Cairns and a love letter* for the ages
*Shared with wife’s permission.
Allow me to start by acknowledging that I have the tremendous privilege of living and working with the love of my life, and she is an extraordinary partner.
Generous, smart, independent, multi-talented, relentless, creative, funny, resourceful, and loyal.
I respect the hell out of this phenomenal woman and trust her more than anyone I’ve ever met. Some of you are lucky enough to know her too.
In a harrowing story that I'll have to write about another time, she also rescued me from a foreign country where I was in deep trouble — afflicted with double pneumonia and HAPE (high altitude pulmonary edema).
Suffice it to say, wife not only always has my back, but also quite literally saved my life.
During the pandemic, we moved into a house with a small courtyard outside of its home office.
For my birthday, she constructed a pedestal upon which she set a stack of rocks.
She also presented a handwritten card that explained in the most romantic manner imaginable:
The view from my home office of her sweet birthday present cairn.
R.,
As you well know, throughout history, travelers/hikers/explorers/mountaineers have spontaneously collaborated with strangers in building cairns by piling random stones to indicate paths and collectively help everyone navigate.
These cairns identify the trail when circumstances are confusing, function as directional markers pointing the way, and represent safety, hope, and—most importantly—assurance that you are going in the right direction.
I trust that this particular cairn intentionally placed within your line of sight will serve as a steadfast symbol, guiding beacon, and poignant reminder that home is where your family lives, where your beloved dog anxiously awaits your return with eager anticipation, and where your favorite tangible items ranging from the ordinary to sentimental (including your preferred bed, sparkling mineral water, grill, toilet paper, coffee beans, music, fountain pen, car, desk, scotch, cigars, art, lighted medicine cabinet, running shoes, chair, silk neckties, workout equipment, airport, first date restaurant, outdoor gear, showerhead, cough drops, backyard view, mom’s Stroganoff recipe, leather wallet, shaving cream, steak knives, books, snacks, down pillows, cufflinks, hiking pants, etc.) gathered in the course of a beautiful life stand ready to offer their mutual welcome along with the general relief, comfort, and cozy sense of familiarity you crave after completing your journey and goals…
Of course, if you need yet another and more significant reason, never forget the intangible—especially the warm embrace of the one who carries your heart in her heart.
You have accomplished amazing feats personally and professionally, accumulated good friends, maintained supreme integrity through the best and worst of times, and cultivated impeccable and specific taste. I know who you are and what you have done, and am so proud of both.
If you ever become disoriented out in the wilderness or on a business trip or simply lose track of the cairn’s call for whatever reason, do not worry—I remain wholeheartedly committed to finding and bringing you home.
Go forth and rest easy in your working and adventuring knowing that my love is unbounded and still goes over mountains to any far-flung place or lackluster hotel conference room on Earth as necessary to get you back to where you belong.
♡ Always, R
