[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ Loon Zone Chat Page Version 1.60 ] [ FAQ ]
Posted by Ballpark Frank (24.237.94.196) on 14:54:34 11/29/14
In Reply to: Wasting a perfectly good trail posted by Bison
Daryl,
It's great that you recalled one of Jere's noteworthy philosophies. His mellow approach to adversity was such an inspiration to those around him, whether it was huffing and puffing up a steep slope, frying in the sun for hours, waiting on some tardy geyser, or tolerating the recurring sledgehammer blows of his cancer battle.
It got to be where I was reluctant to ask him how things were going, back in the early days of his cancer struggles. Each year, it seemed, the docs would report some scary new complication, and prescribe some combination of chemo and surgery. Through it all, he kept fighting, without wallowing in self-pity. I'll never forget Jere's reaction to my cancer diagnosis. In spite of the fact that he was in the fight of his life, he was chock full of concern for my well-being. His wise counsel gave me a much better perspective on my situation. After that, each spring or early summer, when Jere showed up, he would put the word out to Loons he encountered in the UGB that he wanted an update on how I was doing.
I firmly believe that Jere drew strength from Yellowstone and the support he received from his network of geyser gazer and Loon friends. It had to be a component in his repeatedly beating the negative odds.
Jere was with us on a number of memorable Yellowstone hikes, including our trek to Phantom Fumarole in 2004 and the Petrified Trees loop, when we spooked the black bear along Crystal Creek.
I'm not sure there is much more one can hope for from a temporal existence than to have made a profound positive difference in the lives of others!
Ballpark
[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ Loon Zone Chat Page Version 1.60 ] [ FAQ ]