Blufftop Wind In The Boughs

It sounds like the ebbs and flows of traffic on a busy street or distant highway; but it’s not.  There’s nobody else here—upon this bluff overlooking the Sugar River.  The skies are partly cloudy, but constantly changing due to the light winds; those same winds blowing like a horde of cars through the leafless treetops of the oaks and hickory and the needled boughs of the tightly clustered white pines behind me.  There’s momentary silence but also low moans from the wind, and rattles from last year’s leaves still hanging on—soon to be kicked out of the nest once this season’s buds begin to burst forth.

I’m not deep in a secret wood, or on forgotten property, I’m right here.  I’m in plain view and out in the open.  It’s just that I have it all to myself at this moment in time.  I can hear the spring peepers and chorus frogs singing in the vernal ponds across the way—in the marshes on the other side of the river.  Wild places.  Mysterious places.  I’ve kayaked over to that side before and walked amongst the dead grasses of spring.  It’s intimate there even in its openness—before things leaf out—because you’ll find that your spirit latches onto the simplicity and complexity of it all when your senses are alert and on fire.  I can see the door stoop to that area from this bluff.  It’s comforting to know it’s there with its seasonal pockets of stagnant water, helping to warm the water and earth and kick-start into action the life that’s always there; so that we with our limitations can actually see it!

While here on the bluff I’m soaking all of this into my body; absorbing it into my memory for safe keeping.  There are a myriad of trails nearby that I could hike, and I may do so as I’ve often done.  Typically I’d have been running them as well, as I love the softness of the paths and alert nimbleness it takes to navigate the twists, turns, roots, and ruts.  But, I had surgery on my right knee not too long ago for a torn meniscus, so I’m trying to be patient; trying to slowly build a foundation of strength that will get me back to that activity that I love.

In the meantime I’m sitting here in a camp chair on this bluff.  I’m sitting here where history planted itself nearly 90 years ago when the W.P.A. built this limestone shelterhouse.  A good friend of mine once shared a story about a time when his grandpa attached half of an oxen’s iron work shoe—from the beast of burden's cloven hoof—to this very pavilion; shared history.

I love that there’s a huge fireplace both inside and outside—where the two flues are shared by the same chimney.  And while the structure is sound, it will require some tender love and care in the near future.  I can only hope that a few timbers are replaced and some tuck-pointing applied so that when I’m older, and can no longer hope to run or walk the trails, I can still sit here on this bluff and listen to both the flicker and red-headed woodpecker, and the wind in the boughs.

The Outside Fireplace Of The
Limestone Shelter Built In 1939.

Today within the beauty of an early spring day, I chose to build a small fire in the outdoor hearth of the fireplace.  Soon I’ll make a potato, egg, and sausage scramble in my old iron skillet—upon the still hot coals.  It’ll be a hearty lunch to carry me through the rest of the day; like the resonating warmth radiating off the stone work.  Afterwards I’ll take my walk on the trails along the bluff, and water’s edge, and back into the river bottom at the base of a ridge.  Like the nearby squirrel gnawing on the husk of an old walnut found in its hidden pantry, the croaking calls of the sandhill cranes in the distant marsh, and the winds off the bluff through the white pine boughs, walking will give me the opportunity to reflect on life and the important things.

See you along The Way…

Spring Beauty Flowers

A Vernal Pond

Long Time

 

On the way out to Sugar River’s wooded, bluff-top, ridge, while driving small country roads, my prayer was that our gathering would somehow bring a wide variety of people into a funneled commonality.  I had really worked hard these past few weeks reaching out to about every man I’ve known who’s worked within the Prairie Hill School District (Made up of Prairie Hill School & now Willowbrook Middle School).  I can go back that far into the past archives because overall there hasn’t been that many men in comparison to the women staff members.  Most of the men I emailed, some I called on the phone, and a few I contacted by writing letters.  Some chose not to come, a few had previous commitments or life situations going on right now, but those who stepped forward and wanted to attend contributed to our largest gathering to date.  For those who have been a part of our group called the “Gulo Adventure Clan,” and our many outdoor outings, this one was a bit tamer but still equally important.  It allowed us to reach out beyond boundaries and simply come together; guys of all ages, with various amounts of years within our schools.

Halfway out to the Forest Preserve, and the old limestone shelter, Boston’s song entitled, “Long Time” began playing on the radio.  Although the lyrics may have been more about moving on from a relationship, the theme resonated strongly in that it has been a while since we’ve gathered together as a large group of friends.  I smiled as I remembered that I had joked with a few friends prior to this, that our outing was kind of like “The Island of Misfit Toys.”  We ranged in age from 26 to 84 with some who had invested in our district for just one year, and others for over three decades.  As staff members we represented different job titles including: teacher, technology coordinator, D.A.R.E. officer, aide, coach, principal, and superintendent (and a few men were a combination of two or three of those titles).  Each of us have contributed to our schools using the unique gifts that we’ve been granted.

A couple of the men started at Prairie Hill back in the 1960’s; only a few years after our area’s three one-room schools had consolidated.  Back then the educators in our district taught several grade levels at the same time as there were only a handful of students per grade.  Does it even make sense to say, “Oh how the times have changed in just 60 short years?”  Believe me when I say that they have.  And I’ve only been here for a little over 30 of those years!  Hence the misfit toys reference.  Fortunately those toys (in the movie “Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer”) were all picked up by Santa and eventually delivered to children who would love them.  Likewise, not everything has been smooth sailing over the years in our district, but overall most has been, and we have definitely persevered.  Ultimately we continue to make a difference in the lives of students and our community, while oftentimes becoming friends with our colleagues at the same time.

