad labelled "My Sport" with a simple little drawing of a basketball. The class motto was "Be prepared, in love or war." One entry says "Dear Johnny . . . my heart is turning over and over because its just worried about you . . ." Another: "Dear Johnny, There's a pansey in the valley that I love veary much and I love you as much as I do it. Ann Leland" Betty McDonald says, " I like you little/ I like you big / I like you like / my little pig." And from Tommy Lynch: " Dear John, I Tommy a member of the Junior High team is wishing you the best of luck, for your position as forward and I as center which jumps for the ball to win a game. I'm hoping success will cheer you up." One page has signatures of Tommy H. Lynch, Pat Lynch, Sidney A. Counts, William P. Lynch, John Hurd,and Herbert Johnson. There is a little note that says, "These Boys are the basketball team."

(p.s. this is sung to the Talking Heads "Burning Down the House" . . .)

PAHurds Say: Snow is Us! Woe is Us!

Charlie continues the dream . . .

What a sight we made screaming up the mountanous high desert road just past the gas station.  I was intent on losing the sheriff who started tailing us after we passed him going 90.  Weaving in and out of traffic and gunning that little roadster's engine to its full tilt.  Sweat was running down my brow as the checkout girl started rubbing my forehead with a piece of ice.  She was sitting on my coat between the bucket seats.  I still didn't know her name but she was confident that I would find that out shortly.  She began to play with my ear and slightly knocked my sunglasses askew as johnny sat next to her in the passenger seat cleaning his glock pistol.  Johnny reached into the back seat and began taking an inventory of the ammuniton.  He knew we would need it once the sheriff caught up with us.  

Chaz: My dream from long ago

The morning was magnificent.  The sun was bright and the sky was clear and blue as a robin's egg.  My monsters had been put to rest.

 Melanie and I were out enjoying the day.  She was driving the Saab and I was following behind the car on my bicycle.  My bicycle helmet was wired with a cell phone and Melanie and I were yakking away about how much fun it was to be out in the country going down the road.

 We sped along for a while and then it seemed to me we were headed into the little town of Loomis, where my grandparents had homesteaded in the 1920's.  This greatly surprised me as Loomis was a very small town in Eastern Washington and I thought we had started our day in Michigan.

 As we pulled into Loomis there was a young girl on my left riding her bicycle.  At first she was apprehensive of me but she then realized it was safe to befriend me and she started to weave about on her bicycle just the way I have always done while riding my bicycle.  Even as an adult I have always managed to be playful while riding and this young girl seemed to have the same fun I do while riding.  She told me her name was Grace and she seemed to be the composite of all the younger sisters of my teenage girlfriends.  She was sort of cute, smart and very observant.  Being observant seemed to be the main focus of her life.  As we rode along I lost sight of Melanie and my phone would no longer contact her. 

 After about ten minutes of riding with no hands and weaving about on the bicycles Grace challenged me to a race and she took off pedaling furiously.  I followed after her for quite sometime and then I recognized that she was steering into the driveway of a high school friend of mine named Nancy. 

 Nancy had been a close friend of my girlfriend Susan and I had spent many a weekend double dating with her and her boyfriend Steven.  I had always been friendly with Nancy but I did not trust her too much because she was always conflicted about her relationships and I was never interested in making my life that complex.

 Grace was laughing and calling out to me and she then told me she was Nancy's little sister and that Nancy was waiting for me in the back yard.  Grace and I pulled up on the lawn and stayed on our bikes to speak to Nancy.  Nancy was lying on a chaise lounge in the buff.  Her long brown hair was wound around her body to cover her up.  Her beatific face smiled at me and she did not seem surprised to see me after all of these years.  Nancy was still 18 but she seemed frozen in place almost and hardly moved any part of her body except to speak to me.  Nancy wanted to get together with me after her sunbathing was over and she suggested that Grace show me the labyrinth her father had built in the back yard.

 Grace excitedly agreed to show me the labyrinth and we took off on the bikes to view it.

Out in the woods behind the house was this monolithic structure that was part living space and part jungle gym adventure space where you climbed up walls and down secret passageways for sport.  Grace and I spent quite some time traversing this cavernous building and as we walked to the end of the structure there was a very large room where many people had gathered to meet with me. 

 All of the people who have been integral in my life's journey where there.  My parent's and their parents were standing in the crowd.  My in-laws and cousins and friends and teachers were all there to speak with me.  Even the best of my enemies were there before me marveling that they had not deterred me from making it this far in life.

