Second One Down!
I completed another minor life goal today: after eight and a half hours, I completed a 13-mile trek through rugged wilderness environment, rock-jumping swollen winter streams, sustaining minor injuries, seriously wondering whether or not I would return that evening, all in the combined names of geocaching and the memory of a good friend.
Today would have been Tammy Herrick’s 37th birthday, and I’m sure that all my live friends and family members who I’ve spent any time with in the last few days are quite sick of that fact. The poet, one with something to prove, the self-possessed might falsely boast that he or she remembers that special someone every hour of every day, but more than ten years after her untimely death, I can honestly say that I am still reminded of her at least once a month for one reason or another. I can’t explain why, but her demise has affected my life more than anything else.
Anyway, as I was saying, it would have been her 37th birthday today, so I combined a need to make some sort of long-forgotten tribute to her with a desire to complete a difficult wilderness-style geocache. Off to Willson Tower I went, a heavy winter jacket and a backpack filled with supplies both in tow. As my synopsis read, excerpted:
“This is the most difficult, strenuous, body-and-mind-numbing experience I have ever had. My round trip hike from the Gilroy Hot Springs parking area was a little over 13 miles, the route via the Wasno Pond cache about 6.25 miles, and the trip back via Kelly Lake almost 7 miles. Nothing seemed to last longer than the journey to the tower when I spotted it about a mile off; I kept walking and walking and it never seemed to be getting closer! When I finally crested the tower’s hill, I was hurting both mentally and physically. Of course, I still had to face the trip back… Great cache, incredible views, pristine wilderness, and only planes overhead to remind you of today’s societal noises and excesses. I stopped many times just to relish the peace and quiet, the incredible tranquility of this place! However, rest assured, I do NOT plan on again trekking out this far for a very, very long time!”
I get a goal checked off from my list, and Tammy gets a namesake hidden cache and a travel bug. It’s a long, long way, it’s very, very quiet, and I doubt that either will be disturbed for a while…
Hi Richard, It ’s nice to see your tribute to Tammy on the web and the travel bug is very cool, she would have approved! I knew Tammy from San Jose State. She introduced me to you a long long time ago. Tammy has stayed with me all of these years too. Even before she passed away I knew that she was different and special. She seemed to have some kind of aura around her, which is hard to explain but she was a spiritual person who seemed to understand life, death, evil and good. I think a lot of this understanding came from her brother’s death. She told me so many amazing stories that have always stayed with me. And the story of her passing away is remarkable. In my own questioning mind of whether or not there is a god I always have to come back to Tammy - she makes me feel like there is indeed a god and there is something beyond this world. I think she has become a guardian angel to many of her friends in this life. take care, Amy
Richard, Tammy was a good friend of mine, and a dear friend of Marci’s, in high school and in the years following. We are working on our 20-year reunion now and it is a tragedy that she won’t get to take part in poking fun and being silly (two among her many qualities). Marci and I have wondered about Tammy’s family - if you are in touch with them, could you please send them our very best wishes, and tell them that their daughter, beautiful inside and out, is in our hearts forever. Inge
Unfortunately, I’m not in touch with her family, although have often thought about them over the years. I’m sure somehow they still know. You look familiar — we probably met at a party at Joe’s house. New Year’s? How’s Marci doing? Everytime I drive by her old condo on Saratoga I wonder what’s she’s up to… - RDL
Richard,
Quite possible that we did meet at Joe’s. How is he, are you still in touch? Marci is doing wonderfully, married ten years with two great sons, became VP of marketing this year and looks fabulous - she’ll be a stunner at the reunion, I’m sure. I found an email for Cindy Herrick once and sent a quick note, but received neither bounce nor reply. She and her parents went through far too much with Tammy and her brother; I can only hope that they have found some peace. best, Inge
No, unfortunately, I’ve been out of touch with all of them for the last approx ten years. Say Hi to Marci for me. - RDL
I met Tammy when we were both 2 years old living in Half Moon Bay. She lives in the house right across the street and we instantly became the best of friends. Unfortunately her family moved, and then our family moved to Oregon and we didn’t see each other very often, but wrote reams of letters back and forth. When we got to be teenagers she’d often fly to Oregon in the summer to visit and we’d have the most fun. I was pregnant with my first child when Tammy died and it has had an everlasting effect on my life. I miss her desperatly to this day, often wishing I could write to her or call her about one thing or another. The last time she visited me before we graduated from high school and moved on with our lives she wrote me a very poignant letter about growing old together as friends and sharing the ups and downs of marriage, children and old age. I cry every time I read that because she was so cruelly robbed of those opportunities. The last time I saw Tammy was at my wedding in 1990 where she took photos of our reception. I will treasure those always, along with my memories of her. I also read your other posting about pseudo-psychic incidents… I frequently dream of Tammy and I always wake up feeling like she’s trying to tell me something, and of course, I think about her all the following day. It’s very strange to see other people writing about and remembering Tammy. Of course, I knew she had other friends and relationships, but it amazes me how one person can touch and affect so many lives. She was definitely a wonderful friend and I miss her dearly. Margaret…