Following Atticus: Forty-Eight High Peaks, One Little Dog, and an Extraordinary Friendship by Tom Ryan is published by William Morrow. It tells the story of my adventures with Atticus M. Finch, a little dog of some distinction. You can also find our column in the NorthCountry News.

Sunday, March 17, 2013

The Choices Made On One October Hike Continue To Shape My Life


Life is about choices and Will has chosen to live.
We lost a good friend recently.  The cause of death was the past.

When Atticus and I moved north from Newburyport I began my life anew.  Some would say that it wasn’t dire that I make such a drastic change because I had a pretty darn good life as it was, but after seeing what the mountains had to offer and who I was when I was in them I surrendered to our new adventure to see what would come of it.  I sold my newspaper, The Undertoad, said goodbye to many friends I wouldn’t be seeing as much of anymore, and stepped boldly (if not a bit nervously) into my new life. 

I brought only what was necessary, leaving behind many possessions, and I shocked friends by even leaving behind all the copies of The ‘Toad.  More importantly I gave myself permission to leave behind much of the stress, anger, drama, and chaos that used to fill my days. 

On one of the first afternoons Atticus and I lived in our little place just south of Franconia Notch, we set out on an afternoon hike up Cannon Mountain.  It was midweek and we had it all to ourselves.  We reached the summit, sat high atop the tower, and looked down at autumn as she spread herself beneath us everywhere we looked.  Until that day I had mostly hurried up and down every peak we climbed but something changed on that hike.

While we were on top of that viewing tower a smile slowly spread across my face, my eyes crinkled, and with only Atticus and the mountains as my witness I laughed long and hard as if I had just been told a great joke.  My little friend nudged my leg with his nose like he wanted to hear the joke as well.  I lifted him up in my arms and there we stood, slowly looking out in every direction.  His body relaxed into mine and I heard him sigh and then I did, too.  All the while that smile stayed on my face. 

The afternoon sun washed over us and we lay down on the platform, my head resting on my backpack, his on my chest, and took a nap.  I have no idea how long we slept for but when we awakened I was refreshed.  


We took our time walking down the grassy ski slopes and after a while the pine trees gave way to October’s colorful foliage and the sun dropped lower in the sky and eventually behind the mountain.  We were draped in a pleasant late afternoon shade and every now and again I found myself laughing.  How mad I must have sounded to the mountain gods that day – a man breaking out in laughter for no apparent reason. 

Throughout the afternoon we hadn’t seen another person and as we rounded a bend four souls turned their heads to look at us when they heard the laughter. We stopped where we were, Atticus sat by my side, I smiled, and gave the onlookers a wave.  They simply watched us bemusedly, I imagined, but didn’t say a word.  Then again bears don’t talk.      

We had stumbled upon a mother with her three cubs playing in the grass and when it was clear we weren’t a threat they went back to what they were doing.  When it was clear they weren’t a threat I sat down next to Atticus and we watched them frolic and tumble over one another.  Occasionally the mother bear would give us a look but seemed to give us very little thought otherwise.  We must have sat watching them for half an hour on that perfect afternoon. 

It was on that day that I finally understood I had escaped a life that wasn’t bad, but wasn’t the life I was meant to lead.  When that family of bears disappeared into the woods we made our way down the lower stretches of the mountain and I made a promise to myself. 

In spite of what some of the critics of my newspaper would say – or those I exposed, I’m no fool.  I understood then, as I do now, that life throws a lot at us and we can’t escape the ups and downs that challenge us.  We can, however, decide which ones to deal with.  I decided then and there that the only drama I would allow in my life was the kind that was unavoidable.  The real life and death kind.  People get sick or hurt or lose their jobs or their homes.  Life happens and it's not always pretty.  You can't avoid that kind of thing.


 
Not long ago the woman I love asked me, “Don’t you worry about anything?” 

“Yes,” I said.  “I worry about you and Atti and Will but that’s about it.” 

On that October day five years ago I swore off negative people and those who didn’t add much to my life so that I could better appreciate those who did.  I let go of much of whatever it was I was angry about from my past and came to the realization I was responsible for carrying it with me all those years.

Bobby Kennedy loved quoting Aeschylus, “And no one was angry enough to speak out.”  The Undertoad was many things and it helped shape a city but part of that came from my being “angry enough to speak out.”  However, its impact came with a cost. 

Each day brought something new to be angry about, people who loved chaos and lies, and I found myself choosing to live in the darker shades of life.  A lot of good came out of it all in the community I loved.  Lies and scoundrels were exposed; heroes celebrated.  But trying to right many wrongs for eleven years in a seething little city took its toll on me.  Nietzsche wrote, “Be careful when you fight monsters, lest you become one.”  At my best I did wonderful things; at my worst I looked into the mirror and saw too much that I didn’t like.