 The crowd started to form a semi-circle around me and as these people began to come closer together someone began to take photographs of everyone and the shots began to look eerily like the cover of the Beatles album Sgt. Peppers.

 Grace stood before me and her face morphed 40 years in age from 11 to 51 and she started to challenge me.  She said that Nancy wasn't coming because Nancy had been alarmed that I was so much older now and what had happened to me. I had never fulfilled my promise of an evolved being.  Grace asked me if I looked deep inside myself and if I had a soul.  As she asked these questions she became more and more like a grand inquisitor and she finally said that in the end am I a good person or not.  The challenge is between the truth and lies.  Then as the crowd began to press in towards me to see if I was good or bad Grace told me that I needed to work harder on developing my intelligence because I really needed to prosper using my mind.  I had to stop only thinking of enjoying myself and looking for the easy way out.  Now was the time to develop my mind and my skills or else my demons were going to destroy my talented intellect. 

 With each passing moment Grace's features turned phoenix bird like and she told me that I had no choice now at this point in my life and I needed to act with passion.  Grace turned her head towards the crowd with a bird like stare and they all shouted with agreement and they all looked at me as if I had spent my entire life disappointing them.  Grace lifted off the ground and flew away and I was left with all of these people who demanded more discipline from myself.  They all expected so much from me.

 The evening was magnificent.

Lori Says: Our House . . .and . . .

(Ed.:  Lori took both Xena and Mudpuddle to live with her and John after Mom died.  They fit in quite well.  Maybe too well, if you look at photos and read her note.  Ty looks pretty sad trying to fit in that old cat bed!  She doesn't show where she and John are sitting since Xena took over their couch.)

"Xena runs the show and gets top spot on the couch, Mudpuddle has taken Ty's big bed and Ty is doing his best to fit in the little bed I bought for Mudpuddle!   We are getting our house organized a lot better now and Ty will get a new big bed for downstairs. So far Mudpuddle has not attacked any of John's stuffed birds! I wasn't sure how that would go............"

Santa Fe from Car Window

Tim's crossing the country again . . . non-stop motion, this guy these days it seems . . .

He says:

Got lost driving from Santa Fe to the convention lodge in the middle of the night a few nights ago. Bitter cold, snow everywhere, fog so dense couldn't see a thing, me in dumb dress shoes and suit. My STUPID GPS on my new iPhone could not find a signal. I had to call Lynne and have her sit at the computer and act as my OnStar navigational help. Wow, I was about ready to give up driving around in the middle of the night in the Santa Fe desert not having a clue where I was!

Looking around here, it seems kinda like being on the moon.

Lake samish after probate court 1

Dream

I was cruising the Southwest desert and nearby mountains in a convertible 49-Merc inspired car, feeling the wind in my hair, and watching the state trooper in my rear-view mirror. He was just waiting for me to turn it loose. After a few moments of hoping he'd get bored and move on, I did just that. I was heading for a secret place in the desert where large rounded boulders as big a hillsides hide a sacred waterhole. I had brought with me a copy of a book on tulips written in Russian which I was going to present to the local water nymph . . .

Kyra's Poem to Joyce

Ode to Joyce

Born from a land of rock and silt,
a tiny bundle of flame and spirit
came into this world,
fists clenched,
ready to take it on.
Mischievous and clever,
a tongue as sharp as her wit,
she made her way,
until one day
she met her match.
Intrigued by his swagger,
his calm confidence,
his arms-crossed leaning,
he was flint to her fire.
And the mystery unfolded
as it was meant,
and she became a mother,
determined to make her children strong.
Their journey began,
following work across the land,
starting new a hundred times,
until finally,
she came HOME to the land of rock and silt,
and planted her roots firmly,
and found her strength doubled overnight.
She was David to Life's Goliath.
And not soon after,
she became a grandmother,
and again a mother,
determined to make her children strong.
The matriarchal fulcrum
to whirling generations,
always providing, lavishing,
tireless
salt of the earth.
Ceaseless headspring,
a torrent of life
has flowed through her.
The candle still burns,
though she returns
to dreams.

Mom's Obituary

JOYCE L. HURD (1928 - 2010)

Joyce Hurd, 81, a long time resident of Skagit Valley died in Mount Vernon on Friday January 15th, 2010. She was born in Great Falls, Montana on July 16th 1928, the daughter of Estol and Charlotte (Kollenborn) Mael. Joyce was raised by her mother and step-father George Keyes. She graduated from Anacortes High School with the class of 1946. After graduation Joyce worked in California where she met and married her life-long spouse, John R. Hurd, in 1948.

