Thursday, March 24, 2011

In Memoriam

Except from The New York Times, 30th May, 2010:

On the 26th of May 2010, writes bereavement correspondent Redwing, a small service was held at the Ed Garvey shelter in commemoration of a dear friend – Major Chafage – who so recently passed away. The funeral was followed by a wake where instant mashed potatoes, foil-packet tuna and Knorr Pasta Sides were served. John Smith, whose name has been changed in the interests of privacy, provided the entertainment. Smith, known by his trail name "Hobbes" treated guests to a performance on the acoustic guitar, performing well-known songs such as "We’ll Meet Again," "I’ll Be Missing You" by Puff Daddy, and a rare rendition of T-Pain’s "Bartender." Major Chafage, who started hiking the 2000-mile Appalachian Trail on March the 21st, was forced to leave the trail on the 25th of May, just short of the halfway mark after Harper’s Ferry, needing to take a short trip to Baltimore. He would never catch up to his friends again and was essentially dead to them. A plaque was erected in his honour. It read:
R.I.P Major Chafage
April 8th 2010 – 25th May 2010

A good, honest, witty, smart, foul-mouthed and enduring friend who, all too soon, was torn away from us by love.
Goodbye America's rose;
May you ever grow in our hearts.
You were the grace that placed itself
Where lives were torn apart.
And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind:
Never fading with the sunset
When the rain set in.
And your footsteps will always fall here,
Along Appalachia's greenest hills;
Your candle's burned out long before
Your legend ever will.
No flowers please, but gift cards to Chipotle would be greatly appreciated.

3 comments:

  1. as natures son i have to say i am completely enthralled in your story about your trip i believe i have a new goal and thats to follow in natures and your foot steps i cant wait for your next installment in the past two days i read from chapter 1 till right now and i cant get enough

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  2. well, if that's not motivation to keep writing, I don't know what is! Thank you. I hope I don't let you down.

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  3. your very welcome sir hope all is well with you

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