Abandonment and Rescue: Being Skippy and Long Ride Home

[Jeff]

The following are some of my thoughts about the two Skippy-forward chapters. My hope, however faint, is that by putting these words down--without warranting their completeness or accuracy--there is a small glint of something here for someone that will get them closer to wherever they're going.

In My Brother Being Skippy Fenn’s brother’s "inventiveness" and "originality" is described in two stories. He attempts to build a home-made helicopter and he flies a float plane of uncertain provenance to Hebgen Lake; these are both fairly absurd scenarios). In both cases there is an element of failure; in both cases the failure is in lift off. The repurposed washing machine helicopter perhaps "lifted an in or so off the ground" before it "rolled over and parts started flying." The float plane landed but "couldn’t take off again." Compare and contrast these events to the two instances in My War for Me where Fenn’s planes got off the ground but experienced failures while flying (i.e. the planes were shot down).

The title My Brother Being Skippy is of curious construction--it makes it sound like there are more than one meaning to the word "Skippy." I am not aware of an appropriate second meaning although an internet search gives at least one person’s definition as "fun" or "upbeat"; this would make sense in the context of the chapter (and picture of Skippy with a fish in his mouth), but that definition appears to be somewhat obscure (for me, the other major vocabulary lesson in TTOTC was both definitions of "biddy").

The Long Ride Home tells of Fenn's and Skippy's road trip home from Yellowstone. An argument ensues somewhere between Shoshoni and Casper which leaves Fenn abandoned in the middle of nowhere--"no cars or people" nor even any "coyotes"--wondering "if anything was left of my future." Skippy returns for Fenn after several hours and he "loved him forever after that." We learn that Skippy died in a scuba diving accident and was found in "ninety feet of water" with his "weights on." We are told that "there were so many things he would have accomplished" and that "we should have buried him standing up." The image of him "standing up" is appropriate because he died while still active in the midst of life.  The illustration in My Brother Being Skippy sources the Norman
Rockwell painting titled "No Swimming"; we may ponder if the
appropriation of this painting is intentional given Skippy’s fate.

Fenn describes the long ride home as "educational"; however, immediately preceding this comment he comically states that "both of us were still young enough to know everything." Presumably the lesson learned related to the pain of abandonment and subsequent joy that comes with the renewal of the relationship; and perhaps more generally it relates to our need for others in our lives, at the very least during trying times. We may compare this to a similar device that Fenn uses in the subsequent chapter, Looking for Lewis and Clark. Therein instead of two brothers and a "slight misunderstanding" there are two friends who, after being lost in the mountains for several days, had a "crisis." There the friends Fenn and Donnie "were both important to ourselves in our own way" similar to the brothers knowing "everything." And through the resolution came some lessons: "notes that might be helpful."

Although bearing some similarities to the conclusion of the story in Looking for Lewis and Clark, there are stronger parallels to Fenn’s two brushes with death: when he was shot down in Laos and was subsequently rescued in My War for Me and when he was despondent about his cancer diagnosis and subsequently received critical care from his family in Ode to Peggy Jean. In particular, Fenn "remembers sitting down" "to consider my lot in life and ponder if anything was left of my future" after his brother abandoned him; he similarly had "a strong recollection of sitting" "wondering what to do next" with the knowledge that "the Pathet Lao didn’t take prisoners" after he was shot down in Laos. As if this were not enough, in Gold and More, when introducing the reader to his cancer ordeal, we are told "most everyone thought I was going to die, including me" and this had him "lying in bed" "unable to sleep" which "gave [him] time to ponder." In all cases there was an abandonment of one type or another (literal in The Long Ride Home, metaphorical in Gold and More / Ode to Peggy Jean, and both in My War for Me--another pilot "told me to hang tough, that he would be back") that occurred as darkness loomed (oh, how classic), and obviously the two latter experiences were more serious than the former. There is a subsequent rescue and immense gratitude in these three mirrored stories: his brother returned and Fenn "loved him forever after that," the Air Rescue Service team who "showed their strength when [he] needed it the most" "are all heroes many times over," and "out of nowhere" (really, this wasn’t expected?) "a family charge led by [his] wife" that "saved [his] life."