The early years of Joyce and John's marriage were spent traveling in Washington and Oregon for John's construction work and raising a family. After a brief work assignment in Michigan City, Indiana, they moved back to the West coast and spent ten years in Seattle, Washington, where Joyce did seasonal work for the US Post Office and enjoyed the company of her good friends playing bridge and bowling on a Seattle league team.

In 1969 the couple settled on a farm in Mount Vernon, Washington. Joyce worked side-by-side with her husband John as they began a very successful business raising Straight Egyptian Arabian horses. For many years the farm was the gathering place for important family events and celebrations. Joyce enjoyed gardens, music (she had a wonderful singing voice), and reading novels.
Joyce's family was central to her life. She tirelessly dedicated her best thoughts and generous actions to helping her family succeed. Joyce is survived by her two daughters, Shannon Pollo and her husband Steve, and their children Lance and Trevor; daughter Lori Wolden and her husband John.

Her two sons, John Hurd and his wife Julia, and their children Eliot and Spencer, and Eliot's wife Kyra and their son Eason; son Tim Hurd and his wife Lynne, and their children Elaine and Byron. Her three brothers Jerry Keyes of Dallas, Oregon, Terry Keyes of Moses Lake, Washington, Stanley Mael of Coeur D'ÇAlene, Idaho, and her sister Patricia Henslee of Kettle Falls, Washington.
She was preceded in death by her parents and John, her husband of 51 years.

Joyce will be held in loving memory and greatly missed each day. Memorials may be made to Skagit Hospice Foundation (P. O. Box 1376, Mount Vernon, WA 98273.


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Published in Skagit Valley Herald Publishing Company on January 20, 2010

Chaz: a new story

Ancient Bodhisattva

I wander through fields, along streams and I hike across meadows to reach a stream where I drink the clear cold water by cupping my hands together. I hike in ravines and climb up the sides of gulleys. I slip in the mud and I have to push back the branches of trees that obscure the path.

The winter sun splashes light around me glancing off the snow. I wander as I did as a young boy. Alone, quietly going in one direction from home until it is time to retrace my steps and return for dinner.

Only my mother will not be calling my name out in the darkness. She won't be letting the neighborhood know I should be at the table in five minutes. She won't be doing that because now I am an ancient one.

I am an old man draped in robes and carrying only a wooden bowl. I once had a wooden spoon as well but the spoon became too much of an ego object for me to continue to contend with. The spoon separated me from nature and caused me to judge those who didn't have a spoon. I stand on this hill and view out towards the west. I am crying now because as the sun sets it reminds me of so many nights when my family would wait for me to return from my wanderings and how safe I felt when I returned and sat at the table and ate the meal that was before me. The food never mattered to me as it was always more important to me that my parents wanted me to be there no matter how I behaved. I miss those times so long ago.

Now I am a Bodhisattva. I wander the countryside like the child I used to be and as evening comes I gather myself and walk into the next city or town that I happen upon and find the city center. I place myself on a busy street corner and begin to share my stories with whoever will fill my bowl with food or drink. I engage with others to share this creative world that god has given us.

I share the accounts of my travels in far distant oriental lands or I go into great detail about how I sailed in the Adriatic Ocean with scarcely any equipment using only my wits to travel safely from the Dalmatian Islands to Crete when the Minoans ruled. I tell the tales of passing Atlantis and seeing the debris of the great civilization floating by next to my ship. On occasion, if I am prompted, I discuss Pythagoras and the meaning of Pi. Many young people quiz me on the time I lived in Africa and want to know how they fish in Gabon or track wild prey in Kenya.

I have given up all of my worldly goods and desires to wander the face of the earth looking for the divine spirit in all things. The universe beckons to me and I want to be with it all. When I hear Mozart in my head I open my mouth and try to let the music stream out so I can share this with the divine. I wish for everyone to be allowed to raise their consciousness and bring spirit into their life.

And even though I am ancient and find myself growing weary as night falls I only wish that my devotion to the divine has not separated me from others. I have given up so much and as I meditate at night I repeat the name of god so that my mind will not wander off to the people and places that my worldly self misses so much.

