Where's Armand?

At Home, All Over the World

 

Armand Singer would have been a vibrant 94 year old man this coming Sunday, if it were left up to his mind and spirit. His physical presence though, could not keep up with the rest of him. When he passed away in July of 2007, his mental faculties were in tact and he had more projects in the making than someone half his age. Even another African safari was in the planning stages.

Earlier this year, Armand's son-in- law, Tomas Hill, took Armand back to Africa for the last time and scattered his ashes over the endless Serengeti plains. Francesco Pierre-Nina, the guide whom Armand mentioned in last week's post, arranged for a group of Maasai tribesmen to perform a memorial ritual and led Tomas and friend Bill Savoy up a steep rock outcropping.

The five minute video that follows, begins with Francesco's description of the area. Set to the music of Sawyer Brown's "The Walk", it's a beautiful tribute to Armand's long, adventure-filled life: November 30, 1914 to July 12, 2007.

Watch: Where's Armand? -YouTube (05:04)

Photo: Ngorongoro Conservation Area

At Rest in Africa

 

This is the signature Where's Armand? photo. In true character, he's perpetually pointing to the title of the most recent post on the blog that began in June of 2006.

Armand's last trip to Africa took place in 2005, as he writes in his annual Christmas letter:

Got back home from here (Hawaii) after last Christmas to crank up the new year. Then, big surprise: the safari I was to go on to Tanzania and Zanzibar turns out to be a gift. Allowed me to get a fabulous new Nikon digital camera (not that the camera equates with the excursion under Francesco, usually considered to be Tanzania's premier game guide - he guided Johnny Carson on several occasions - and he doesn't come cheap).

Fabulous game drives (we literally lived with lions, cheetahs, and elephants - that close), tents with electricity and showers, wonderful food. Nothing at all like the several safaris I have known until now.

Francesco guided Armand safely through his African adventure but back home in West Virginia, Armand was left to his own devices:

Home 25 February. Tripped on a chair leg, broke my left hip, called 911, and wound up in a hospital 27 February, titanium rod inserted same evening, nineteen days later walking around slowly. Did outpatient rehab for a month before walking a mile to work, a mile back.

Just another walk on the wild side for Armand. This year, Francesco guided some of Armand's ashes to rest on the plains in Africa. In honor of Armand's birthday (November 30), we'll share a short video of the beautiful ceremony in a future post.

The 1940 Election

  " The United States presidential election of 1940 was fought in the shadow of World War II as the United States was emerging from the Great Depression. Incumbent President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR), a Democrat, broke with tradition and ran for a third term, which became a major issue. The surprise Republican candidate was maverick businessman Wendell Willkie, a dark horse who crusaded against Roosevelt's failure to end the Depression and eagerness for war. Roosevelt, aware of strong isolationist sentiment in the U.S., promised there would be no foreign wars if he were reelected." (1)

Armand's thoughts before and after the election:

October 10, 1940. Wednesday. Last eve, saw James Stewart, Margaret Sullavan in the film of Nazi Germany after Hitler came to power. The Mortal Storm - very sad, gripping story of what the new regime meant to 2 people, innocent but against this regime. What will become of us all, as this new force sweeps over the world, God only knows. I'm afraid, lonely and sad as I am, I had better not go to such pictures, especially during this damned orient war scare.

We often say, it took 2000 years to build the English civilization, etc., or 500 years to bury this or that church, 20 years to grow a man, but only 1 second to destroy it or him with a bomb and so on. But is this so?

The bomb that destroys is only the end product of a force that has been growing as long as the constructive processes that built a civilization. Similarly, if you as a politician had been planning some city park for years and years, some building improvement, etc. and then along comes an adverse public decision, etc. and squelches it, it is not strictly true to say that 20 years work has been overturned by one day's voting at the polls - for that opinion expressed in the vote against you is only the outward sign of a whole general opinion representing perhaps forces growing for years, spreading over all the voting opinion of 1,000's.

Tuesday, November 5, 1940. Election Day, 8 P.M. Still neck 'n neck. Who will win? I wish I had voted, I'd have voted Republican. I have a feeling Willkie will need votes from somewhere.

Thursday, November 7. Well, I hope Herr Roosevelt feels the honor done him. I'm afraid of that man.

Source: (1) Wikipedia
Photo: Modern Mechanix

The Grand Canyon, At Last

 

Last week, after Armand's 1997 recounting of his Grand Canyon hike, I mentioned that Annie was at The G.C. to scatter Armand's ashes. She made the hike, despite the lingering remains of a bad chest cold. Armand would have been so proud! Here's her story:

Quite a day yesterday!

We started down the canyon on Bright Angel trail at 7:30am and arrived near Indian Gardens (4.8 miles) at 10:00 am. I headed out to Plateau Point which afforded the most amazing views of the Colorado River below! I found an incredible spot above the raging Colorado and scattered Mondo's remains! I hiked back to Indian Gardens and then down to the river where I scattered the final ashes and decided to head for Phantom Ranch.

After crossing on the foot and mule bridge and heading up the plateau to Phantom I decided to turn around and go back to the South Rim where Klaus and Carol had decided to go. I rested again at Indian Gardens and began my ascent at 2pm. At 2:40pm I received a call from Carol saying that they had just arrived top side, but at this point I was committed to climbing out in one day! I arrived at Kolb Studio at exactly 5pm (after a 19 mile hike) and as I came through the final arch way I could hear Carol saying, "Hello!"

The last 1.5 miles were definitely the most difficult but I felt quite good and was very happy to hit the shower and have a meal! I tumbled into bed at 8pm and was VERY happy to awaken this morning and NOT have the 11 mile hike ahead of me from Phantom Ranch!

I am certain that Daddy would love knowing that a part of him now resides in the Grand Canyon.

So, another destination accomplished in Daddy's post life travel!

I live another day to continue the quest!

Love, Annie