Gerry Jacobson

Nostalgia

How strange that she gets in touch after all these years. She’s on a tour with her husband. Sends me an email from Arthur's Pass headed “Nostalgia” with a photo: “Here Gerry, I thought you might like to look up the Waimakariri towards the Crow once more.” Reminding me of our first climbing summer in New Zealand. How we stumbled up that great bouldery valley with packs and ropes and ice-axes, heading into the mountains. Together.

It unsettles me. I’m not sure why. Yet it is nice to be reminded of that shared adventure, to have that shared background. Something her husband doesn’t have.

grey afternoon
deepens into night
I split logs
light the fire …
listen to the rain