He was a familiar, friendly face. Even on the coldest days Jim and I would usually cross paths at Long Branch Farm. Most days he was the only other person I’d see out here on the trails so early in the morning.
His love for the woods was similar to mine, seeing all the changes with each new season was something he looked forward to and talked about often. He also loved hearing and seeing all the animals around him while he worked.
We would both complain about the mosquitoes in the summer and we didn’t like the below freezing temps in the winter but most mornings we had only good things to say about Mother Nature.
We exchanged emails to keep in touch on the days when he felt the sickest and couldn’t come out to the woods. Sometimes weeks would go by and I wouldn’t see him. I sent him pictures of Long Branch to lift his spirits. He would thank me for taking care of the trails while he couldn’t be there.
We didn’t know each other outside of Long Branch Farm and that was okay, we had a unique friendship on the trails that didn’t require anything more.
I looked forward to seeing him each morning. Over the years he became a part of my daily walk and he will forever be a part of the trails here at Long Branch Farm.
#cancer #friend #friendship #mothernature #life #death