And that’s why I was laughing on Cannon Mountain.  I finally gave myself permission to leave that old life behind.  Like a snake I shed my old skin and I could feel the past dropping away. 

A renewed man was born on that hike and I was free to choose what I wanted to be and do for the rest of my life.  I’d fought my battles and demons outside and in, but the mountains gave me a new chance.  By following Atticus over thousands of miles and hundreds of mountains I discovered my bliss and learned to enjoy life's simpler pleasures.

Since that day I’ve done my best to ignore the unnecessary stresses. The old newspaperman in me can see a toxic person from a mile away and I steer clear of them whenever I get the chance.  In my Undertoad days I was quite outspoken.  If you’ve ever seen me at a book signing you’ll know that part of me still exists, but it comes with a smile these days.  Deep within, however, I reserve my old edginess for those who aren’t so nice and I guard my happiness and those I care about with all I’m worth. 

So recently when a friend who meant a great deal to us repeatedly exhibited that they couldn’t let go of their drama-filled past and actually continued to welcome it into their life in a way that impacted our friendship I made a difficult decision.  I knew I had no right to ask that person to change, so I made the choice to say goodbye.

It’s not easy to lose a friend because lord knows true ones are hard to come by and I didn’t take my decision lightly.  It only came after we had many discussions. 

Not an hour goes by where I am not saddened by the loss of our friend.  But here’s the thing, I don’t question my decision.
 

 
Life is too short for the things that don’t and shouldn’t matter.  More importantly we define our lives by the choices we make and the boundaries we keep.

Whenever I’m weary over the loss of our friend something I do several times a day reminds me what’s important and how I should live.  As many of you know, Will cannot make it up and down the stairs on his own and we live on the second floor.  Whenever he has to go to the bathroom I gently hoist him up and we hug each other, his head next to mine, and I carry him outside.  This was something that was impossible and dangerous to do in those first days we were together.  Will had been abandoned and was in great pain. He was angry and came with his own wagonload of drama and I knew to avoid his teeth whenever I tried to pick him up.  Back in May, when he first arrived, he didn’t like being touched all that much or carried and my hands still carry the scars of that first couple of months. 

Today you wouldn’t know he’s the same dog.  Gone is the anger and the pain.  Gone is the resentment and his own share of drama.  He let it go and let love and trust and a new life in. 

So you see, whenever Will is cradled in my arms I’m reminded of the me I saw on Cannon Mountain that October day.  We both arrived here in the White Mountains a bit worse for wear and had to figure out how to get to where we needed to be.  

Life is made up of choices.  I made a choice that day and continue to choose a better life than the one I used to lead.  Since he came to live with us Will has made the same choices and that has made all the difference - in both of our lives.
  

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing.

Silvia G. Soos-Kazel said...

Beautifully written article with such wise words to incorporate in one's own life. I compliment you Tom Ryan for your courage to choose to live a simple, but so blissful a lifestyle. Thank you for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Tom, this is absolutely beautifu and a great lesson shared for everyone of us who has carried some "baggage" from the past. It is time to put down the old suitcases and walk slowly into the mystery.

Jill said...

This blog is one of your most beautifully written pieces! I hope your "lost friend" finds what you and Will have found.....peace and harmony from within. Namaste!

colleen said...

You always make me reflect. I have had cause to reflect a lot lately, losing my beloved Dad this past Christmas Eve, still having my Mom with us, and being so grateful that we, as a family, all five daughters, love her will all our might. It is such a pleasure to reflect on our past life as a family, and know that what we have done in the past is there for us all to remember with pleasure. Thanks Tom for reminding us all to take pleasure in our thoughts, to embrace them or delete them.
Colleen

Kathy H said...

Happy St. Patrick's Day Tom, Atti and Will. Love reading the posts and enjoying your photos. Kathy H

Anonymous said...

How I enjoy your writings about you (Tom) Atticus, and Will. Today's is very profound and is what I have been trying to do since I moved to the mountains nearly 10 years ago. Keep up the good work.

pam and the ojai pack said...

Love this Blog...one of your best, so far....Thank you Tom for sharing this with us today....

Anonymous said...

Tom, once again you give me something to reflect on. I too have decided to say goodbye to a friend who is toxic. It's hard but I know it's the right thing to do. Thank you for your wonderful way with words. Please give Atti and Will a hug from me. Pam S.

Cyndy Kirk said...

