It seems like Good Friday is an appropriate day for this first book review. And “review” is in the loosest sense of the term.

I finished the book Heaven is for Real last week, and I’ve been rolling it around in my head since then. It’s about a boy who nearly dies from an exploded appendix who took a trip to heaven. It’s written by his dad as details came to light for the next few years after his boy’s surgery.

It’s a fascinating read, and I won’t say much more than that. I think this book is highly individualistic. A lot of books are, but a topic like heaven…it’s going to touch people in a million different ways. And even if you don’t believe all that you read in this book, it will make you think regardless of your personal views on heaven.

You’re going to think I’m joking, and I’m not going to blame you because it sounds far out. But this obituary totally made my Friday. Read the whole thing; I think at the end you’ll wish you had known this fellow, just the same as I did.

Dandelion B. Treecraft died August 4, 2011
Born: April 30, 1949, Fresno, California,
Dam: Nina Isabel Guard, a shy, rural North Carolina girl, graduated from the University of North Carolina at age 18.
Sire: Vernon Willard Whipple, a dangerous-charming Fresno boy who managed to graduate from Fresno High School.

Christened “Daniel Bryan Whipple” at his birth, in Fresno, California, Dan endured 13 mind-numbing years of public schooling in California, Washington, and Florida before enlisting in the US Coast Guard during the Vietnam War. Thereafter, he worked as a carpenter, and a wood tank “cooper” in Fresno. After divorcing Leta, his wife of six years [formerly, his step-mother for 12 years], Dan moved to Spokane in June, 1980, and took up, promptly, with a former babysitter from his grade-school years. This was two weeks after Mt. Saint Helens’ historic off-topping.\

A short stint with the Spokane City garbage collection squad was followed by a similarly-short hitch, ‘cold-canvassing’ for one of Spokane’s leading predatory roofing and siding contractors. That invaluable vocational experience was followed by six years employment at an industrial transformer manufacturing plant – which failed to lead to tenure, as the company moved its facility to North Carolina to take advantage of a lower-wage environment.

In late 1980, Mr. Treecraft joined the Spokane Unitarian Church, whose very active singles group had a surplus of women 10 to 20 years his senior. This was truly a golden era for Dan. He eventually graduated from the Unitarian Church in 1997, with a degree of Critical Thinking. A doldrum period of employment coincided in the late –80s, and included a brief attempt to enter the medical industry as a nurse-aide. This proved, after all, not to be a good fit, as Dan felt compelled to take half of his charges home to provide more adequate personal nurturance, while the remainder, he felt, should be taken out over-night, and shot.

From 1991 until 2009, having found his calling, Dan employed himself as an arborist, changed his legal name, and attempted to make an honest living providing ethical tree care. Anyone who’s attempted to make a living – ethically – can attest that it is no small feat. Mr. Treecraft’s scorecard, here, looks fairly good – if graded on a –curve’. He was pleased, though, that many of his clients also became enduring friends.

In 1991, while pruning an ancient apple tree for a frugal-but-charming South Hill matron, Dan met his second-wife-to-be. Nearly eight years passed, before she managed to come to Dan’s attention again. Jan and Dan were married on the Autumnal Equinox, 2001, a pot luck affair which drew a crowd of well under one thousand.

The next nine years passed in what appeared to be sublime, flawless bliss. Both Treecrafts were generally satisfied to let that appearance prevail. It was a period of considerable inner growth, especially for Jan. For Dan, it was a time of great inner testing. The result was, after all, a passably agreeable relationship for a near-decade. No small feat in this day.

In the Fall of 2008, Dan noticed a mild, chronic sore throat, and some difficulty swallowing. The symptoms persisted, eventually joined by others, until Dan finally agreed to see a doctor in February, 2010. Examination and biopsy revealed a tumor of some advanced development. A course of “no treatment” was decided upon and followed, until such time as the discomfort and dysfunction of his illness directed Dan to thoughtfully and humanely end his tenure. Jan stood by him throughout the eleven-month duration of his winding-down process, walking all the way – to the very edge – with him.

