Eight years ago, about a year after I came to California, I met a girl. That girl became the love of my life. She introduced me to the male figure that she was extremely close to. The patriarch of a very loving family, and father of four. He was very funny, and highly abrasive. You never doubted where you stood with this man, and I quickly grew close to him as well. He never tried to change the actions of others, but let you know in an instant if he disagreed with them, and then it was over, never to be heard about again. He loved his family more than I've ever seen, and they loved him back just as much. I guess you could say that about me and my beloved as well. For me, it was as much as a person can about a man that's not family, but was accepted into the family extension with open arms.
Well, my little extended family out here in California has suffered a great loss and life out here was rough for a while. I never knew how much a man's death could affect me until I was faced with his passing. I mean, yeah, we all knew it would happen eventually, hell even his doctor told him that he had no idea why he was still alive and kicking as hard as he did. He suffered a few heart attacks, had diabetes, and various other maladies. All while smoking cigarettes, drinking, and puffin the smoke- a LOT of smoke... That's what we think kept him so clear, and mobile for so long. He never... and I mean NEVER stopped moving unless he was asleep, which wasn't much.
All we know for sure is that he passed in the night, quietly, and they found him the next morning... with a fuckin' grin on his face. In a last bit of humor, his death certificate was filled out with is name misspelled: LOL! It figures, right? even in death he made us laugh one last time.
After the dust settled, it was decided that I should receive his seeds. *ME*?!? Seriously?!? Sheesh! So I accepted them along with some of his ashes to take home. I've been sitting on them for a couple of weeks, now, (the seeds, not the ashes) trying to get up the courage to do them justice.
Well, I finally went and did it. This morning ends the "wintering" and they are now sitting in a dome in a warm place on some wet paper towels. We shall see how well they do in the coming days, and I will record it all here.
I have taken up the task, at the urging of my beloved, and one of his daughters, of growing them. I have decided to also make a cross of these seeds, and stabilizing it. This summer, during the family camping get-together, I will unveil it to the rest of the family, and we will smoke to his life, his deeds, his memory, and his passing.
You are getting a sneak peek, here. What they don't know, is that I will name it after him as well, if it stabilizes well: "Darly". They'll get a kick out of the misspelling!
I will be giving out the seeds to everyone in the family, once it is finished in a few years, and I'm hoping we will plant them on the family property, to grow wild, and live free, just as he did. Of course, I will keep a good supply here to grow out for each get together, so he can always be with us while camping together each year.
It's the best way I know to keep his memory alive in myself, and continue to share his joy that he always spread around so freely to those he loved. The art from his hands, and turtles may have stopped appearing in random places- His whistling random tunes, and lilting humming, won't be heard anymore- We will never laugh with his insane jokes, or random observances about how "...the world is going to shit," but his soul healing legacy will live on through his seeds left behind. My greatest hope is that each year, he continues to touch each of us, if not physically, then spiritually, through those seeds left among is things.
Gawds, I hope I get this right.
There were 28 unknown seeds. All of varying size, and color/markings. I'm guessing these were random seeds from his growing, and will need grading, and blending to get a perfect strain. I'm working with the completely unknown, here.
These were 36 hours "Wintered" and are out for 8 hours in the warmth. Shown below, sorted by size.
(Click for Original)
Well, my little extended family out here in California has suffered a great loss and life out here was rough for a while. I never knew how much a man's death could affect me until I was faced with his passing. I mean, yeah, we all knew it would happen eventually, hell even his doctor told him that he had no idea why he was still alive and kicking as hard as he did. He suffered a few heart attacks, had diabetes, and various other maladies. All while smoking cigarettes, drinking, and puffin the smoke- a LOT of smoke... That's what we think kept him so clear, and mobile for so long. He never... and I mean NEVER stopped moving unless he was asleep, which wasn't much.
All we know for sure is that he passed in the night, quietly, and they found him the next morning... with a fuckin' grin on his face. In a last bit of humor, his death certificate was filled out with is name misspelled: LOL! It figures, right? even in death he made us laugh one last time.
After the dust settled, it was decided that I should receive his seeds. *ME*?!? Seriously?!? Sheesh! So I accepted them along with some of his ashes to take home. I've been sitting on them for a couple of weeks, now, (the seeds, not the ashes) trying to get up the courage to do them justice.
Well, I finally went and did it. This morning ends the "wintering" and they are now sitting in a dome in a warm place on some wet paper towels. We shall see how well they do in the coming days, and I will record it all here.
I have taken up the task, at the urging of my beloved, and one of his daughters, of growing them. I have decided to also make a cross of these seeds, and stabilizing it. This summer, during the family camping get-together, I will unveil it to the rest of the family, and we will smoke to his life, his deeds, his memory, and his passing.
You are getting a sneak peek, here. What they don't know, is that I will name it after him as well, if it stabilizes well: "Darly". They'll get a kick out of the misspelling!
I will be giving out the seeds to everyone in the family, once it is finished in a few years, and I'm hoping we will plant them on the family property, to grow wild, and live free, just as he did. Of course, I will keep a good supply here to grow out for each get together, so he can always be with us while camping together each year.
It's the best way I know to keep his memory alive in myself, and continue to share his joy that he always spread around so freely to those he loved. The art from his hands, and turtles may have stopped appearing in random places- His whistling random tunes, and lilting humming, won't be heard anymore- We will never laugh with his insane jokes, or random observances about how "...the world is going to shit," but his soul healing legacy will live on through his seeds left behind. My greatest hope is that each year, he continues to touch each of us, if not physically, then spiritually, through those seeds left among is things.
Gawds, I hope I get this right.
There were 28 unknown seeds. All of varying size, and color/markings. I'm guessing these were random seeds from his growing, and will need grading, and blending to get a perfect strain. I'm working with the completely unknown, here.
These were 36 hours "Wintered" and are out for 8 hours in the warmth. Shown below, sorted by size.
(Click for Original)
Good lookin' out, though
That's okay... I write like I'm still 25, so I get that a lot. 
JS
