Seth-n-Jode's Adventures

 Erinn organized a suprise welcome home party for Seth and I last night. (I knew about it but Seth did not.) She had assembled 60 or so of our friends and when Seth walked into the outdoor patio of Carvers, he was stunned! It was such a great moment to see all the happy faces around us! Erinn had decorated the patio with prayer flags and spiderman table cloths. It was quite appropriate! Thanks so much to Carvers for hosting the gala affair and providing food and drink, Michael and Birgitte for providing the choice homemade dessert, and to Erinn for organizing the awesome party. Thanks to all who came to the party as well. Our hearts were truly uplifted by seeing and feeling such joy with our return. Durango is truly a paradise not only for the mountains and rivers but for the deep friendships we have here. Thank you!

Photo courtesy of Brett Butterstein.

In closing, the poem I wrote and which I read last night.

A Flame of Hope

In the face of a terrible tragedy, a flicker of life.

Angels were on hand to tend you.

A vortex of prayers, thoughts and vibes came quickening.

We sailed past the point where most doctors murmured “Beyond this place, there be dragons.”

And in the land of the dragons, I saw darkness and things worse than death. I also saw hope, light and beauty.

I chose hope.

A small flame of hope kindled, though fragile.

I asked all to provide a windbreak.

To let the flame whisper as you healed.

It started with you opening your eyes and I saw you fighting for both of us.

I saw recognition.

I saw a power so forceful that it took my breath away.

And so I tended the flame as it strengthened.

And it has become a firestorm of proportions that only you could attain.

You’ve always told me that life is not a dress rehearsal. I believe that.

I’ve often told you a phrase I picked up somewhere…”That life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body. But rather…to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming….Wow!!! What a ride!” I believe this too.

But at this pace, the anthropologists in a million years will dig up your bones interlaced with adamantium and wonder what in the heck happened that could cause a man such grief over his lifetime in the 21^st century!

Let’s climb mountains in the future! But no more 8,000 meter peaks like we climbed this summer!

I know we have just summitted. We are home.

But we still have to get back to the safety of base camp…the next leg of our journey.

And I’ll walk that walk with you.

I’ll walk with you forever to tend this flame….my flame of hope.

And so we move to the next phase of our healing. Journey well our family and friends. Thanks to all of you who have provided such immense encouragement and support for us during the past three months.

This is my final blog posting. Seth will pick up the story from here in his Christmas letter.