THE PLAN

8 AM - We eat.

9 AM - We depart.

11 AM - We sit in the driveway, still waiting for the last young’en to get into the car.

11:05 AM - I hear that wandering child yell out, “Dad, Help!”

I jump out of the car, and head toward the cry.  Seems one of the cats has grabbed a bird from our feeding station and will not let go.  After two rounds around the house, Parker somehow convinces the cat to drop the small wren to the ground.  By then, all the kids and Ashley are surrounding us, wondering what has happened.

Parker flops back to the ground and the questioning begins.  Can we save it?  Is it o.k.?  What can we do?

We quickly realize that the bird is damaged beyond repair and we just sit there and watch as Parker has surrounded the dying bird with a lovingly “handcrafted” nest.  And we sit.  A few times it’s little head perks up as to say “thanks.”  Parker took to it like a champ.  You could tell he was wrestling with thoughts well beyond his eight-year-old understanding.  And yet, he sat there and held that shaking bird until it shook no longer.

As he looked up to his mother for the final word, Ashley sweetly reminded Parker of the comfort he had just given to this little life, of the respect that he had just shown to this creature which had brought so much joy to us in the past months.  The feeder is just by our dinner table and the Donahue Family supper conversations quickly change as new flighty visitors stop by. And now Parker was thanking the bird by giving the bird the gift of time.

I saw a new light in my son’s eyes.  He is a very talented boy, a skateboarder, a good student, an excellent help with the little ones and a boy who can take anything apart and rebuild it - given enough time.  But during this moment, he was a healer, a comforter and the only one that could soothe that little bird in its greatest time of need.

After a proper burial in the Donahue yard (we really need to start mapping out the burial plots), we did hop back into the car, but plans needed to be changed.  There was no longer time to get in that amazing green hour I was hoping for.  We headed to Downtown Roanoke to spend the last bit of time we had gathering veggies for dinner and checking out the new camping hammocks at Walkabout Outfitters.  BTW: Parker is also a gear junkie.  He’s not big on hiking, he just likes to examine and purchase the gear!

We had a great time and enjoyed some downtime exploring downtown Roanoke, searching for bottle tops, which Parker loves to collect.  I figured after the morning he had, we would make a “best-day-ever” happen for him.

And, as always, once everyone is off to sleep I find myself sitting here…typing…and reflecting.

Forgive me as I step into a thought.  I guess the bird may somehow represent the loss of his early childhood and the transition of his boyhood taking a step toward becoming a young man.  Ashley mentioned tonight, as he was eating out of his dinner bowl like a trough, that he resembled a (Wince!) teenager.

Parents, a suggestion.

I work hard to help my children enjoy their childhood, presenting every chance for them to grow and learn.  But I will tell you that I learned a great big lesson this weekend.  Our children are growing up and they are people too.  They deserve freedoms, they deserve opportunities, and especially they deserve responsibilties.  But at this point, I must stop and remember that they need the gift of time…

to become themselves. 

For Parker, he needed us to freeze that moment, to stop the world while he processed what was going to happen.  Pulling him along into the car, rushing to the planned event would have been such a disservice to him.

Thanks Birdie.  You were an awesome bird.  And thanks to my lovely family, still teaching me something new about life everyday.

Plus, after all that, they let me add some of our favorite family tunes.  We hope you like it and would welcome your suggestions.  P.s.  There are commercials.  Sorry.  Can’t get around that.

  Here is the link to the radio station for KIVA:

http://www.pandora.com/?sc=sh290091084999026741

  A KIVA parent shared with us a fun and incredible way to make a little change make a BIG change. The McCormick family is hosting a charity lemonade stand to benefit Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. Help the McCormick’s make a difference, “one cup at a time.”

What: Lemonade stand to Benefit Alex’s Lemonade Stand
Where: 2037 Sherwood Avenue, SW Roanoke
When 1-4, September 5th, 2010

We’d hope to see you there!
And, while you’re at it…bring your own reusable cup.–

Will it be the beautiful scenery?

