Post
by some seeing eye » Mon Dec 09, 2024 5:37 pm
DR posted this on FB:
Danger Ranger
5 days ago ·
– Harold Webster –
1944 to 2024
May he rest in peace.
Harold was diagnosed with a fatal degenerative disease in the early 1990s. He made good use of his remaining time and attended Burning Man more than a dozen times during his final years. He was craftsman and also had a pilot’s license. An avid hunter and gardener, he was an independent person who lived off the land. He published several cook books. His playa name was Meat Hunter. An interesting and friendly character, we had many deep discussions at Burning Man.
"There were no brief, shallow exchanges with (Harold Webster). All the communiques were like this, and his manner had the effect of making you feel like you were very important to him somehow, and deserving of great and thoughtful detail and consideration."
-Andie Grace
Here is a compilation of the correspondence that I received from Harold over the past 4 years:
“Danger Ranger,
About forty years ago I made myself four chests to keep my tools in. Unlike so many late 29 something's that sit and complain all the time, my young burner friend Mary Sterling works so hard at learning her profession and needed some place to keep her growing number of professional climbing tools, so I made four chests for her. Back when I made my four chests, I think that I made and varnished them in four days. Now, with the rotting bones in my back; it was work for 20 minutes and then sit horizontal for 45 minutes. Working as fast as I could, it still took me more than two weeks to make and varnish these four chests. Even with the delay, I had a grand time and I know that Mary needs and wants them and that makes it all worthwhile.
Anne, my wife, is moving into an up-market retirement village that will have step down care. We could not afford for both of us to live there. Until I decide what I am going to do, I will remain living here. I am 77 years old and I do not think that I will live much past age 89 or 12 more years. If a younger burner friend or burner family offered me the opportunity to live with them in a platonic relationship and contribute as a family member for the remainder of my life, I would take them up on the offer in a heartbeat. Part of the deal would be that they would take care of me until the end. An arrangement such as this could be a positive good for all concerned. If you run across anyone that you would trust that might be interested in this type of arrangement, let me know.
Thank you once again for sending me More Burning Man Multiverse stickers. You and I 'met' at BM 2015. I was walking out of the Commissary, you were walking by, and both nodded.
In the fall of 1996, the publisher of my first book made arrangements and sent me to QVC television network to do a cooking show. I prepared all the meats here in Jackson and vacuum packed them. Before the show, I dropped the bags in pots of hot water to warm them. In the short time that I was on the air, over 10,000 copies of the book were sold. I thought that number was great. QVC did not think agree and did not invite me back. So much for my 5 minutes of fame. Someone made a VHS tape of the show and sent it to me. A Burner friend of mine (Chris Martian) has just digitized that twenty-four year old VHS tape and installed it on YouTube. You might be wondering what I did with all the food. Other presenters and the QVC staff finished them off. All I had to do was to wash-up, pack the dishes in a suitcase and fly back home.
You have seen me write about having a burst stimulator installed in my back. After spending 4 years in increasing pain relief procedures, I am now at the point where my doctor is going to implant some test electrodes in my back. If they work, then he will proceed with the full installation. I will have a little device that when my back hurts, I turn it on and the pain is supposed to stop. If it does not work, then the test probes will be removes and I will be back where I am now.
A local person suggested that since I am over 65 years old and live in rural part of the county that I would quality for the Meals on Wheels Program. One hot meal a day (which I am told is enough for 2+ meals) would be great. First time that I will take government assistance in my life. Not really the first time. A few years ago, Mississippi Emergency Management got a chunk of money from FEMA to construct storm shelters on private property. I applied and was one of the lucky grant recipients before the money was gone.
You have been so thoughtful to have sent me so many "Happy Letters" containing BM stickers and other BM ephemera from so many years and activities. It was my wish and intention that the next time that I set my set-up my loom to weave and send to you a special and bespoke rug. Unfortunately, a recent course correction in my life will necessitate me selling this great old house out in the woods and moving into a retirement village filled with a bunch of old farts (currently company excluded). I have not decided with location I will be moving into. But, one thing became apparent early on and that is; any apartment that I buy into will not have sufficient room for my looms which I will have to sell. Sometime in the early 2000's I had one of my marathon weaving sessions. After all the rugs of this session were sent to friends, I had one rug remaining that I saved for myself. In the next few weeks you should be on the lookout for a package containing this rug. Since this rug has personal significance, it has more meaning that one of the fifty or so rugs that I weave during a typical weaving marathon in a every two to four-year weaving session. Since I was in my early twenties, I have consistently built and gifted to historical institution and some individual's museum quality boats and sailing vessels. The space required to set-up my 'Shipyard' can easily be set-up in my new apartment on a card table. Once I get settled in and get my "New Life" in order, I intend to send you the first ship that is launched down the ways. It takes me a good bit of time to build a ship that discriminating folks would be proud to set on their mantel or display in their office. Do not give up hope.
Danger,- My friend, You and I have had a good run at life and a run that most will envy and we gave the devil a proper scare; What more could we have ever ask.
I love the image of the zebra who marches to the tune of his own drummer. You have no idea how much I enjoy receiving and reading your letters. Health wise, the osteoarthritis is progressing more rapidly that I might wish. There are times when the increasing lack of cartilage in my joints makes walking difficult and sometimes just moving takes measured effort.
My pain management doctor has me trying a relatively new drug Xtampza 18mg (extended release) twice a day and an option for four 20mg Oxycodone each day and a last resort option of two 10 mg morphine tablets each day. I can take 3 of the optional Oxycodone tablets and still function because I can feel no change in my head. It makes me remember the line in White Rabbit sung by Grace Slick "Feed your head". Sometimes this is what I try not to do. However, if I take all four of the optional Oxycodone tablets spread out over 24 hours, I am inclined to not do much interaction with other residents. One or two days in the month I am hurting upwards of 8+ on the smiley face chart and I might add one of the morphine tabs into the mix. When this happens, I resign myself to my recliner and opt to have my meals delivered.
This has been going on since the early 1990's. A rheumatologist told me that there was nothing she could do to fix or even slow down the progress of the disease and that I should begin preparing myself for a long crescendo of increased level of pain and increased pain meds. She was right.
Thank You for your letters. Keep in touch and I will do the same,
Best, Harold Webster aka Meat Hunter
P.S. The next time you see Marian, please give her my best.”
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increasing the signal to noise ratio with compassion