Chapter 71

7/6/2005 

Ch 71 Time to put the hammer down                                   End of an Era                                 

I  feel like this should be the End of Book 1. I will remove everyone from the mailing list so as to minimize unwanted emails. If you want to be on the mailing list for Book 2, then E-write me.

Photojournalism has become my hammer for which I’m beginning to think all swap drives look like nails.  I’ve come full circle in about 2 years, 238 drives and 50,000 miles or around the world twice. Yesterday I repeated a swap for a vehicle I had on my maiden voyage, a Volvo XC90 AWD which I’ve not had since that beginning. No, this is not the exact same vehicle, although I’ve done that before on 2 separate trips to Plattsburg, getting rid of then later reacquiring the exact same  beige Honda Odyssey weeks later. That was more efficient at least than when an hour and half into an Acura trip the boss called me back as customer wanted no miles on vehicle. I still get paid. My SUV swap is pictured in heavy moose traffic on my way back from Lebanon, NH.

Just as the retiring carpenter puts down his hammer and saw, my cross-cut saw partner from college also took down his shingle in last couple of weeks. Jim Farrar 59, who teamed with me (1967-3rd place) during my lumber jack phase DIED from rapid deep tissue melanoma cancer, also in Lebanon NH (Dartmouth Hospital). Last fall on a Honda swap thru the Adirondacks I stopped to see him at his Forestry company . He had stayed in that field for close to 40 years and said he’d never retire because he enjoyed what he was doing. He looked not much different from 4 decades earlier and appeared as healthy as ever. Ironically his words came true in an unexpected way after a short 3 month battle having no prior outward signs.

Jim was a woodchuck from Warrensburg his whole life. Built a house, pond, & maple sugar house for his wife 100 yards from parent’s home . Fit as a fiddle- no smoking, clean living wholesome lifestyle, healthy food, enjoyed the simple things of nature and the outdoors. In the 60’s he had an early Mustang we rode around in and we had spoken of the appeal of the recent retro stangs.

On an Acura swap to Buffalo last week, I attended a party at his old roommate’s (Dana) house past Syracuse. Dana was celebrating his daughter’s 30th birthday and her recovery from breast cancer. Although clusters are now found on her liver, they are making the most of the time that they have. Dana's son-in-law Chris is also All Orangeman - All the time. Go SU. Perhaps we'll tailgate with them some day?

Last weeks swaps also gave me meals with uncle, brother, & Mom before she goes into assisted living.

This is not a sad final chapter, however, my hockey team grabbed for the gusto in celebrating our best league Spring season 9-0-2 and won the championship game. It was a magical moment. We nailed the competition. Try as they might to claw their way back in, they struck an empty chord. The young college players carried the team. As I offered a Heineken to our high school goalie (Lasalle Inst) in the foggy locker room, he said I’m only 16 and hesitated for a moment then sucked down the can quicker than anyone else. It’s OK, later in the bar his Dad told me he works for the Office of Homeland Security.

Land Rover just finalized details of my fetch from Manchester NH tomorrow and Honda called for quickie to Middletown in half hour.

Freedom of the open road. What price freedom?

Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road… it’s something unpredictable…