[Marxism] SAGE BRUSH IN THE WINDS OF EASTERN IDAHO

["Hunter Gray" <hunterbadbear@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

SAGE BRUSH IN THE WINDS OF EASTERN IDAHO

I was extremely pleased and personally very reassured to learn yesterday
that my favorite mountain boot company - Lowa - continues to offer my
boot-of-choice -- XL Extra Trekker -- in Size 16. That is as high as they go
there but that'll do very nicely, for now. More on that interesting
development in a few moments.

In the meantime, Summer has ended, days are cool [50s and 60s for the most
part] and so are nights [30s and lower 40s.] With reasonably adequate water
finally at hand, game continues to come down from the higher country: mule
deer and elk, moose, coyotes and cats. And maybe a wolf or two.

Although the docs continue to say that I can expect no substantive remission
in my fight against SLE Lupus - and certainly no cure - I have never
accepted that and I never will. The potentially lethal disease can erode or
can strike from the blue - but I sense a positive shift. My walking into the
rough country is more frequent, my breathing is now normal, and my legs are
stronger each time. Still lots of medicine and many of the various and
aggravating symptoms that accompany SLE - but I am now increasingly [and I
think realistically] optimistic. Everyone's good thoughts, I should add, are
critical. Clyde has regularly sent Buddhist metta and Alice and Dan and
Steve are among those who have sent very helpful reading materials sketching
out critical trails toward the Sun. And many, many others have been doing
their good things.

Depression is a common characteristic of Lupus, especially my oft lethal
variant, but I have been able to handle that without resorting to any
substances - other than strong coffee. I am fortunate that the disease has
not entered my brain or nervous system. I ask myself, occasionally,
rhetorical questions, such as: "If your mind was going over a cliff and so
was your coffee, and you could only save one, which would you choose."

And my answer is, "My mind - but I'd have to think about it for a quick
moment."

Yesterday at Jackson, Mrs Doris Allison was laid away in an appropriately
consecrated Catholic cemetery. [I believe I know the priest from Canton who
did her funeral mass - a very fine person.] The major state paper, The
Clarion Ledger, carried a good obituary. The Allisons have no children and
we here are all pleased with the inclusion that,

"She is survived by godson, Thomas Salter."

On politics, our interests and assistance are focused almost exclusively on
the vigorous and promising grassroots populist campaign of veteran Idaho
Labor activist, Lin Whitworth, for the Second Congressional District seat
now held by rightwinger Mike Simpson. http://www.linwhitworth.com/

My youngest daughter, Josie, is the extremely special friend of Brother
Whitworth's grandson, Cameron. They, Josie and Cameron, are presently on a
bow hunting expedition for deer - close to the nearby Wyoming border.

And now to the feet and boot situation - which is an old phenomenon having
nothing whatsoever to do with Lupus or any malady. In 1989, my feet which
had long been Size 12, suddenly grew to Size 13. At the beginning of 1998,
they suddenly jumped to Size 14. And, at the end of 1998, they went up to
Size 15. I have one big-footed grandson, Scotty [a mid teen] in Nebraska,
who loves boots and, as I am forced to discard footwear that has become too
small, I pass those on to him.

Recently, I told him, "I think I have probably stopped growing."

That was quite premature. It's now very clear that I am at Size 16. Nothing
to worry about as long as I have appropriately sized boots - but it is sort
of mysterious.

Good widebrimmed hats [I have four]; good firearms [I have seven, all
descended from pre-1900 patents and, with the exception of one shotgun and a
revolver, all Western lever actions]; and good mountain boots are always my
most important material possessions.

Although rarely do I do consumer endorsements, here is the one I made for
Lowa on December 15, 2002 and they continue to carry it:

Reviewed by: Hunterbear, Mountaineer, from Pocatello, Idaho, USA

Summary:


My Lowa Trekkers [Extra -- size 15] are splendid in all respects. I do a
great deal of climbing in and out of very rough and rugged mountains and
canyons here in Southeastern Idaho -- often on a daily basis. I require
super-traction -- especially since some of this occurs in pre-dawn darkness.
Within hours after receiving my Trekkers, I was on the trail. Within a six
mile stretch, they dealt in extraordinarily capable fashion with steep
up-hill, steep down-hill, snow, ice, mud, fixed rocks, loose rocks, slippery
sage brush. In the days following, in addition to all of the foregoing
challenges, the Trekkers dealt extremely well with water. They could not be
more comfortable. Virtually no breaking-in period was required. I recommend
them with the highest enthusiasm.


Customer Service:
Excellent service. I called Lowa [USA] which rushed the Trekkers to the
retailer -- who then rushed them to me.

Similar Products Used:
I have used Vasque Sundowners -- have two pair. They are quite good -- but
my Lowa Trekkers have better traction, are better fitting, and seem less
cumbersome.


Fraternally and In Solidarity -

Hunter Bear

HUNTER GRAY  [HUNTER BEAR]   Micmac /St. Francis Abenaki/St. Regis Mohawk
www.hunterbear.org
Protected by Na´shdo´i´ba´i´
and Ohkwari'


In our Gray Hole, the ghosts often dance in the junipers and sage, on the
game trails, in the tributary canyons with the thick red maples, and on the
high windy ridges -- and they dance from within the very essence of our own
inner being. They do this especially when the bright night moon shines down
on the clean white snow that covers the valley and its surroundings.  Then
it is as bright as day -- but in an always soft and mysterious and
remembering way. [Hunter Bear]











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