November 11, 2002
Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
3:12pm I felt like I was going to puke as I drove away from Donna's house this morning. I was sick. Love sick. It was a real physical illness. In a short time we became very close; partners in the dance of life, grooven in the moment like nothing else mattered. Folks at the clubs were amazed by our chemistry on the dance floor. We love each other fearlessly. I was attached to her even though I told myself I wasn’t and it was like a piece of me was being ripped out. I wouldn't be happy if I stayed, so I wouldn't be good for anyone. I gotta go for me-- to become that person I want to be.
Detachment is one of life's great lessons. I've packed three long sleeve shirts, three short sleeve, pants, music, slide show gear, climbing gear, etc. The more I carry the more I'm weighed down. Gotta go. I'll be in Portland, Maine tonight. Life is a trip! So many amazing things are going to happen. I’m stoked. I have no money saved. My folks are not going to give me any. I just gonna do it. I pray for courage.
Hi Max,
It seems like inertia may have been disturbed from the "mean guy"s letter to you a couple of weeks ago. I mean sometimes we all need a little cold water on the face to get us refocused on our dreams. Solo wilderness paddling for me, being at the axis of exitence where life and death abound, is exciting, rewarding and challenging. The thougth of dying alone, drownding, exposure, being grizzly food takes the fun out of it. But I would never stop it. It takes a certain disposition to pursue the adventures of the isolated, remote, and wet areas of Southeast Alaska alone in a kayak. Pursuing adventures south through Panama and Central America not to speak of Mexico and the U.S. seaboard where you might just as easily get robbed as take a bullet takes the same disposition. An acceptance of real dangers in our pursuits to discover. Everyone has there own path. Whatever the path, it is easy and secure to get stuck in the rut of our lives and forget about our dreams, become distracted by the trees in the forest. A rut is just a coffin with the ends kicked out.
I hope you do continue to kayak south if that is your passion, but keep your passions.
Sincerely, your fellow paddler, Kevin Milliken.
hey cory,
its max boudreau from the cow island youth leadership summit last summer.
we had a "motivational" speaker come to our school and talk about what he
has done in life, and really he didn't inspire me all that much, basically
his whole video was trying to get kids to come to his ski school. I thought
about how much your slide show captivated me, and everytime I see it I want
to just go out and do something amazing and change the world. Mabey next
time you are down in Portland you could show your slide show at my school.
You don't have to but, its an idea. So email me if you want and i can talk
to some people at school. Otherwise, peace and love -max
Cory...
While you're away... think about who you are. Think
about what you are. Why you exist. Ponder who you've
become in the past two years. Compare yourself now to
the Cory who got on a bus two and a half years ago.
And, whatever you do, don't shake it off by saying
"I'm Cory Richardson... what else is there". Think
about it. I'll be asking.
And always remember that I love you.
And that I miss you already, so for my sake, hurry up.
As Polonius said to his son Laertes:
"And these few precepts in thy memory
See thou character. Give thy thoughts no tongue,
Nor any unproportion'd thought his act.
Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar.
The friends thou hast, and their adoption tried,
Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel,
But do not dull thy palm with entertainment
Of each new-hatch'd, unfludged comrade. Beware
Of entrance to a quarrel; but, being in,
Bear't that the opposed may beware of thee.
Give every man thine ear, but few thy voice:
Take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgement.
Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy,
But not express'd in fancy; rich, not gaudy:
And they in France of the best rank and station
Are most select and generous chief in that.
Neither a borrower or a lender be:
For loan oft loses both itself and friend,
And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.
This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Farewell: my blessing season tis in thee!"
--Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 2
How do I get the address into the web? Should I feel
free to experiment?
Anyways, I stink like raw pizza, am tired, and need to
work in the morning.
Love ya,
Christina