In The Long Ride Home Fenn was abandoned between Shoshoni and Casper. One notable location between these two places is Hell’s Half Acre, described as a "geologic oddity" that is "composed of deep ravines, caves, rock formations and hard-packed eroded earth." This poorly defined phrase of uncertain origin often refers to a patch of land in an undesirable, sinful, or otherwise terrible place; a variation of the phrase is Devil’s Half Acre. In relation to the story, not only is this thoroughly empty land aptly described by that phrase but it also describes Fenn’s dejected feeling by being abandoned there. We may also relate this back to Fenn’s description of Skippy in My Brother Being Skippy: "In Temple," "atrocious and astonishing," and "kind of a god to me"--he is described in religious terms, encompassing horrifyingly wicked and impressively amazing. Perhaps the abandonment in Wyoming related to the former descriptor whereas the episodes in My Brother Being Skippy related to the latter descriptor.

Of all the echoes between the stories in TTOTC and the poem in Gold and More, those in My Brother Being Skippy and The Long Ride Home are the longest and perhaps the most unambiguous and conspicuous; this link is found in the poem's third stanza. The purpose or significance of this quite blatant mirroring is unclear to me; however, it certainly isn't "subtle." The place Fenn was abandoned in Wyoming sounds like "no place for the meek," and he thought the end was "drawing nigh." Additionally, the actual place Hell's Half Acre, found between Shoshoni and Casper, certainly conjures up the thought of someplace that is not "for the meek." In My Brother Being Skippy, Skippy cannot get the plane to take off ("heavy loads") because of the altitude of the lake ("water high"); one may ponder if there was a less exact image with the "washing machine motor" that may or may not have "lifted an inch." In The Long Ride Home, Skippy died with his "weights on" (another "heavy loads") in "ninety feet of water" (another "water high"). In both scenarios, Skippy was in a difficult situation (although obviously the second was much more serious). As the phrase "up the creek," particularly with no paddle, means being in a difficult situation, these have an obvious relation to the "there’ll be no paddle up your creek." "Heavy loads" can refer to burdens and "high water," as in the phrase "come hell or high water," can refer to doing something in spite of the difficulty. As if the prose was not enough to drive home the point (really, we need more?), there is a picture of Skippy leaning against a rock in The Long Ride Home with a caption that reads "Skippy holding a rock" (another "heavy loads") with what may be cascades or the top of a waterfall behind him (another "water high"). An undoubtedly odd caption for the picture (which reads like an inside joke) but one that nevertheless obviously related to the imagery of these chapters and reflected in the Gold and More poem’s third stanza.

Thanks for listening.

[CJ]

As always Jeff, excellent and refreshing insight into the book, and now maybe some hints. Happy to keep reading anything what you come up with. I may be wrong but have thought for some time that (some of) the clues (if not all of them) are not in the search states. One of my favorite solves starts in Temple. It's interesting to think that Xepone might be one of the locations....that's a long line to draw to find out where all the lines cross.

I'll keep thinking.

[goldwatch]

Jeff, that's another fine effort.
Yes, this look at the stories does help. Thank you.

[Jeff]

CJ and Goldwatch, thanks for your thoughts!  I sit down and ponder or maybe just wonder: what is the purpose of these blatant references to "heavy loads and water high?"  I'm sure this has been discussed before, that I'm not re-inventing the wheel here.  With so much repetition, it's obviously intentional but at the end of the day what is the point?

In my reading it even goes beyond the reference in these Skippy-forward chapters.  For example, it's possibly found in The Totem Café Caper: "the sack my eighty pound body had to carry was so heavy" (i.e. "heavy loads") and "they competed to see which one could splash dirty water on the most people" (i.e. "water high") and, less convincingly, in his initial description of his dish washing job.  For example, it's possibly found in My War for Me (and involving with his epiphanies no less!): "climb as high as possible--49,000 feet--to save fuel" (with a stretch "heavy loads") and "blood will bubble in the human body is pressurization is lost at 50,000 feet" (a very strong candidate for "water high," especially as it's parenthetical); and "with [lots of munitions] we weren't exactly charging the sky" (undoubtedly "heavy loads") and "small waterfall" (undoubtedly "water high").

