James Giago Davies: A father and son go out in their finest hour


James Giago Davies. Photo from Native Sun News

History really does repeat itself
Even the indestructible have their hour
By James Giago Davies
Native Sun News Columnist
www.nsweekly.com

There is a certain type of person who cannot receive the same pleasurable stimuli we do by thinking about it. They must interact with the world; they can’t daydream about being with the prettiest girl in school, they must act on their desire. In life, they are fearless risk takers, like race car drivers and sky divers, because they have forgone discretion, recklessly jonesing for stimulation.

Mark Head, a breed Delaware, more Wasicu than breed, made his way west with the final wave of mountain men in the 1820’s. Head was extremely tough and durable, but not especially bright, with a talent for getting into hairy situations, and coming through alive and kicking, while many others, far more intelligent and resourceful, met with a tragic end.

Some have called the exploits of Head “hysterical fiction,” but they have failed to recognize the connective thread, so busy judging people by events, they forget to factor in who they were as people.

Once, high on a peaked roof in North Rapid, my buddies and I were toking weed, and Elvis said he’d give any guy five bucks if he’d jump off that roof. We all laughed, the way you laugh when you are baked, we all understood Elvis wasn’t serious, until we heard the sickening thump.

Allen Kuil (pronounced Kyle) had jumped off the roof. He had to force himself to his feet, could barely stand, wouldn’t walk right for a week, but there he stood, demanding Elvis pay him his five bucks.


Read the rest of the story on the all new Native Sun News website: History really does repeat itself

(James Giago Davies can be reached at skindiesel@msn.com)

Copyright permission Native Sun News

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