In Memoriam "The Great John Harrington"

 The bonds of friendship forged between work campers run deep.  It is a different kind of bond than that of lifelong friends, or neighbors who you become good friends with. It is even different than co-workers in my traditional jobs that I have become good friends with. When work campers come together and work and live together for months or weeks at a time, every now and then the bond endures. It is the kind of bond that exists with long absences. Instead of seeing each other every week or so or at family gatherings or parties, we see each other a couple of times a year if we are lucky but the bond allows us to pick right up where we left off at our last encounter, whether that last encounter was two months at a job, or 2 hours at lunch when our paths intersect during our travels. It is something only the full-time work camper can understand, and it is wonderful. 

I write today grieving for a friend who lost her husband and soulmate, I grieve at the loss of a good friend to Champ and I. Today I write to heal and remember my friend John.

John in true form. Enjoy a good craft beer with us in Austin 2017

 

John and Cathy were the first volunteers we met on our first work camping job. We connected immediately and have remained close ever since. 

I remember the first time he said Palliative Care. It was late summer; I was talking to John on the phone. They had been in Texas for a couple of months and he was rattling off a list of upcoming appointments that Cathy had arranged. His new Primary Care Dr., Physical Therapy, Palliative Care, Oncologist. He kept talking but I don't remember what he said because I was still trying to grasp Palliative Care. He was pronounced Cancer free just a few weeks ago. 

The words hit me in the way a large bug, or small rock hits me in the face when I'm riding the motorcycle. It is quick, stinging and fleeting. I pondered his casual way of slipping it into the phone conversation for days. 

When we spoke again a couple of weeks later, I asked him why he was going to see a Palliative Care doctor and he said it was to talk about the future and options for later. Again, very matter of fact and casual, but that is how John approached his entire journey with Pancreatic Cancer. Matter of fact. He faced his disease with a positive attitude and calm demeanor.  It was at that moment I realized my dear friend was going to leave us one day and my friend Cathy was going to know the pain of losing the love of her life and I cried for them both after I hung up the phone. 

That was last fall before we came back to Texas for the winter. It is January and his journey ended on Thursday the 12th. Two days after his 68th Birthday. I spent last week honored to be by Cathy's side at their home all week as we both helped John leave this life as peacefully and painlessly as possible. Hospice nurses stopped in a couple of times during the seven days but the day to day, hour to hour job was up to Cathy. She helped John, and I helped her. It was a journey like no other. One she knew she would take with John but would never be ready for. Pancreatic Cancer is merciless. 

John was larger than life at times. He moved through the world with confidence and skill. John was the kind of friend who introduced a new friend to his old friends and wanted to meet his new friends' friends.

He had the heart of a Conservationist and walked the talk. He and Cathy spent many good retirement years volunteering at Wildlife Refuges around the country, leaving everywhere they worked better than they found it. He gave freely of his time and talents and was eager to share his knowledge. His mark can be seen in nearly a dozen different refuges where he and Cathy worked, served on Friends Boards and Volunteered at events. 

John in his element. Listening for birds on one our birdwalks together

John and Cathy were a dynamic couple together. Their different skill sets and personalities complimented each other. He would say often "All our friends are welcome in our home" He was the epitome of the phrase "Mi Casa es su Casa" That's the kind of couple they were and why so many are grieving this week along with Cathy. They would often be the driving force behind Volunteer gatherings, and day off leisure time spent together. 

John was a knowledgeable birder and was always eager to share his passion with anyone interested. That is where my friendship with him began. He led my first guided group bird walk. Later he and I spent a morning together early in our friendship walking the trails at Balcones Canyonlands NWR searching for the Endangered Golden Cheek Warbler. He wanted me to see it first with him. We found them and I took some memorable photos.

 All the while he was teaching me, pointing out different calls and teaching me not only how to find birds, but what to look for when I did find them. He loved to share this and manifested his passion by leading birding tours at the Refuges. His bird walks were well attended and at Festivals he was a popular guide. One person asked once if The Great John Harrington's group still had space. For me, the name stuck. I called him that until his last day. 

I especially loved the two times they visited us in Iowa at our summer work camping gig at Saylorville Lake. We birded on my home turf and he taught me even more. It was fun to watch him bird in an unfamiliar area and he told me how much he like the area. He even entertained doing a summer with us there working for the lake, but it wasn't meant to be. 

I think about all the people we know because of John and Cathy. I also think about our other friends who we have bonded with through our work camping lifestyle and realize it truly is a family. We love each other like family, kid each other like family and will ultimately grieve for each other like family. 

To quantify someone like John one only needs one word, "Giving". He was a generous and caring husband to Cathy, friend to many and good neighbor to all who lived near him. He thrived on helping others. He was our friend and we will forever miss him. When I have birded without him, I hear his voice reminding me of different things. I will never have his six-foot human form walking through the woods with me ever again, but I will have the sound of his voice and his spirit with me always. He truly was a Great Man and a Great Friend.

I sat at his bedside in his final hours talking to him. When I went into his room during the night to check on him that last night I was saying my final goodbyes to him alone in the room with a hallway light filtering in so I could see to put drop in his eyes and swab his dry mouth. I knew it was coming and soon. That was my last moment alone with him around 2:30 am. Before I went back to bed I uttered the words "Until Next Time" and kissed him on the forehead.  I have said those words so many times to many others but that night the words felt heavy with emotion knowing that "next time" will not be planned and will be in a place that only John can comprehend now. John passed away very peacefully a few hours later in Cathy's arms. It was beautiful and heartbreaking all at once. 

Cathy, Champ and I decided to take his scope and she provided us with his binoculars. We set out from their house after breakfast on Saturday morning. Our maiden voyage to the bird trails without him.  It was a challenge to identify some things without him there to help us, but we found many species and called on his spirit to guide us. We talked about John and quipped about what he may have said as we agonized over a gull that we couldn't figure out. We laughed and remembered him as we birded. Then, at the end of the trail as we were headed back to the car, we were talking about him when a Male Northern Cardinal landed in a short scrubby bare tree just feet away and at eye level. It looked straight at Cathy, and we all stopped and knew it was him. I think he was happy and the three of us healed a small bit more in that moment.

Winter 2020 pre cancer days. Birding on a cold beach and having a great time! 

In the days and months ahead we will grieve, laugh and all learn to accept that he left us too soon. We will support Cathy and our friendship with her will grow even stronger. We will always remember and share the stories about him and he will live on in the hearts of many. I am privileged to be one of those many. 

I will miss you my friend! 

"There is no death, only a change of worlds"   Chief Seattle

John Harrington  1955 - 2023

Until Next Time...