Again, why bother?  Some artful device just to tie things together?  Something meaningful to the solve?  A deliberate red herring?

[goldwatch]

Apr 4, 2019 15:35:50 GMT -5 Jeff said:

CJ and Goldwatch, thanks for your thoughts!  I sit down and ponder or maybe just wonder: what is the purpose of these blatant references to "heavy loads and water high?"  I'm sure this has been discussed before, that I'm not re-inventing the wheel here.  With so much repetition, it's obviously intentional but at the end of the day what is the point?

In my reading it even goes beyond the reference in these Skippy-forward chapters.  For example, it's possibly found in The Totem Café Caper: "the sack my eighty pound body had to carry was so heavy" (i.e. "heavy loads") and "they competed to see which one could splash dirty water on the most people" (i.e. "water high") and, less convincingly, in his initial description of his dish washing job.  For example, it's possibly found in My War for Me (and involving with his epiphanies no less!): "climb as high as possible--49,000 feet--to save fuel" (with a stretch "heavy loads") and "blood will bubble in the human body is pressurization is lost at 50,000 feet" (a very strong candidate for "water high," especially as it's parenthetical); and "with [lots of munitions] we weren't exactly charging the sky" (undoubtedly "heavy loads") and "small waterfall" (undoubtedly "water high").

Again, why bother?  Some artful device just to tie things together?  Something meaningful to the solve?  A deliberate red herring?

These are good questions, Jeff. Yeah, all of this has been discussed before, but you never know when a fresh look springs an idea.

I don't think anything is a red herring. But putting the ideas into the right place, the right category, that's the trick in my mind.

[CJ]

So, I talk a lot about this Alamo solve, and while it's probably not right, I do think that the way of thinking is. In that solve, heavy loads and water high are one of two things.

Either it means cannon fire and blood at the Alamo, or it's about Fannin's half-hearted attempt to rescue them and his failure to get artillery across the Guadalupe River. Several things make sense in this context like "No place for the meek" and "no paddle up your creek". I've come to think that this leads you to a place in New Mexico, possibly named San Antonio.

I've also thought, at times, that this was about a wagon crossing a (flooded) river, possibly on a ferry...either way, I imagine that the poem is referncing something like this.

[goldwatch]

Apr 6, 2019 8:17:11 GMT -5 CJ said:

So, I talk a lot about this Alamo solve, and while it's probably not right, I do think that the way of thinking is. In that solve, heavy loads and water high are one of two things.

Either it means cannon fire and blood at the Alamo, or it's about Fannin's half-hearted attempt to rescue them and his failure to get artillery across the Guadalupe River. Several things make sense in this context like "No place for the meek" and "no paddle up your creek". I've come to think that this leads you to a place in New Mexico, possibly named San Antonio.

I've also thought, at times, that this was about a wagon crossing a (flooded) river, possibly on a ferry...either way, I imagine that the poem is referncing something like this.

CJ, when I get onto something like that, I keep digging. What I usually find is something that ties into other hints and feels like I've moved along towards something.
I've actually found some very interesting things that way.

[Jeff]

CJ and Goldwatch, thanks for your thoughts.  What draws some of my attention:

(1) The numerous "heavy loads" and "water high" in TTOTC

...(a) For example, the picture captioned "Skippy holding a rock" in The Long Ride Home

(2) The plethora of rock/stone references throughout TTOTC and beyond (as discussed in, for example, this thread).

...(b) For example, the more "second-order" ones like Rockwell, Einstein, Steinem, and Lowenstein

(3) Yellowstone and Rocky Mountains

Less formed ideas in my mind:

(1) Permanence of stone vs. organic memory

...(a) Vietnam War Memorial and gravestones

...(b) Fossils

...(c) Remember the Alamo (wink)

(2) Permanence of stone vs. ability to be shaped

...(a) Marbles

...(b) Flowing stream (e.g. in Looking for Lewis and Clark)

...(c) Arrowheads, pottery, and clovis points

(3) Permanence of stone vs. its burdensome weight

...(a) Symbol for antagonistic of freedom

...(b) Skippy's scuba weights and Fenn's F-100's 1000-foot-high stone bluff

Again, less formed ideas for me at this point but they certainly have my attention.

