The Bitterness of November and a Tribute to My Cousin Dave

Every November, but especially on Thanksgiving I think mostly of my cousin Dave who was one of my best friends. I am very thankful for the time I had with him and all the I learned from him.

A Life Belongs To Everyone

It was a cold November night, November 26, 2001 to be exact. I was with my best friend Liz, who was also my roommate at the time. We were playing video games at our apartment. The phone rang and I answered it. My mom was on the phone. Her voice sounded strange and her words were hard to make out, but I paid no attention to it. She told me she was coming over to give me something and that she would be over soon. I quickly ended the phone conversation and ran back to the couch and continued playing video games.

Not too much later a knock came to the door. I opened it and not just my mom came, but my dad and brother as well. Being surprised why they had all come, I invited them in and realized that they had no object to give me. I looked at them blankly yet puzzled and in my mind started to question what it was that they had come over for. After a moment of a silent stare my mom began to speak as a tear rolled down her face and dripped off her chin. She got off a short sentence before she couldn't speak any longer “Debi, your cousin Dave shot himself.” My mind instantly flashed to images as to what the scene would have been. I saw him rabbit hunting, as we always did, and his gun accidentally going off and shooting his leg. To me he was going to be just fine, but as the images in my head had begun to fade and reality started to strike, I knew what she meant. He had commited suicide.

My mom started to approach me to give me a hug, but I sharply pulled away from her. I sat back down in front of the television wanting to ignore the fact that my cousin, one of my best friends who I had grown up with, was now dead. I wanted to deny and completely foreget what I had just heard and go back to playing video games. My dad and brother didn't say anything except goodbye as they walked out the door. Liz sat down next to me and put her hand on my shoulder tying to comfort me, but that was the last thing I wanted. My heart hurt more deeply than any pain I had ever felt. I had no idea how to react. All I knew is that I had just lost something very dear to me and I hurt beyond what I could comprehend. Tears were worthless, screaming was senceless, and grieving was an understatement.


As the years have gone by and thinking back, I have come to an acceptance of the tragic loss. I love my cousin Dave and can't wait to see him on that beautiful day in heaven, but until then he will be always in my heart.

David Michael Herring
June 19, 1981- November 26, 2001.

He's back!

For those of you who didn't know, my brother Ryan, (Rowdy) as of November 17, is home from his mission. He has yet to adapt to the cold November weather but he is enjoying being back. I am also very happy that he's home.

Zions

11:30 came around last Friday night and we all piled out of the van. There was 10 of us from my wilderness skills class including my teacher and TA and we left 3 other people back at our campsite. We were in Zions National Park, the weather was perfect and there just so happend to be a beautiful, gigantic, almost full moon above us. Jackets were put on, camlebacks were strapped, and away we went up Angles Landing using only moonlight to see.

What chains? That question came into my head over and over. The hike leader wanted each of us to completely understand what we were in for when he said "It gets steap and you'll have to use the chains!" I understood what steep meant or that's what I thought until we got to the last half mile of Angles Landing. I didn't quite understand "use the chains" or what I was getting myself into until I personally got to meet the long metal chains that saved my life. The trail was not existant, and was straight up on sandy slick rocks with cliffs on both sides of you. You grabbed those chains and you pulled yourself up. It was the best and most intense hike I have ever done.

We got back to camp that night about 2:30 and was completely exhausted. We colapsed in our tents until about 8:00 in the morning when some idiot in our camp started yelling "breakfast, come and eat. Eggs, bacon, what ever, get out of bed!" I was the last to stumbled out of bed and eat and by the time I got a plate of food it was time to go hiking again.

We split up into 2 groups. My group consisted of 5 people and went to the narrows. Every one else was in the second group and they went to observation point. My group got dropped off at the trail head and we hiked in the narrows for about 2 to 3 miles. The hike was a river hike and so we were in about 30 degree water hiking up stream. Our feet and our legs up just passed our knees was completely knumb from the cold. The magnificent cliffs the lined both sides of the river were beautiful, but they blocked direct sunlight which made it even colder. When we got out of the narrows we stopped in the sun to take our shoes and socks off. We then walked the winding road several miles down to find the rest of our group. I think we hiked about 15 to 18 miles total on the trip.

We all had a great time in Zions and I learned so much. I learned more than just camping and hiking skiills and what I did learn I don't believe I could have learned it any other way.

If you ever get a chance to visit Zions, you have to hike Angels Landing. You will love it!