Alone, at the Bottom of the World (part 36)

'Alone'

And so, the 'Alone' series is drawing to a close. New Zealand was, for me, the 'bottom of the world' when I lived there that year; and anything about that dear place or those dear people went into the series. With this final piece about Stuart, I believe I have finished 'Alone'. One never knows, though, what might appear here! We shall see.

(for the immediate pre-story please refer to the post from March 11, part 35 of the 'Alone' series)

The hair was going to have to go. 

There had been attempts before. Grownups who tried to influence the length of Stuart's hair. Remember the old adage of the 1960s? "GET A HAIRCUT!" But for Stuart it was all to no avail. Long it was, and long it would stay (after all, the American high school girls had thought he might be a BEATLE).

                                                                                                       

As spring of '74 drew near, Stuart knew it was time to find some permanence of place - either in the U.S. or back in New Zealand.            

Stuart Eyre at 17, New Zealand 1972

And then a letter came. My older sister and family invited Stuart to stay with them on a short term basis. He could help them in their campus ministry at Berkeley while looking out for the next step in his life. Stuart decided to go, in the Spring. 

And so our own goodbyes happened during spring break, at home in Carson City. We knew he would not be returning to Oregon, that he would be leaving the U.S. sometime soon. My last glimpse of Stuart came as Grandma Ida and I drove away in the early morning, down Highland Avenue bound for OSU. His mournful face and long hair peered out at us from the big picture window of the house. I didn't see him again.

People's Park, Berkeley 1960s

   https://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/6827882718/

                                                       

He did go to Berkeley, and then Fiji, as part of a ministry. I was surprised and very curious when I heard, through my sister, that Stuart's hair, that long, flowing brown mass he was so proud of, had had to go. Cut off! to his enormous dismay. But although the hair fit right in at Berkeley, he was going to a foreign land (even more foreign than Berkeley) - one that was a bit more concerned about hair and clarity and such. It was a struggle. It was a fight! But - at last he relented and watched sorrowfully as the hair floated towards the floor of that barber's shop. 

Now THAT would have been fun to watch. 

I never did see Stuart's short hair. But apparently he was a smashing hit in Fiji, so the loss of it was not a detriment. I later learned that he went on to University. Became a high school teacher. Had couches and a ping pong table in his classroom. Go Stuart! His students loved him and were fiercely loyal, and they learned. He didn't give them a chance not to.

Stuart was married in his 20's, and became a widower in his 30's. He had two daughters whom he adored, and raised, and talked endlessly with. He earned a Master's degree. Taught some more. And then - in his 40's, he died. Family, friends, students, colleagues, all gathered and could not believe he was gone, so young. 

Recently my sister mentioned that, when he left their home in Berkeley, he made them this lamp as a 'thank you'. Upon the mirror was etched these words: "For now we see through a glass, dimly; but then we shall see face to face." 1 Corinthians 13:12. She has kept it on her shelf for 40 years. 

Dear Readers, have you ever wanted to go to New Zealand? I think you should! Good scone-lovers would do well to visit, for they too excel in the finer points of scone making. And the people? The best, as you can see. So try it. Save up. Go online. Take a look!

You won't be sorry. They might like pancakes for lunch. They might enjoy a plate of beans on toast for breakfast. But man! can they ever produce a good movie.


See you along the way!
the SconeLady

photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/6827882718/">wallyg</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">cc</a>