[zaphod73491]

Jeff: thanks for the shout-out/credit for the many stone references I supplied in the link you included. You can add one more that I forgot: the "Uncle Jew" story in response to HeidiM's MW Featured Question on 7/13/2017 asking about Forrest Levy:

"I stayed with 'Uncle Jew.' He wasn't my uncle and he wasn't Jewish so I don't know why I called him that. The $250 I made working for him at E. Lichenstein Wholesale Grocery was enough to buy my 1935 Plymouth that Peggy named The Bullet."

Note that the actual spelling should have been Lichtenstein. I think it's safe to say that not all of Forrest's misspellings are purposeful; but it is equally safe to say that not all of them are accidental.

[heidini]

Apr 9, 2019 12:19:09 GMT -5 zaphod73491 said:

Jeff: thanks for the shout-out/credit for the many stone references I supplied in the link you included. You can add one more that I forgot: the "Uncle Jew" story in response to HeidiM's MW Featured Question on 7/13/2017 asking about Forrest Levy:

"I stayed with 'Uncle Jew.' He wasn't my uncle and he wasn't Jewish so I don't know why I called him that. The $250 I made working for him at E. Lichenstein Wholesale Grocery was enough to buy my 1935 Plymouth that Peggy named The Bullet."

Note that the actual spelling should have been Lichtenstein. I think it's safe to say that not all of Forrest's misspellings are purposeful; but it is equally safe to say that not all of them are accidental.

Lichen/stone- lichen is a type of moss that would grow on the north side of something? Stein is stone. What about Plymouth? Plymouth rock?

[zaphod73491]

You are dialed in, Heidini!

[CJ]

I like those. Lichen and Plymouth Rock.

Jeff, the whole Alamo thing got me onto a track at one point about "Last stands". I'm not sure about that as a sort of theme, but would be interested in your thoughts. In general, the Alamo was a last stand, there's a solid link from there to Elfego Baca in New Mexico. Custard is another. Fenn may have thought of that when he was in the jungle, even though it never transpired for him.

It was always interesting to me that in his first blog post after the book was out said "What if no one had ever written about what happened at the Alamo?"
That really got me going. Being from Texas (Houston), I drove to Temple just to have a look and then down to San Antonio to The Alamo. Not sure if that counts for botg. Lol.

I think wwwh may be a cemetery....if it's not the one in Temple, then I'm not sure where it's at.

[Jeff]

Zaphod, thanks for the additional stone. Do you also wonder when enough is enough?

CJ, I'm not really in a position to weigh in on your ideas Alamo or other last stands. I'm really trying to avoid deciding what type of game Fenn has created here and mostly focus my initial energy on TTOTC. This may be misguided but it's my plan. Perhaps a year from now I'll have a more reasoned opinion. That being said, my suspicion is that the solve will not require a dive into into historical incidents or a knowledge of fishing or the like. Of course, some kind of knowledge is needed to complete the game, so my suspicion shouldn't be taken to its absurd conclusion. I'm not taking that as gospel, just an initial suspicion. To some extent it doesn't really matter to me because I don't imagine I will have the wit or time to properly develop a great let alone correct solve. I would be disappointed to learn that we needed to intimately know, for example, the life and times of Gilbert Gaul (although disappointment is a close acquaintance of mine). I don't really know much about the Alamo beyond grade school superficiality (and probably even less because I didn't go to school in Texas). I'm embarrassed to admit that I've been to San Antonio several times and have not yet visited the Alamo. Jokingly, that statement could have been truncated to "I'm embarrassed to admit that I've been to San Antonio several times." Regardless of the idea's possible merits, the concept of WWWH being a cemetery in some literal or metaphorical sense would more closely align with my initial suspicion of how this game might work. I'm not comfortable about writing any of this because I really don't have any way to justify it.

[zaphod73491]

Hi Jeff: yes, saturation has been reached on the rock/stone hints. And no color is mentioned by Forrest more than yellow. Sometimes the two are used in conjunction: e.g. the piglets walking on rocks and eating his daffodils.

[CJ]

I appreciate that Jeff. I just suspect that you are the kind of person that might just put all the pieces together and figure it out.