I am unsure how long I have known Gregory as we met when I was a child and at that point every one is just old to you even though I now realize he was was likely quite young when we met.
Gregory was part of my beloved Independence Valley farm community.
He was there along side Betsie at every potluck, birthday party, game night, dance party, natural disaster/flooding clean up and other events. I grew up playing in his back yard, waving at him on the porch, wandering through his barn, wandering into the house often unannounced just dropping by on a neighbor. I never thought about where he came from or that one day he would die. He was one with the Valley, ever living, ever there changing with each season.
I remember learning he had a life out side the valley and was dear friends with Debby and Keith ( who lived in Olympia) who were my friends! I Remember finding out as a young adult that Keith and Gregory had been friends for years and that their children were friends. I had known both these people for years and never had a clue. I was shocked but also delighted.
Betsie and Gregory invited me and my friend Cylas to go back packing when I was in my teens. What a blast. I slid down a snow bank twice. I have no clue if I scared my chaperones, looking back that must have been scary but they played it cool. if there are pictures from that time I do not have any. (Bets here: I found one! It’s below.) We hid in our tent from mosquitos playing cards!
My memory’s are so fond of that time. I remember thinking, “The Valley grandparents are so cool.” I never told Gregory that I sort of thought of him in this way.
It’s only been in the last two years that I have gone from relating to Gregory almost as if he was part of the land and me just a little fuzzy animal also on the land. This came when I invited him to both my wedding and baby shower. We got to be two humans for those last two years.
I was so overjoyed that Gregory came to my wedding. He and Betsie danced so hard, what a young spirit he has.
I did not get to see Gregory at my baby shower because he died right before we had it. Now my baby boy sits in our living room enjoying the beautiful mobile that Gregory and Betsie made for him.
Miss you, thanks for being one of the people who helped raise me in the valley.
River