Tom this is so beautifully written and inspirational. You have such a wonderful outlook on life, and we all benefit from your sharing! Will is such a lucky little guy to have found you, and of course you and your family have been blessed by him as well.

Adair said...

Your beautiful words came to me at a time when I really needed them. I have struggled with a decision I have made a few years ago and I have felt particular weak and shattered with this lately. Your words have renewed the conviction that I truly did make the best choice for myself. Thank you!

Anonymous said...

About 2 years ago, I too, made the extremely difficult choice to let go of a long time, very dear friend, whom I loved like a sister. The way you described that experience in this blog was helpful to me. Thank you!

Kristyl said...

Excellent Blog, Tom. I love the caption in the photo. I've recently stopped communicating with a few people I've associated with who called themselves my friends for years. Others I had a talk with and worked things out to an understanding. But you can always tell underneath, who really cares, and who despises you...and yes, we need to let go of the toxins in all forms to carry on and be happier in life. Much like Will, I have had many trust issues and still do. But I'm working on it. I let people in very slowly and very guarded. There are four little dogs here that are my world and they come first. Everything else revolves around them. And so be it. And on that note...have a Happy St. Pat's Day. I saw a fantastic looking Shepherd's pie on one of the sites...made with lentils instead of meat. May try it today~ Love to you and your clan...Keep up the great writing and photography, and waiting rather impatiently for your next book...;)

Carter W Rae said...

Thanks Tom . As usual you define the limits and boundless beauties of the life we have been blessed with I cannot tell you how much the FB page and the blog means to me and so many of us. We all have baggage, we just need to choose what to do with it and celebrate the good .. Blessings to you and the pack we all again thank you for choosing to share it !!!(((HUGS)) to Atticus and Will

Donna Wallis said...

Tom Ryan, YOU never cease to amaze me. When I read your words a feeling of peace overwhelms me. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful blog today! Such thought provoking words. Have been wrestling with the idea of dropping out of a group that I have been part of for over 20 years because of the actions of 1 member. Tough decision with lots of prayers for guidance.

Sandy Didner said...

I am about to teach a cause and effect unit to my College Freshman English 1101 class. May I use your essay as a sample of the effect nature has on us? I plan to begin the unit with this quote from Mark Helprin"s book Swan Lake: Who would deny that in forests hidden in a crown of mountains, of sheltered places, there are charged landscapes that can put together broken hearts, or at least keep them from shattering into pieces.
I would love to follow that passage with your blog and then ask the students to name a landscape that has had such an effect upon them.
I had a similar experience as the one you describe when I visited Great Trunk Bay in St. John's in the Virgin Islands. The scene was so breathtaking I sat on the beach and could not leave until I wrote a poem about the magnificent vista.
Many of my students are immigrants and are either very homesick or amazed by Florida's topography, cleanliness,(compared to Haiti, Columbia, or Cuba) and climate (compared to Roumania and Sweden).
Your blog also hit a resonant chord with me because I live in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania from May until August, and I miss my green peaks, my bears which browse from my bird feeders, the deer which eat from my hands, and the turkeys which waddle across my back yard. While I like Florida, my heart belongs in the mountains which is why I first read your book. I also think a writer cannot create great literature unless he or she has a dog. When I walk my dogs, you see, I carry a notebook and while they sniff and deliver their peemail I think and write down my thoughts. Dogs and Mother Nature: what else does a writer need?

Katherine said...

What an wonderfully inspiring article...and so full of truth. And, as always, I simply love the way you express yourself....love your writing style. Thank you for all you share!

stoltzfusj said...

Beautifully written with so many truths. Hits a “nerve” on so many levels, that it brings tears to my eyes. Thank you!

Anne K said...

Always beautiful and though-provoking. Thank you for sharing your life with us.

M said...

Hi Tom,
Thank you for sharing your life's story with us. I hope to find my 'White Mountains' some day, it all starts with a vision and a goal.

I was wondering, is the picture at the top of the blog Franconia Ridge?

Anonymous said...

This is an excellent post.

Anonymous said...

Boy can I relate to that. After a long friendship with a friend since the age of 12, I finally had to make the hard decision to end the relationship due to my feeling that she was toxic to my life. She was unable to hear the feedback and as a result I had to abruptly end the relationship 2 years ago. I still think of her often and sometimes have regrets for having done it, but upon further introspection I remind myself of the negativity and "victimhood" she brought into the relationship as well as her selfishness. I continue to mourn the loss and amd saddened, but I do not miss her "drama" and recognize the importance of surrounding oneself with healthy people. Thankyou so much for verifying with your story that what I did was ok!

Animales Omnivoros said...

Thank you for all you share!