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Subject: enjoyed reading your blog on tracker school etc
From: Anonymous
Date: October 6, 2008 2:52:45 PM EDT

Hello, Al,

I read your blog, enjoyed your photos, and checked out your website.

Fact is, I haven't been to the school for years and wondered how it was doing, who was there, how new students were seeing it. Sounds about the same. The arguments are the same, the observations are the same. And the letters to you by insulted and defensive campers is about the same.

As for me, I loved learning what I learned and made some great friends with whom I am still in touch. I still can't look out without wondering about the animals I'm not seeing and some that I do see, listening for the individual sounds among the cacophony of wildnerness noise, taking time to look up and out when I rush out into the day's business.

Oh, and I butted heads at classes too, more than once and more than one instructor including Tom. And that was okay too. Learned something else in that, about standing up and speaking up and respecting others, realizing I'm not in their shoes, not now and not when they were kids, forming up into whatever their minds have wrapped around now making their reality what it is, 'right' or 'wrong'.

Also, I enjoyed everything you wrote, everything! It was a hoot! Heck, if you pleased everyone, you'd be doing something wrong. And for those who got all shook up by your perspectives, they need to not take themselves or their beliefs too darn serious. Attachments are liabilities and don't allow change. Another fact is, you are true to yourself and how can a person not respect that?!! Thanks for your candor, your humor and for not cleaning up what you felt about your experience. I enjoyed the adventure through your eyes.

Ciao, Baby!
Live long and prosper!

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Thanks, Anonymous, for reading and your support. I think what got lost in my review of that experience was that if it didn't mean anything to me, I wouldn't have taken the time to publish such a detailed report.

.al