Will it be exploring the retention wall pond and the sights and smells that go along with it?

Will it be playing and having fun on the playground?

Will it be having a blast catching marshmallows as they flew through the air?

Or will it be listening to a story about how summer is coming to an end? (Jonathan London’s When the Fireflies Came)

I’m thinking they’ll remember all of that and more.  Something along the lines of:

“That park is awesome!  Can we go there again?”

Check out the rest of the pictures from the event at the KIVA Event Gallery: here.  Thanks to old friends and new families who came along to play tonight.  Man, that was fun!

 
View Larger Map

Bring a picnic for your family and come on out to play.  There is a creek that runs through the park, but it is offset from the park.  There is also a lovely pond to explore the banks.  We will be reading When the Fireflies Come by Jonathan London.  Great story about the closing of summer and the joys of staying outside after dark! 

KIVA (Kids In the Valley, Advenuring!)  is a free nature club for families.  We are just a family, encouraging other families to get outside and enjoy our natural resources along with us.  We host a website at www.kidsadventuring.org to share our favorite stories, parks, gear, music and more.  Check it out if you get a chance.  Please remember, no childcare is provided at KIVA events.  Stay and make a memory with your child(ren).

Chip and Ashley W. Donahue
Kids In the Valley, Adventuring!
www.kidsadventuring.org
KIVAinfo@gmail.com (e-mail us if you would like to receive e-mail updates about KIVA and other family events around the Roanoke area.)

Here’s a little gem we found on a search this week.  The Donahue kids have grown up listening to Pete Seeger’s Children’s Concert at Town Hall.  We listen to it before bed, as the kids are drifting off to sleep.  They always perk up though when Abi Yoyo comes along on the disc.  What a fun, playful story.  Great example of a folktale put to music.  Thanks Mr. Seeger!

This week, I would like to focus kidsadventuring.org to share the life and times of the iconic Mr. Pete Seeger, still changing the world, to this day.

His quote for our Monday Quote of the week blog is simple:

“Participation:  That is what’s going to save the human race.”

I was introduced to this quote upon watching the documentary of Mr. Seeger’s life: The Power of Song.

Tuesday, join us for a cd review of the outstanding recording: Tomorrow’s Children.  If you’d like a preview, check out song samples here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/peteseeger3.

An absolute highlight for me was the time the Donahue family spent splashing, swimming and exploring on Cowpasture River.  We jumped off swinging bridges, canoed up and down the river and adventured throughout the lovely town of Clifton Forge.  Rebuilding and regaining those close family ties is so important to our crew, and we grew together as we travelled.

We then headed south to Myrtle Beach and had a chance to stay at an amazing nature preserve.  We saw alligators, turtles, jellyfish, fiddler crabs, deer and more.  We hit the beach and enjoyed several days of kite flying.  One particular memory is of a certain Donahue who lost her new kite deep in the brambles along the shore.  Papa Chip got to put his gusto to the test, digging right into the brambles. 

 Just happened to be the same morning I visited the nature center’s library.  There, I read a book of warnings concerning the site.  One suggestion: stay out of the brambles off the beach…and there it listed the venomous and large-teethed animals that resided there!

But, I’m the dad…and it was (and still is) an awesome kite.

So big, brave dad saves the kite, and returns without any wild animal lashings.  The multiple scratches and the poked eye, ears and multiple shin gashes were just gave me some bragging rights.

One particular low, mixed with a high point, was having to be away from my family for a week at a TTEC (Trails to Every Classroom) Conference with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.  I had not been away from my amazingly beautiful wife Ashley this long since I first fell head-over-heels in love with her in 1992.  Eighteen years ago!  And not seeing my kids for a week…unbearable. 

The fantastic TTEC program takes teachers from each state that has the Appalachian Trail running through it - Maine to Georgia and helps those teachers to build programs in their classrooms to connect the students to the AT.  This leads to the the community being more aware of the benefits of using and maintaining the Appalachian Trail.

