Dear Josh,
I cant believe that 4 shifts in the bush are officially over. Time has been flying, and part of me wishes that it wasnt, because I could use more money, and part of me hopes for August to come fast.
I had my birthday last shift. Over the past six years I have ben fortunate enough that my birthday has fallen on days off. This year however, I was definitly working! It was alright, kind of a rough day of planting, but when I got back to camp there was a birthday celebration. I got the dinner that I had been asking for, and a birthday cake.
Last day of I was sitting in the pool when an older gentleman approached me and told me that his wife does dread matainence in Prince George and then he gave me her card in case I ever need to tidy up my head! So that was a pretty sweet hook up!
This day off was pretty good. I spent last night at Earls hanging out with my ex-crew and a few planting friends from another camp that have been out here with me since 2004. We spent the whole time remenicing about the past 6 years over some pints and food. It was a glorious time, especially since these friends of mine will most likely be concluding their tree planting career this year. Once everyone who originally started with me is gone, I will be all by myself, part of a planting era that no longer exists. It's a sad thought especially because one of my greatest character flaws is living in the past.
Speaking of the past, for a few years now I have been planning on one day starting a scrapbooking project that clsoely represents my life from 0-24. It would be a huge project, complete with pictures, awards, plane tickets, coins, written letters, and interviews with friends and family giving their accounts of the past involving me.
Have you ever hung out with family or friends and then someone says, "hey, do you remember the time when..."...and then they continue to recall a specific memory that was so precious, awesome and important to you at one time, until you forgot it happened? I love the moments because recalling such memorries makes me extremely happy. However, at the same time it bothers me because despite how important and grand those times were, until I was reminded, I had forgotten that they even happend, and I feel that I am slowly forgetting some of the things that made me who I am today. Anyways, that's why I would like to persue this analog/digital scrapbooking project, so that I wont have to remember these things...all I would have to do would be to sit down and read.
Have you ever seen the movie "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade"? Well in that movie Sean Connery's character had a diary with all of the clues, information and direction that could lead him to the Holy Grail. He had lost the book and after he was rescued by his son, Indiana told him that they would continue to look for the grail, but Sean said that they couldnt because he needd his diary. Anyways, Indiana basically said that he was extremely surprised at the fact that Sean couldnt remember the 3 clues. Sean Connery's character replied, "I wrote them down in my diary so I wouldnt have to remember!"
Well I hope that youve seen the movie so that you understand what I mean and how that relates to why I want to start a substancial scrap booking project. If you havent seen the movie, then completely disreguard that last paragraph.
As I look up at the clock in PG's London Drugs I realize that I am about out of time.
I hope this letter finds you well.
~jordan
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
May 25th, 2009
Dear Josh,
I had originally wrote you a letter about a week ago and then ran out of time in the city to mail it. Then few days later I tried to read it and had a hard time. This is my official confession to my poor penmanship. For the sake of proper communication, I will be typing to you, rather then writing. I know that this takes away from the romantic nature of writing letters, however I'll take communication over romanticism...in this case atleast.
Also worth mentioning is why I am sending you a letter, which is a London Drugs Internet cafe print off from my online blog. Again time has been a facter here, in that I couldnt type and print off this letter on my laptop in camp and print it off. So instead I am at London Drugs, kicking off this pen pal relationship via the "Print Screen" button.
I guess I could tell you a bit about my first few weeks out here in the bush. I think that I will only breifly mention things regarding tree planting since for you much of what I could possibly say would be hard to understand or fully appriciate. That's the thing about tree planting, either I suck at communicating or tree planting is one of those experiences that is best described by participating in it.
So anyway, on May 4th after 10 hours of driving I entered Prince Georges city limits (Prince George will now one be referred to as 'The PG" or phonetically "the Peeg". Up until that point I had not had the planting mindset, but as soon as I dipped into the geographical hole the the PG sits in, and took a deep breath of the air that for the most part always smells like pulp mill, it all came back to me. A few hours later, it was like I had never left.
My season started well, but before we actually set up camp in the bush there are a few things that a foreman usually gets to worry about. One would be the possibility that some of your planters don't show up, which leaves you with a smaller crew. That fear was confirmed for me this year since two of my planters didnt show up. Those who did show up are really cool, and my crew is doing well. I hired another planter, bumping me up to 11, and soon hopefully I will have a 12 pack.
The only other notable negative to my season so far is the super sickness of doom that passed over myself and my crew this past shift. It was a lot like the mist that killed Egypts first born, except no one was killed, and I hope it wasnt a response to some sort of sin that we were committing. Most people on my crew got sick and sat out for atleast a day. As for me, I was extremely sick, but since I am a foreman, a day off is an extremely tough thing to have. I toughed it out and made it to the next day off. I think that myself and my crew will be feeling much better his next shift.
My dog Ash is loving the camp life. he is the only dog in camp, so he gets all the attention he can handle. These three months are his reward for his 9 months of basement suite living.
Anyways, my time to use this computer is almost out! I look forward to your return letter and what you have to say about you life these days!
Take care,
~jordan
PS - I think that I'm going to get a few tattoos when I get home...and I cant wait!
I had originally wrote you a letter about a week ago and then ran out of time in the city to mail it. Then few days later I tried to read it and had a hard time. This is my official confession to my poor penmanship. For the sake of proper communication, I will be typing to you, rather then writing. I know that this takes away from the romantic nature of writing letters, however I'll take communication over romanticism...in this case atleast.
Also worth mentioning is why I am sending you a letter, which is a London Drugs Internet cafe print off from my online blog. Again time has been a facter here, in that I couldnt type and print off this letter on my laptop in camp and print it off. So instead I am at London Drugs, kicking off this pen pal relationship via the "Print Screen" button.
I guess I could tell you a bit about my first few weeks out here in the bush. I think that I will only breifly mention things regarding tree planting since for you much of what I could possibly say would be hard to understand or fully appriciate. That's the thing about tree planting, either I suck at communicating or tree planting is one of those experiences that is best described by participating in it.
So anyway, on May 4th after 10 hours of driving I entered Prince Georges city limits (Prince George will now one be referred to as 'The PG" or phonetically "the Peeg". Up until that point I had not had the planting mindset, but as soon as I dipped into the geographical hole the the PG sits in, and took a deep breath of the air that for the most part always smells like pulp mill, it all came back to me. A few hours later, it was like I had never left.
My season started well, but before we actually set up camp in the bush there are a few things that a foreman usually gets to worry about. One would be the possibility that some of your planters don't show up, which leaves you with a smaller crew. That fear was confirmed for me this year since two of my planters didnt show up. Those who did show up are really cool, and my crew is doing well. I hired another planter, bumping me up to 11, and soon hopefully I will have a 12 pack.
The only other notable negative to my season so far is the super sickness of doom that passed over myself and my crew this past shift. It was a lot like the mist that killed Egypts first born, except no one was killed, and I hope it wasnt a response to some sort of sin that we were committing. Most people on my crew got sick and sat out for atleast a day. As for me, I was extremely sick, but since I am a foreman, a day off is an extremely tough thing to have. I toughed it out and made it to the next day off. I think that myself and my crew will be feeling much better his next shift.
My dog Ash is loving the camp life. he is the only dog in camp, so he gets all the attention he can handle. These three months are his reward for his 9 months of basement suite living.
Anyways, my time to use this computer is almost out! I look forward to your return letter and what you have to say about you life these days!
Take care,
~jordan
PS - I think that I'm going to get a few tattoos when I get home...and I cant wait!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)