Some fuss has been made of Treecraft’s social and political activism. This aspect of his life has been significantly exaggerated, though it’s true he took pride in his pivotal role – forcing Alberto Gonzales to resign as head of the United States Justice Department’s team of international war criminals. Dan was also exceedingly proud of being ousted from several dozen Spokane City Council meetings, by Council President Joe Shogan.

Besides his wife, Jan, Mr. Treecraft is survived by their dog, Skippy, Cuckoo, the cat, Jan’s adult son, Max, Jan’s daughter, Molly, and Molly’s 4-year-old son, Ezra. Dan also leaves a half-brother, Bill Whipple, seven step-siblings [ too numerous and far-flung to name - Bobby, Jackie, Eddy, Sally, Nancy, Tommy and Susan ], and an unknown number of nieces and nephews. Dan had no children of his own [ if he did, not one of them ever called or wrote ].

Burial will be at Worley Township Cemetery 10:00 a.m., Saturday, August 6, 2011. A caravan of grave-digging friends and well-wishers are expected to provide funereal talent, shovels, sweat, cheer, graveside manners. Eulogizers of quick-witted brevity are welcome to speak. Long-winded droners may be stoned and used as backfill. Bring a picnic lunch to share, and something to sit on. Please consider carpooling. It is hoped this event might inspire and bring together a few good people from across the county.

Those wanting to make memorial gifts are asked to give generously to the Spokane Center For Justice.

Now I said that the Lord loves the drinking man, but I never said that I thought the Lord approves of all the drinking man’s actions. But that applies to all of us. I know the Lord loves Aaron Watson, but He doesn’t always love the way I act. In defense of the crazy drunk, at least he sort of has an excuse for his actions. When I act like an idiot there’s no one to blame but me! No whiskey, no wine, just that guy in the mirror staring back at me. ~ Barbed Wire Halo Blog by Aaron Watson

I was reading Barbed Wire Halo blog this morning, and I was struck by how many points made me pull up and ponder. Here’s a guy who tours the country, singing country, to a whole bunch of folks, and he’s giving me more food for thought than the preacher does during the Sunday service.

Two thoughts resulted from my reading this morning:

1. Maybe I need to find a new preacher.
2. Aaron Watson’s message works, because it’s real, down-to-earth and not preachy.

Oh, and a third thing, why aren’t folks more like him? And when I say “folks”, I mean “me”.

* To put credit where credit is due, I wouldn’t have stumbled across Barbed Wire Halo Blog if not for a tweet by Ryan Goodman. Per usual, I live under a rock and never find the cool things on my own.

I listened to Michael Pollan speak once at Washington State University. I hadn’t read any of his books, but I’d read some reviews and a few articles he’d been quoted in. The thing I remember most about his speech that night was how one-dimensional it was, and I decided I wanted to read some of Pollan’s books to learn more about the way he reached his conclusions.

Well, that was a year or two ago now. It’s time I kick this in gear.

I just cracked open The Omnivore’s Dilemma, A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan, and read through the introduction. Based on his speech and the quotes I’ve seen him make, I expect there will be things in this book I disagree with.

However, flipping through the introduction has also revealed there are things I do agree with. Things like: “a notably unhealthy people [Americans] obsessed with the idea of eating healthily” and “a great many of the health and environmental problems created by our food system owe to our attempts to oversimplify nature’s complexities”. (The latter being an issue in food systems from the beginning of humanity, in my opinion. I marvel every day at the complexity of nature; it is one of its beauties.)

I don’t suppose everyone will agree with my opinions* and thoughts over the course of my book review, and that is okay. I’m curious to see what I find in The Omnivore’s Dilemma. I’m curious to see how I react to some of what is in this book. Mostly, I’m curious to see what I agree with and where my views differ.

* All opinions expressed are my own. Discussion is welcome, but as always, please keep it professional and respectful!