Where's Armand?

At Dream Lake

Armand's daughter Ann and her husband,Tomas, are driving across the country in true Armand fashion. Although, perhaps in more comfort than Armand would have allowed himself.

Last Tuesday, Ann wrote:We have just scattered Daddy's ashes at Dream Lake! We had a quite icy and snowy hike up there and it was quite slippery in places! Walked along a couple of icy precipices that would have undone those with acrophobia! We are now back in town for an honorary ice cream at the Estes Park DQ!!!!

In honor of Armand's Dream Lake connection, I've gone through the Where's Armand? blog and picked out old posts with mention of this favorite spot:

• Leaving 15 Minutes of Fame
• Free Armand!
• Sited: August 6, 2006
• Prudhoe Bay, Alaska - July 2001
• Raising It Higher

I'm sure there will be more references to Dream Lake as I go through the Armand Diaries but until then, it's comforting to know that in a way, Armand never has to leave it again.

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 Grand Canyon...again.

 

In 1997, when Armand was only 83 years years old, he recounted his hike into the Grand Canyon in a Christmas letter to friends and family:

We met Ann at the Grand Canyon, while Mary luxuriated in the El Tovar Hotel on the South Rim, daughter and I bestrode mules (one apiece: there may be more painful ways to pound your behind, but not a whole lot more ....on the other hand or cheek, the views from their ornery backs are spectacular) clear to the canyon bottom, spending the night near the Colorado River at Phantom Ranch. Next day, she climbed out (seven miles) to the South Rim. I (no fool like the aged variety) went the North Rim route (around fourteen). Took it easy, dawn to dark. Got within a mile or so from the top.

Too dark to see the trail with my dimming flashlight, tried to insert a new pair of batteries, found out D-cells won't fit in a C-cell torch (could you make a dumber mistake?). Had to spend 8 1/2 hours sitting and dozing on a hard slanted rock, cold as all get-out (there was snow on the nearby 8300' rim and the wind blew lustily).

By dawn I was almost too stiff to navigate, but it all worked out. Inside of an hour I was hitching a ride to the North Rim Lodge, calling Ann, and waiting for her to bring our car with Mary from the other side of the river (about a two-hundred mile loop). We rejoined forces by noon and went on to enjoy two fine days in Zion National Park to the north, scarcely the worse for wear.

Daughter Ann is back at the Canyon's rim today and will make the hike in tomorrow. She's joined by the Jades, Carol (Tomas' sister) and Carol's husband Klaus. Ann will scatter a portion of Armand's ashes at a spot on the globe that called him back time after time. He ended his Christmas letter in '97 with this:

Thus endeth our chronicle. Now it's your turn.

Photo: Kevin Ebi

I Think I Know...

I leave this Thursday for Morgantown, West Virginia. On Saturday, October 6, I'll be taking part in Armand Singer's memorial and celebration of a Life Well Lived.

What do I say to family, friends and the people who populate the town and university that Armand loved so dearly? The truth will have to suffice. I'll share my words right here next Monday, for those of you who are unable to join us.

Photo: TheAge.com.au

...out of my service area.

This is another adjustment I'm having to make in my life. I can no longer pick up the phone on a Sunday afternoon to get the latest Armand update, from the man himself. His phone service is definitely out of my reach.

In the future, the stories that I will tell about the peripatetic Professor Singer, will have to be culled from his journals and friends. I hope he will forgive that the dates may not be entirely correct, knowing that he would definitely remember the exact time of occurrence.

In 2001, I went on a cruise to Alaska with Ann, Armand and his wife Mary. One day at breakfast, as I returned to our table with my buffet laden plate, I caught Armand chuckling to himself.

"What's so funny, Armand?" I had to inquire.

"Oh," he said, "I was just thinking about something that happened a long time ago."

"You mean like forty years ago?" I facetiously asked.

"Well no, actually this took place about sixty, no make that 61 years ago." Armand corrected me and then led into a ten to fifteen minute telling of a story that the multiple packets of sugar he was pouring into his iced tea, brought to mind.

Whenever I feel an empty Armand space in my heart, all of the memories I have of him gush forward to fill the vacancy and I'm left with a smile on my face. The present is our chance to make happy, future memories for ourselves, and those we leave behind.

Photo: broadcasterTR

He's Landed Safely

 

Armand Singer officially passed this life at 2:15am EST today, July 12. As soon as I learn of any memorial services, I will post them here.

In the meantime, I'm going to blow out the candles and turn up the music. Armand went out listening to his favorite jazz tunes on an iPod..."with it" until the end.

Aloha my friend!

Recuperating

We're letting Armand rest and recuperate. He's working to ingest clear liquids this week, a process that must be introduced gradually.

Remember, you can still send him your good cheer and best wishes to:

Armand Singer
PATIENT
Ruby Memorial Hospital
1 Medical Center Drive
Morgantown, WV 26505

Causing Postal Fatigue

While we were all paying attention to Krista's delivery last weekend, Armand was driving himself to the emergency room in Morgantown. His sleuth of a daughter, Annie, tracked him down when she was unable to reach him by phone.

I spoke to Armand on Wednesday as he lay in his hospital bed. His three hour surgery was performed on Friday and according to Annie, he's getting better every day. He'll be out of ICU by tomorrow but will be in the hospital for another 10 days, at least.

Chocolates (Armand's not-so-secret-desire) and flowers are not the thing to send at this time but I'm certain that he would just be elated to hear from you. A quick note or a 'get well' card would be wonderful. Just be mindful that it will hurt him to laugh! If you're up for it, compose a limerick for the Master of Limericks.

How about that? Another contest! Armand will be the judge this time. The winner will receive a Where's Armand t-shirt of choice and a box of Kona chocolates that I would have bought for Armand, if he were recovering from anything other than a digestive disorder.

Send all your cards, letters and limericks to:
Armand Singer
PATIENT
Ruby Memorial Hospital
1 Medical Center Drive
Morgantown, WV 26505

Let's turn the postman into an Energizer Bunny!

Photo: Word Movers

...in the hospital.

Armand's been in the hospital since Sunday night when he drove himself to the emergency room! A section of his colon doesn't seem to be cooperating.

When I talked to him yesterday he said, "Just to show you how suddenly things can change on you, on Saturday night I was at a black tie affair. All decked out in a tuxedo complete with a cumber band. I trimmed my beard and was all polished up and today...I'm here in this gown with an open flap in the back."

I told him that I'd hold the vision of him in his tuxedo and he quickly replied, "Yes! That's a much better visual and I will picture you with a plumeria in your hair wearing a muumuu!"

Ann the Daughter flew to Morgantown from northern California today and says that Armand is scheduled for surgery in the morning.

Let's all send him our best thoughts for a speedy recovery. The Colloquium awaits!

Illustration:House by the Side of the Road