A Man for all Seasons.

A man for all seasons is a man who follows the path that he knows is the right path, he is a man of integrity and character, and usually gives mankind more that he takes. He does what a good friend of mine says about helping your fellow man, in any way you can. He calls it “paying your dues for the life that you get”. Another friend of mine says, “It's a good feeling to go outside on a beautiful spring day, when it is great to be alive, and know that you deserve it”. He is saying it jokingly, but I know that in his heart he really does try to deserve the life that he has.
I have another friend (Pssssst... Olmanriver) who has that spark about him as a “real person”. If a person were to label him, they would probably call him a “Hippie”. He has long hair, he is very conscious of eating good food and mostly a vegetarian. He doesn't openly discuss why he's a vegetarian, but you know that he is sincere about it. He might try a little weed ever now and then, (I don't know) If he had a choice, he would probably save a redwood tree. He doesn't like being labeled as a “Hippie”, probably because it's just too confining for him. But, if you put his fingers in a vice and tightened the handle until he chose “Hippie” or “Redneck” he would probably go with Hippie, and he would make that a proud label. Most of us don't like labels, including myself, but if I had my fingers in a vice, I'd probably go with “Redneck”. So right off, you would think that we wouldn't get along. But that would be another mistake.

This man has established a library of local history for various Indian tribes, and has done more for the real knowledge of local history, recently, than any other person that I know. He has taught us all about local history and he tries hard to sort out the Bullshistory from the real history. Those of us born here know that is an almost impossible task, but being one of those “adult arrivals”, he didn't know that you can't sort out the tall-tales. We always just thought of our history as “good stories” the more dramatic, the better. But he, for the most part, has been able to extract some truth, and has left my family and it's history greatly indebted to him. I have on numerous occasions invited him to our family gatherings. He has steadfastly, not refused, but always had something else to do, like that was the day he washed his hair. I really think that he feels that he wouldn't fit in, but I can assure you that he would be one of the more classy of my family, especially myself.

Recently, we haven't heard a lot from him on this blog, and the posting that he had done had a serious side to it. He has been out “following his path, and helping his fellow man” ”I could go on to tell you much more, but I will leave it with; part of mankind is much better-off today because of his concern. He has several times labeled me as a “hero” on this blog. As I discussed before, labels don't really fit well, and to call somebody a hero for doing what they love, pumping adrenalin through my veins and racing around in firetrucks is not “Hero” folks, it's “adrenalin junkie”. It is, however, very rewarding to know that sometimes life and property are saved as a side result of my junkiness.

I have contacted Olmanriver several times lately, and I can tell you that he has been quite busy, and the world is a much better place because of him. All that I can say is he is the kind of person that we need more of.

From now on he will be “Saint Olmanriver” to me. He is the kind of person that doesn't seek acknowlegement. I just want him to know that some people notice the sneaky good that he does for mankind.