He’s a Yankee Doodle Dandy
by chuckofish
and an excellent brother to boot! When I visited him in Maine, he took me exploring in a canoe
Every mountain man carries a side arm
and when I graduated from college he took me to climb my first mountain, Mt. Monadnock in New Hampshire. Back then, he climbed a mountain a day.
Above the tree line and the bugs
I, by contrast, was out of shape, improperly attired (no hiking boots) and generally horrified by the swarms of black flies. He was endlessly patient, though, and just kept encouraging me to “take one step at a time and go slowly, but keep moving”. I made it and have to admit that I was very proud of myself. Here I am about half way up, trying to look game.
Are we there yet?
He also taught his sisters how to shoot. Hey, dual personality, do you remember the time we went plinking and the dog came out of nowhere and relieved himself on your down vest, which you had taken off? I have never laughed harder. I couldn’t find a picture with my darling sister in it, but here I am ready to take action against unsuspecting rotten vegetables:
And, finally, what is cooler than a brother who plays the fiddle at the top of a waterfall in the middle of the woods?
a waterfall somewhere in Maine
So cheers to the best brother — and happy (early) birthday!
dual personalities 
Awesome post!! Those are some great pictures – I have the first one framed in my room at school, and it has always been one of my favorites of Dad. His beard is so black! And that hat now hangs on the wall in our office.
Also, great to see the pictures of you hiking and shooting. I’ve always heard that you were a good shot! There are more than a few pictures kicking around of me hiking/shooting that look practically identical to the picture of you at the shooting range. Maybe it is a function of similar outdoor garb and the distance from the camera, but more likely I just look like a Chamberlin.
Anyway, thanks for the post. I’m really looking forward to seeing you all this coming month!
I’ve always loved that picture… and stay tuned for some others you probably don’t have. And there certainly is a family resemblance, which is wonderful! Can’t wait to see you in a few weeks.
That’s what my life is missing: Fiddling on top of a waterfall. All these wasted years!
Well, now that you play the violin, there’s nothing stopping you, is there?
That looks like Sarah with the rifle!
It is Sarah–she wrote the post! (She is the Saturday poster.)
Alas, I could not find the great pic I have of your mother aiming her rifle. She is frail, ladylike and fierce in a way I never have been. She’s awesome!
Love this post. I have a campaign hat of my own that I have ALWAYS wanted to wear in the wilderness (Its a boy scout hat but never used). Unfortunately, my fiance does not do the outdoors….