[at-l] Dear Earl...

[AThiker at smithville.net (Felix)]

Dear Earl,

Felix here. I've been thinking about you a lot lately, and thought I'd 
write and tell you so. It's been over a year since you've passed, now. 
Tomorrow will be two, and then ten. Such is life and death, I suppose.

You probably wouldn't remember me. We talked a few times. Mostly trivial 
things, which I like best. I made you laugh once. I'll never forget 
that. I smile now when thinking about it.

I always felt kind of sorry for you. People made you an icon, when it 
was so obvious that was the last thing you wanted to be. You graciously 
did what folks asked of you, even though it seemed to go against what 
you really, in your heart, wanted to do. I don't even think people know 
why they looked up to you. The celebrity? Maybe. Though, it was 
celebrity they put on you whether you wanted it or not. I'm not sure 
they ever saw, or knew, the real Earl.

I always liked you because you were just some old guy. Some old guy who 
hiked. You were how I hope I am, if I'm lucky enough to live that long. 
You reminded me a lot of my grandfather. I miss you for that. I miss 
him, too. He lives next door to me. Well, his body does. His mind has 
gone away, mostly. You were lucky yours didn't leave you.

You were also lucky you and David Donaldson found each other. You were 
both exactly what the other needed at that time. Life is nice when it 
lets things like that happen.

Well, I suppose I've gone on long enough. I have a shoebox in the 
basement I keep letters like this. There is one there to an uncle of 
mine who died before I got to know him well enough. There's one to a 
cousin who died far before it was fair. There's even one to me. It tells 
me who I think I am now, so I can read about it after my mind has left 
me. Maybe I'll remember it then, if I want to. Hopefully someday I'll be 
able to deliver them to you guys myself. Wouldn't that be a hoot?

Take care, Earl

Felix