Dick's Blog
Memoir Updates – "Walking with Clowns"
This is the first of many updates on stories and essays from my two memoirs "Hiking Out" and "Inside and Outside" both available as e-books and paperbacks from Amazon.
My story Walking with Clowns from my memoir "Hiking Out" is a celebration of 30 years of winter mountain snowshoeing camaraderie. This year we sadly lost two devoted Clowns, both unexpectedly before they could even enjoy retirement, the first to heart problems and the second to pancreatic cancer. The first, I eulogized in a previous blog "Has Anyone Seen My Old Friend Jon – In Memorium". The second is characterized in the following description from Walking with Clowns. "Our resident radiologist, also from Eastern Europe and Tony's devoted friend, will be there, I suspect with another tribute. He will probably bring his red Styrofoam stick-on noses again which we all must wear, or hurt his feelings too." He was one of our most enthusiastic Clowns, supplying the super sized 25th and 30th anniversary Clown banners which are displayed at all our annual gatherings.
On the bright side, in February 2010, the Clowns celebrated their 36 annual winter weekend expedition to the White Mountains of New Hampshire. My grandson, then age 16, a very resilient and courageous young man, and like my brother and son, one of my life and hiking heroes, accompanied us. At the time he was a junior in high school and a 6' 2'' varsity volleyball player. He is the first third generation hiker of our group. Now nineteen, he is still taller, an avid and even stronger hiker than his grandpa, a budding chef, and a sophomore in college majoring in science and biology with a dream of a career in cancer medicine.
Next February 2014, will be our 40th reunion of Clowns. Once a Clown, always a Clown, no matter where you are. Dearly departed, you will be with us again on this special weekend. We pray for your souls, and we pray for snow!
Dick Sederquist
Head Clown 1 or 2
My friend Larry and I, who are original Clowns, share the title of Head Clown and can't decide who should be number 1 or number 2.
Now featured on my web site is a 24-minute lively video interview with me talking about life, my
writing passion, two memoirs, and volunteer motivational program in a medium security prison in
Connecticut. There’s a short bio, how I was motivated to write my memoirs, how hiking with
family and friends helped save me from depression, my legacy of helping others through my
writing and prison program, and a select readings from my memoirs. If you like my “message of
hope” blog of informational and motivational short stories and essays, you will enjoy my memoirs.
When I autograph my books, I write, “Hope you enjoy this hike through life.” Here’s hoping you
enjoy this video interview and share my message with your friends.
Dick Sederquist
October 12, 2013
My regular volunteer discussion class at prison was cancelled this week due to a lock down for facility repairs. The general topic of this fourth session of my “Life Change Discussion Group” workshop was to be “Take a Walk” an exercise in recalling good things from the past, flashbacks like familiar pictures falling out of an overstuffed photo album, creating hope in the form of images you remember or would like to have in the future. I am sure the mood would have been very somber in the wake of the tragedy in Boston. My friends inside the razor wire are patriotic and very protective of children. They feel very strongly about the perpetrators of crimes against country and humanity. They feel grief as much as anybody. It is especially difficult not being able to share it personally with family or the families they have lost. This week we are all at a loss for words.
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