I possess a wild heart. I’m a free spirit, living my best life to remain free — in sacred balance with my world — this earth we human creatures, share with all creatures.
It was long ago, summer 1955, on this day, without a date that I recall, I was first introduced to my wild nature, in the Canadian wilderness, by a kindred wild soul, who’d adopted me into his pack.
That day he began helping me understand, and seeking my balance with nature, standing in small-town Espanola, filling our fishing boat with gas and provisions, at a small general store, on a back street, dusky with growing Canadian sunset. Under the breathtaking Aurora Borealis, as we drove into Ontario wilderness, he talked in depth, of life ahead, on a primitive fishing island. Amazed, I actually howled. I grew to manhood runnin’ with our pack.
rob kistner © 2023
Poetry at: dVerse
W e must genuinely strive to never lose our sense of wonder, the wonder we had as a child. To a child the world is wonder. Do you remember the excitement, curiosity, pleasure, the fear, uncertainty, sometimes pain, but the overall amazement that surrounded you as a child on your journey growing up? The sheer joy of being a child. We must always encourage and help them in their growth, and never discourage or block their exploration. The children truthfully are our future. Just because we are old, and perhaps have become jaded, never let that interfere with our ability to see through the beautiful, clear orb of joy that surrounds a child; treasure it, nourish it, and celebrate it!
~ meet our new doggy: Myles ~
Rob, I know the man you are talking about is your dad <3
Myles is a real cutie.
Yes, my friend, most definitely Lisa, my wonderful adoptive father — Robert Theodore (Bob) Kistner. 🙂 I so miss that man! 🙁 Little Myles comes home tomorrow all neutered and vaccinated.
p.s. LOVE THE TITLE!
A bit of tongue-in-cheek… 😉
I love the story, Rob, has the feel of Dancing With Wolves about it
PS love the doggy????
Glad you liked it. The other kindred wild soul was the wonderful man who adopted me as a child. I was 8-years-old when he first took me to Canada to show me his fishing island with the cozy, but convenience free wilderness cabin. No electricity, no heat except a big black iron wood-burning stove. That was also what we cooked on. No water except from the lake, which was pure drinkable water. We would have to boat about 11 miles through a chain of lakes, to get block ice from a big sawdust-filled, log ice house at Lehman’s Landing, which is where we would put our boat in. It was many miles outside Espsnols, on logging and undeveloped roads. Glorious wilderness! I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!
A really great story, Rob. I love how you became a man on that trip. I love your new pup!
Thank you Dwight… 🙂
Young, wild and free. Great prose, Rob.
Thank you Jay… 🙂
I think wolves are amazing creatures, magical and wild. I haven’t read a werewolf story in ages, so I enjoyed your Prosery very much, Rob. You broke up that sentence well, over a couple of paragraphs – very smooth!
What a cute little munchkin Myles is! I hope you have many happy years with him.
Thank you Kim on both my part and Myles… 🙂
I enjoyed this, Rob. Good, bright memories rather than dark apocalyptic imaginings. You’re lucky to have them.
Thank you Jane… 🙂 I like the bright and happy and I like the dark and melancholy — feeling both makes me feel alive. I like the feelings that wilderness opens in me the most.
Beautiful memories, Rob. Thank you for sharing them.
And how wonderful you have a new dog!
You are welcome Merril. Little Myles is a cuty petooty… 😉
Wild yet completely grounded in the “real”. Seems like an oxymoron but is the truest freedom. I enjoyed this!
Thank you Susan… 🙂
Amazed, I actually howled.
I grew to manhood runnin’ with that pack.
You are most fortunate, Rob to be given the opportunity to embark on an adventurous lifestyle. Hoping to see some narrations of wild episodes!
Hank
I’m certain I will share more Hank… 🙂
Love how you incorporated “pack” into this piece! The wilderness in Oregon is beyond imagination … we are blessed. Sending greetings to your Kathy (spelling her name correctly this morning.)
Kathy goes tomorrow (Wednesday) for her first post-op and to learn the pathology results of her throat cancer. Got my fingers crossed my friend… 🙂
A man I loved dearly for ten years (after my marriage of twenty-two years ended) is dealing with a large esophageal cancer. His daughter reached out to me believing I would want to know. (I did.) I spoke with him Monday evening from his hospital bed … it was devastating. He is fighting so hard, has just finished chemo and radiation hoping the tumor has shrunk small enough for surgery. He is in MN so far away …. in body but not in my mind, in my memories. I still love him. Keeping good energy for your Kathy.
So sorry to hear that Helen. Hope your friend finds peace in the best way possible. Kathy goes back yo UW Medical this afternoon at 1:00 PM for her post-opp, and to hear the report on the pathology of the removals from her throat operation. It is tough sometimes getting old my friend. Certainly not something for the young… 😉
Amen to this, Rob!
Much love,
David
I could nor champion this any more fervently than I do David. I firmly believe much of the strife and stress. In the world is evidence that some adults have lost that sense of wonder, wxchanging it for something dark and aggressive. Much love to you my friend… 🙂