Boot Haikus
It's odd, but I know
Whose boot this is, growing moss
His name was Gary.
He ate the squirrels
For acres around his house
Those remaining, run.
He died in his house
Standing alone at the sink
Was found, still standing.
People spoke his name
And then, quietly, "He drank."
Here: His jars, his boot.
Yesterday afternoon, my commentary about my neighbor, Gary, aired on National Public Radio's All Things Considered. If you'd like to hear the whole story, listen here.
Labels: All Things Considered, dead neighbor, NPR
posted by Julie Zickefoose @ 8:20 PM
22 comments
22 Comments:
It's sad to think that there is no family to remember Gary. I'm glad you do.
How wonderful that you can write and talk about Gary without giving any criticism about how he chose to live. You painted a vivid portrait of this man. He just was what he was and you eloquently gave him life, leaving any opinions of him up to us.
Fantastic! Both the blog and the NPR piece.
He died alone, standing in his kitchen. His lifestyle wasn't worthy of praise, for sure, but I don't think anyone deserves to die alone the way he did. Somehow, he left life with something worth noticing. And you, Julie, appreciated it.
Your post and NRP piece is wonderful.
Thanks. I love hearing your voice.
Bravo, Julie! My uncle used to have a Gary that helped with the harvest. And I remember when my grandmother got indoor plumbing in Zanesville in 1972. Until then we used the outhouse or the honeybucket. There was a hand pump for the cistern near the back porch (like the ones at the rest stops) and we would draw from that for the cooking or the dishes. You took me right back there.
What a beautiful commentary on NPR of your old neighbor.
You just never know what happens in peoples lives that they end up alone like that. For all we know he might have been happier than most people.
I meant to say "NPR"...time for bed.
I love hearing your NPR pieces too Julie. Thanks for sharing this one and for reminding us about the importance of simple humanity.
I heard it. I loved it!
I remembered reading about Gary's terrarium jars on your blog a while back, and in a way it made me feel like I had my own memories of Gary too, and that he lived on in the "artifacts" he left.
This post has been removed by the author.
great npr session.
I just loved the Haikus. Gary must have a strong spirit to move you so. He is probably enjoying how everyone is remembering him and the way his life is awakening fond memories for some.
I loved your non-judgmental NPR piece as well as your Haiku. But I must admit I'm curious about your personal feelings. I know you couldn't share them on NPR, but perhaps with us loyal readers?
This was an honest --and sad-- evocation of a person I will never meet. As for personal opinions and valuing lifestyles, I am glad that you didn't go there. You strike me as a fairly even-handed type, taking most of what comes and trying to live with it honestly, unless living with it is impossible (legtraps, for instance).
I think that you would probably wish, as I do, that Gary hadn't thrown his beer cans everywhere, and that he treated the remains of what he hunted with a little more respect.
And there is probably a lot more that you think about Gary that I don't know and don't need to. There is a power in leaving things unsaid, and you've used that power nicely here and in the NPR piece.
I also liked hearing you sing, even if it was an imitation of Gary.
I have read the Haiku several times today. Such a marvelous blog. This, and the accompanying NPR piece are definitely Julie Zickefoose at her best. Terrific!
Of course I also consider my phoebe and the missing pane to be Julie at her best. You have a lot of best sides and we love them all.
Thanks for all your nice words. It's probably a good thing that I didn't know until after Gary left us that he ate not only squirrels, but pretty much everything else he could shoot. He referred to pileated woodpeckers as "wood hens" and said they were great. Oh.
I have more in me about Gary, mostly gleaned from conversations with his landlord--really neat stuff. What I wish I could have done was walked my woods with him, seen it through his eyes. I have to go by what traces I find now. He knew so much.
absolutely wonderful npr commentary. I cried when I listened on the way home from work.
jeanette
Julie, Is there a talent you don't have? I listen to you, read you, look at your gorgeous photos, and thank the lucky stars you choose to share it all with us. Great NPR piece.
Your story reminds me of my older brother's neighbors in the Appalachias of Virginia. They were squirrel eaters and yes, anything else that they could snare, shoot, or trap. I like the way you remember Gary. An observation without judgment, and an acknowledgement of a person in his own way of being. Nice bit of singing, Julie... on the cover of rolling stone.
While it makes for an interesting story, it is medically impossible for someone to remain standing after death. Unless, of course he was "propped" against something. When someone dies, all the muscles in the body "relax" prior to the onset of rigor, and a standing person would fall. He might slump in a chair, or against something, but could not remain standing.
Well, Anonymous, he did remain standing for at least a night and a day. His landlord says he'll never get the image out of his mind. There was a bucket next to his leg, and that's how they think he remained upright. Stranger things have happened.
Lordy. Lordy. Lordy. I'm just starting to catch up with your blog, Julie.
Lordy. I've looked,listened and read and have that floating exhilaration one gets on encountering true beauty. Sorry, one more 'Lordy', dear lady.
runescape money runescape gold runescape money runescape gold wow power leveling wow powerleveling Warcraft Power Leveling Warcraft PowerLeveling buy runescape gold buy runescape money runescape items runescape gold runescape money runescape accounts runescape gp dofus kamas buy dofus kamas Guild Wars Gold buy Guild Wars Gold lotro gold buy lotro gold lotro gold buy lotro gold lotro gold buy lotro gold runescape money runescape power leveling runescape money runescape gold dofus kamas cheap runescape money cheap runescape gold Hellgate Palladium Hellgate London Palladium Hellgate money Tabula Rasa gold tabula rasa money lotro gold buy lotro gold Tabula Rasa Credit Tabula Rasa Credits Hellgate gold Hellgate London gold dofus kamas buy dofus kamas 血管瘤 肝血管瘤 音乐剧 北京富码电视 富码电视 富码电视台 7天酒店 7天连锁酒店 7天连锁 自清洗过滤器 过滤器 压力开关 压力传感器 流量开关 流量计 液位计 液位开关 温湿度记录仪 风速仪 可燃气体检测仪 wow power leveling wow powerleveling Warcraft PowerLeveling Warcraft Power Leveling World of Warcraft PowerLeveling World of Warcraft Power Leveling runescape power leveling runescape powerleveling
runescape money runescape gold wow power leveling 棕榈树
eve isk
eve online isk
eve isk
eve online isk
Post a Comment
<< Home