People Are Who They Are, Not Who We Want(ed) Them To Be...

 

 

 

 

"Walking Stick At 50"

Carved Maple Sapling

Canon G7x Mark II
SnapSeed

He turned fifty years old this year. He's the only thing I have of my childhood. A fifteen year-old me felled him, dried him, de-barked him, carved him, and stained him. A fifteen year-old me was going for an Easter Island kind of look. Of course, he looks nothing like the Easter Island figures...   Recently at the Refuge a little old lady came up to me and said "I like your walking stick, may I see it?" I could feel him tense up, because he doesn't like other people holding him, but I said "Sure!" and handed him over.    She touched his face and and seemed to really inspect him closely.. She didn't appear to notice his grimacing. I told her that I was going for Easter Island when I carved him in 1972. She said "Oh no, dear. This is your own image." When I told her how long we had been together, she exclaimed "How wonderful! He has been bearing you up for most of your life!." To be quite honest - I had never thought of it that way.    On the ride home, he sulked in the back seat and rolled on his stomach so the I couldn't see his face. "What is the matter, then?" I asked. "Why do you have to tell people that you were going for an  "Easter. Island. Look." when you tell them about me? It makes me feel like a mistake. Not for nothing - but I'm not a fucking mistake. Do you know how many times I've kept you from going ass-over-teakettle old man? Do you know how many more times I'll save your ass before you leave us all in peace? Hmmm? Fuck your Easter Island.. "    I let that hang in the air for a bit and then, looking at him in the rear-view mirror I said "I'm sorry. You're right. You're not a mistake. And that woman was right, you've been bearing me up and steadying my steps for most of my life. I do appreciate that."  There was no reply for some minutes and then "Hmph. Fine. Fine. Just - please - keep your eyes on the road. You'll kill us both.." I think we're good..