It was with this mentality that I was spurred on to try to gather as many men together as possible.  People need a frame of reference.  People need to know that although the work they are doing now is important, there have been a lot of people who have put in just as much work prior to this.  Work in a school can be foundational.  Sometimes bricks are stacked, and sometimes they are restacked after a leveling line has been snapped, but regardless, the educational wall continues to be built.  How’s that for a visual parable?

Yesterday’s weather was awesome.  Yesterday’s gathering was mind blowing for me personally.  I can’t help but wonder how a simple request to gather can lead to us actually doing just that.  How does it happen?  Why do people want to gather?

When a few of us first began getting together for fun years ago, I made “Membership Cards.”  Printed on the cards were various quotes that meant something to me at the time.  They still do.  I did, however, in the spirit of finally being able to get together following this pandemic, redesign the cards.  Those who have the originals are now holding onto priceless heirlooms full of memories and nostalgia.  The new membership cards are printed with better color contrasts that allow the words to be more legible.  In addition, I chose new quotes to better exemplify the Gulo Adventure Clan as we move into uncharted territory.  I feel the words embody who we are, and our purpose going forward as friends and colleagues; past and present:

• "We learn all of our most important lessons through story, and story deepens all of our most important lessons...This whole story began with something relational.” - John Eldredge (Epic)

• “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.” - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

• “Courage, faith, love - these all must be cultivated.” - Bishop Michael Curry (Love is the Way)

• “There is no better way to recapture the spirit of an era than to follow old trails, gathering from the earth itself the feelings and challenges of those who trod them long ago...that while great events may find themselves in books and museums, it is the people themselves who really counted.” - Sigurd Olson (Streams of the Past)

While everyone today received new cards to replace our old ones, five men were presented a first-time card as new members.  That alone is pretty humorous, because while their membership may be new, their faces and time in our district are not.  For that, I personally say that I appreciate all that they have done.

As the names rolled in over the last week for those who wanted to come and attend, I simply shook my head.  It was beyond my belief and understanding.  I also lifted my eyes with palms facing upwards and said, “Thank you.”  Thank you God that after a long time, we were able to meet together as a group.  After a long time we were able to recognize others who worked, and taught, and educated before us.  After a long hiatus we were able to look beyond ourselves, and see others who have been a part of the on-going process involved in education.

The Gulo Adventure Clan will still have times when we’ll escape and traipse into the woods, rivers, and snow, but I think gatherings like this will also need to be a part of our existence.  It provides us an opportunity to step back, talk, and rejuvenate; so that it doesn’t feel like such a “Long Time” since the last time we remembered our roots.

See you along The Way...

Some of the Members of the "Gulo Adventure Clan"
(Back Row): Scott Rogers, Justin Bonne, Joe Grygiel, Zach Hill,
Louie Gugliuzza, Tyler Lovgren, Chuck Leonard, Justin Keller,
Rick Sager, Tom Strothoff, Roger Fenrick
(Front Row): Myself, Doug Elfstrom, Mike Michowski, Andrew Westgate,
Andy Valentine, Ted Rehl, Jack Finlen, Mike Plourde

Willowbrook Women Adventure

Women from Willowbrook gathered at the park yesterday.  While there was a chill in the air to meet the rising sun, the warmth from the heat radiating off of the fire that was set deep in the limestone hearth permeated their souls.  It was a warmth initially sparked by months of separation, years of difficult expectations, and overall stress.  Yet, the crackling flames were fueled by commonality, friendships, and a desire for something better.

Healing, unity, and connections don’t happen haphazardly.  It takes intentional work.  It’s like traditions.  Sometimes it begins with a purposeful and planned action or event to help set the rock into place that becomes the cornerstone that marks when you begin to move ahead.  Occasionally it happens because something that occurred was welcomed, celebrated, and scheduled.

Today was a step in the right direction to perhaps lay the foundation for future gatherings.  Erwin Raphael McManus once wrote that we are, “different, but a part of the same tribe...walking in the same direction, but on a unique path.” (The Barbarian Way - 2005)  That sums us up as educators and humans alike; each with our unique gifts, personalities, and characteristics, putting one step in front of the other and doing the best that we can with what we know at the time.

I often wonder what I can personally do to help in certain situations.  How can I contribute to help rally the troops or provide comfort and relief?  I’ve found that what I am able to provide is never really the same response twice.  It’s not a constant variable.  Sometimes I speak, sometimes I write, and sometimes I listen.  Often it centers around the outdoors or actively doing something.  This time for the Willowbrook Women, together with the help of others, I simply set a date, made a reservation, and cooked a meal.  The ladies took care of the rest on their own.

Current teachers and support staff from each side of our school building bonded with teachers who have since moved into retirement or other opportunities outside of Willowbrook.  Together they talked, ate, and hiked the nearby trails.  Together they laughed from their hearts, and showed brief glimpses of their spirit.  The breakfast in the park was an avenue to move forward together, and that was vital on so many fronts.  Perhaps today will be the segue that not only becomes a tradition, but that welds a link within a chain that has a unified purpose.  It’s how seemingly small and insignificant events can become so important and vital.  Should we all be so fortunate as to be blessed with such an opportunity.

See you along The Way...

The Fire, Hearth, And Gathering

Justin And Me Cooking Breakfast In Cast Iron Skillets