Sam and the Boundary Waters

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Terry

About six months ago I was given the name of Sig Olson’s youngest son, Robert Olson. He and his older brother made up the composite character Sam affectionately called Sandy “The Squoip”. Sam and Sandy used to torment Giny mercilessly with a little batty routine about a certain boid and woim. Although it drove Giny crazy then, when I read this story to my kids, they almost die laughing as I give my best Sandy”The Squoip” impersonations.

This weekend (January 14-15), I am very fortunate to be able to interview Sig’s youngest son about his memories of Sam and Giny. Steve Yahr, who is writing the companion book on Sam’s life, will be going with me on this trip. So many questions run through your mind before an interview like this. To be sure, it will become a memory that we will not soon forget.

Quotable

"Fear is the screen that hides from our view the friendship native to the wild heart. Wildness is only a form of fear, for when kindness and patience have penetrated the veil, we see unmistakable evidence of the love in all forms of life."Fear is the screen

"It is within your sacred power to point thoughts of tired people to God." Eeny, Meeny, Miney, Mo and Still-Mo pg. 237It is within your

"But hold on, Hi-Bub, don't let the world snatch your treasure from you. Fight for your right to love the forest, and it will never fail you." A Tippy Canoe and Canada TooBut hold on

(Duke) "You don't really find peace until you get close to Him‚ some way, some how, I wish I know." Eeny, Meeny, Miney, Mo and Still-Mo pg. 39You don't really find

(Duke) "Once in while I have reached the place where peace was close at hand that I knew where to seek it at last. It was when I forget myself, and as someone said, look through nature to nature‚ as God." Eeny, Meeny, Miney, Mo and Still-Mo pg. 38Once in a while

"I am often led to speculate on the evidence of Divine design there is even in the small events of our lives." Tippy Canoe and Canada Too‚ pg. 157I am often led

"How values change. A week ago these things (gas rations stamps) were more valuable to me then gold notes. Now they aren't even good wastepaper!" A Tippy Canoe and Canada Too‚ pg. 158How values change

"One has sensed little of the real beauty of the natural world if he has not been moved to tears." Too Much Salt and Pepper‚ pg. 175One has sensed little

"Why don't we fight the thing that causes the trouble and not one another? Why don't we fight hatred and fear, selfishness, greed, all the things that destroy human happiness. Slightly modified, only removed who was talking and the between comments." Seven Secrets of Somewhere Lake‚ pg. 95Why don't we fight

"A childhood has another quality which we really should never surrender. It clings to no yesterdays." A Tippy Canoe and Canada Too‚ pg. 166A childhood has another