Here is a blog that details our overnight hiking trip during the conference.  That’s where I found this “lovely” - ahem - picture of myself.  Check out the story, here.

I returned from the conference with a plan to connect my own students with the AT, through the maintainance of a local trailhead kiosk and teaching the students about LNT - Leave No Trace principles.  I am excited about this getting started in the coming weeks.  I’ll post more about the progress as things happen.

So, all that to explain that crazy, nasty picture of me above.  Why?  Of all the pictures, why did they have to pick that one?

Explanations?  I think they asked for a stoic shot.  Stoic, that’s not me.  I will remember this summer as a series of photographs.  In one, I am covered in mud, another hanging onto a rope bridge for my dear life (I’m not very brave.), one could have been taken of me covered in paint and even shots of me scrubbing floors and working on potty training with my young nephew.  Other memories include being covered in black raspberry stains and loving it. Stoic, I am not.  Vain, no there’s no room for that when you’re a dad.   

I just realized why I look so goofy in this shot.  My family is not in it.  That’s the key, isn’t it.  It doesn’t matter where we are, just as long as we are together.  My lovely family balances out my geekness, my awkwardness. Man, how does my family put up with me?

If you are not aware of Walkin’ Jim, let me encourage you to check out his website at www.walkinjim.com.

In the meantime, check out this update.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you Walkin’ Jim!

  A NOTE FROM WALKIN’ JIM 
 
Hello Friends –
 
This isn’t my usual Wild Wind newsletter, but I’ve wanted to let many of you know of some recent challenges.  I returned home to Montana in mid-May intent on planning my next long trek and doing all kinds of projects I’ve had my heart set on.  But almost immediately I started experiencing breathing and fatigue problems.  The long, difficult ordeal of dealing with our health care system began, and I saw doctors in Helena, Seattle, and Billings with no good answers as to what was happening to me.   In July I started getting daily fevers that knocked me further down.  Finally, I had a doctor who checked me into the hospital where I stayed for 12 days as they did test after test to halt the fevers.  It was there in the Billings hospital a couple days into my visit that I learned that my cancer had metastasized, reappearing in my liver.  
 
Needless to say, things aren’t looking real good.  I’ve canceled my touring and am going through chemo treatments here in Helena.  I’m hoping (and planning) on getting some quality time returned to me after going through these treatments, but it looks like I’ll be on chemo the rest of my life.  I would love to have my energy back and be able to do some things I’d like to do in the months (and perhaps years) ahead.  After all, I do have l lots of songs I’d still like to record!! 
 
I’m sorry to share this sad news, but I know how important it is to have thoughts and prayers and energy coming my way right now.  You all have helped me in that department before and I hope you’ll hold me in your light once again.   
 
I also wanted to get the word out about my Medical Fund.  This is something I set up several years ago but has been a great help with all the medical bills.  A big THANK YOU who have supported me in the past with contributions. Since I won’t be working again it is something that will really pull me through with the dealings with health care.   You can access it at the NTAF site here  or go to my website page about it here .
 
I’ll try to send out a more traditional newsletter next month, but for now I leave you with a quote from a Leonard Cohen song…
“There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.”    My life has given me a lot of cracks….and thus, a lot of light to guide my way wherever I may go. 
 
Love and Happy Trails,
    
   — Walkin’ Jim
    
==============================================================
 
 
Wild Wind Records
PO Box 1512
Helena, MT 59624      
Phone:  406-449-6252
Walkin’ Jim’s Web Site:  http://www.walkinjim.com

Sometimes you just feel the rhythm.

And it takes over.  Wish I had a video camera to capture our youngest

really experiencing the music.  Here you can see him “drumming” along with a lovely Thelonious Monk

tune at the dinner table.  The song was “Well, You Needn’t” from the album Monk’s Music.

I wonder if Art Blakey (simply amazing drummer on the tune) started out playing fishsticks too?