I awake each morning and start off again with the hope that God will fulfill me. This is my journey. If pirates should capture me and tie me to a tree I will still repeat the names of God to protect me. If the pirates should cut out my tongue I will continue repeating the name of God only silently now.

I will see you on the journey someday. We must all travel this path at some time. I started when I least expected to. Be careful of your choices. That is all I have to say.

Mr. Bodhisattva

Fwd: weather today

-
Date: Wed, Jan 13, 2010 at 5:36 PM
Subject: weather today

so today it didn't snow and the windshield wasn't iced

melanie had a smile on her face and said oh it's going to

be warm today nearly 30 degrees

 

I am crunching around in the snow and wearing my warmest

coat... where are my gloves?

 

I get to work and the locals are wearing polo shirts and light

weight suede coats

not a muffler in sight no wool shearling boots and no hats with flaps

 

This is winter I say but they laugh and say it's going to be 34 degrees

tomorrow  I'm hot even in this polo shirt

 

Do they all go naked in April?

Chaz

Melanie Sez: Our New Home!!!!

Slavko Sez: Spooky

I woke up this morning with a dream of having sore throat, and trying
to say something to Nada.
More I've tried to explain, she couldn't hear me any better.

And, she got some kind of flu, with high temperature and - sore throat!
Laying in the bed whole day.

Later this day, I've been working by your neighbours, day was
delightful and sunny. In a moment I turned my sight
onto your half open wooden window on upper floor. It looked much
capturing than Fiko's immaculate facade with two outer lamps (somehow
I would like to think he brought them from Sweden)...

And, as soon I got home there was a present from you and Julia!
Well, I would like to think events were not connected!
Kind of spooky!

P.S.
Spent December filling joints on my house's facade, and am just a few
days short to finish it, rain and holidays didn't help much.

Slavko

Chaz says: "COLD"

today is on the cold side the high will be 15

we are adjusting but both melanie and i need

to find a store that sells warmer coats and hats

not too much snow now about an inch but the wind is

blowing it around in swirls

did you read the article about roman polanski

in the new yorker of 12/14/09

he made being a dirty old man so nasty

we have no tv yet so i have been listening to

the radio and i found a station from detroit

that plays classical music during the day and

jazz at night and it is really an education to follow along

with the announcers and begin to understand the culture

here in the detroit area

our stuff arrives in about a week and we have borrowed

three plastic lawn chairs until then to sit on

in fact i am sitting on one such chair right now

i can't wait to lounge on the couch when it arrives

I sit and lie on the floor in different places that i expect the

furniture to be placed in so i can tell if i like the angles

of their future positions in the living room and den

the room that will be melanie's office, unless she changes

her mind, has a nice view of a field and yesterday

we saw 12 deer racing across the snow

the sun is out this morning and all things nature and man 

made has ice crystals glistening brightly in the light

i am on my way to eat a chipolte omlet while melanie has

taken off with a friend to visit the farmer's market

diversions are welcome after all of the stress of this past year

did you know that todays date is the same backwards and frontwards

1/02/2010... i like the thought of this

chaz

BSV8XAUSSMEQ

BSV8XAUSSMEQ  :-) 

Badlands Minotaur - 12/09/09

Friday- salvation mountain

Friday- salvation mountain

Chaz is Back!!!!!!! Dateline: Michigan

I lay with my face in the snow
my elbows and knees pressed hard
into the snow
i repeat the lord's prayer a thousand times
and hope my enemies come to vanquish me
hope that my enemies end my struggles so
i can have my peace that I could not win in battle

my enemies are late for me, i continue to wait
i pray to god to set a table for them right before me
to oil my hair and prepare me for the sacrifice
but my enemies do want me
they are not coming for me
it is better for them if i keep fighting if i clutch
my swords and wave them above my head and
ward off my enemies even if for just one more night
it is better for them

i stand again in the night dripping wet from my hair
down to my feet the lord has not annointed me he
has only made me whole to face the enemy for another
day another day to battle with my strength and my wits
weilding my weapons to put just a bit more space between
my army and the legions who bear down upon me

I lay in the snow waiting to be taken by destiny but
this was not the plan of the universe even though i am
weary and worn and seen too many battles for one warrior
god wants me to stand and bear the brutality for another day

There was a king of france who defied the pope and once he realized he
had made a mistake he lay in the snow outside the Pope's villa and
waited for the Pope to
forgive him... i read of this as a young child and I have always
wondered what he was thinking while laying in the snow.... well, tonight
as i drove home his words
came to me... Charles