Whenever I hear someone say, “don’t even get me started on…”, I instinctively want to get them started. A few weeks ago at a family reunion (mom’s side) a cousin spoke that very line. I don’t always, but in that moment probed and prodded, compelled to dig deep with her and others near us. Glad I/we did. The three or four of us entered into one of those taboo/hot button/don’t go there topics…..&.. along the way learned much about each other and selves and stories. It was a well spent hour.
Not exactly sure how that led me to this, but it does/do. It’s been brewing in me for awhile to find some way to connect with family, many I don’t see in person that often. Possibly it’s being tucked in tight up here in the upper-west. Maybe it’s three plus years of super-hyper-kid-focus-mode + go-go-to-it mode and feeling some isolation. OK, isolation. Maybe it’s a need to write some thing down. Maybe it’s a bit selfish. I can say for certain it is sparked by a deep desire to reach out to all of you family. To see and be seen you know.
Many of you get the “weekly email” from my Dad. I don’t think I understood them at first, and if memory serves I may have taken a jab or two at them early on, but I like them now. They serve multiple purposes I’ve noticed. These tracks/correspondences will not be those, but will be an homage, or at the very least a tip of the hat to what my Dad’s been doing for some time =staying more connected. That said, I won’t be running down the birthdays–> won’t send out every Sat.morning (though I’ll shoot for one a week)–> some may be just a line while others will arrive in list format–> they will be missing the crosswords, but will hopefully contain a few clues.
Where I’m at is here. Just outside the city line, Bellingham, WA.
Now I’m going to press send.
–Wesley Withrow
Wesley Withrow Tracks 