Post by Autumnbriar on Feb 11, 2009 19:37:49 GMT -5
Living life in the slow lane
"Lee the Horselogger" is a man to be admired--and envied by some. He is living his life the way many of us wish we could.
His home is a one-of-a-kind, homemade wagon. Lee calls it his "barn on wheels," packed with necessities for himself, the two
horses and two dogs. The horses are rare Suffolk Punch draft horses and the dogs are friendly, loveable Great Pyrenees. The draft
horses, "Max" and "Tom," were previously used to haul logs. The Pyrenees dogs, "Katie" and "Kerr-Mutt," are great company
along the way.
Lee wants to be known only as "Lee the Horselogger" and requests that his last name not be used. "Life is all about being human,"
he said. "Names are only labels. People shouldn't be grouped according to their title, religion, vocation, size, color or race. People
should just be human."
Lee has no agenda, is not endorsing or protesting anything. He is not raising money for a cause or selling anything. He is just living
life to the fullest.
"That's basically it," he said. "Ye haw!"
Starting out from East Glacier, Montana on August 9, 2006, with only $75 and two weeks' worth of food, his quest was to eventually
visit a his childhood sweetheart, Nancy, in the Boston, Massachusetts vicinity, living life to the fullest along the way. He is a man
with a lot of faith in himself, people and a higher power. "This is not a trip into the mind, but a trip into the heart," he said.
He lives out of the wagon and depends a great deal on the kindness of people he encounters along the way. He draws attention
from the media everywhere he goes. Newspapers, radio stations and television crews are always on hand when he stops for the
night. So are crowds of good Samaritans and curiosity-seekers.
"I have faith that everything will work out if I allow the creator to work it in a manner he chooses," said Lee. He said having such faith
changes a person's thought processes and outlook on life.
Lee was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2005. After using holistic medicine and refusing any traditional treatments, he decided to
plan his big trip. He considers is cancer "a gift" and maintains an optimistic attitude about beating it. "I have the cancer under
control by the way I handle my life, so cancer is not handling me," said Lee. He credits his careful diet and use of herbs for
reversing the growth of the tumor as part of his holistic treatment.
Lee has always lived a simple life. He was raised in upstate New York and his childhood was spent mostly outdoors cutting
firewood, planting trees, logging and tending horses. After he graduated from high school, he went on to college, but left the
institution "degreeless but educated." He settled down in Montana, learning through life itself. He likes the rugged life with no
electricity and no running water.
Though he received a formal education, he says "life lessons don't come from books, but through relationships and interaction with
people."
His home is a mini-barn of sorts and Lee's long-bearded appearance is a little rough. But he is certainly not a hick from the sticks.
In visiting with him, it is obvious that he is an educated, sensible, gentle and caring man. Any person lucky enough to spend any
time at all with him will be inspired--even if in only a small way. You can't spend time conversing with him and not learn something
about yourself.
Lee and his "troupe" travel about 100 miles a week, perhaps 20-25 miles a day. He is not on a schedule, except to find a place to
stop for the night. Many times, towns and cities have heard of his coming, and are ready for him. People along the way are anxious
to help in any way they can. Lee said, "I have yet to ask for anything other than 'Do you know somebody down the road who might
have a parking lot I can camp at?'" Everything else he has need for has just shown up. He frequently gets more groceries and
supplies than he can carry. He uses the steady supply of donated cash mainly to keep his "mobile home" in good condition and his
horses healthy.
During our visit, I asked Lee a typical "journalistic" question: What is your most memorable event so far? He couldn't come up with
a "most memorable," but said there were so many kindnesses reaped upon him, he wouldn't want to single any of them out
anyway. He did offer a cherished memory of a little old lady giving him $2 when she couldn't afford it. Another woman gave him a
$20 bill as a way of vicariously helping her husband, who had passed away before realizing his dream of riding a horse along
North Dakota.
"That's what this whole trip has been about. Other people having a dream that fell through; life caught up with them, so they help
me," Lee said. "I in turn encourage them to follow their dreams."
"The main thing is that life can either be lived or it will live you until you learn your lessons," said Lee.
Lee gets to see America the old-fashioned way. People in a hurry just pass him by. Lee is content with the clippety-clop of Max and
Tom's hoofs on the road and enjoys the slow, relaxing trip. Lee is not a "hustle and bustle" type of guy.
Lee eloquently sums up his quest as "living life is an adventure from day to day. Receiving my gift of cancer, letting the ranch go,
continuing the path of learning, enjoying the journey to visit my childhood sweetheart and loving life."
During our visit, we developed a friendship. Lee and I agreed that I would create and maintain a new website so people across the
nation can see how he is doing and post their own stories about meeting him. Please check this website often!
(By Patty Goff, Publisher, Lone Tree Leader)
"Lee the Horselogger" is a man to be admired--and envied by some. He is living his life the way many of us wish we could.
His home is a one-of-a-kind, homemade wagon. Lee calls it his "barn on wheels," packed with necessities for himself, the two
horses and two dogs. The horses are rare Suffolk Punch draft horses and the dogs are friendly, loveable Great Pyrenees. The draft
horses, "Max" and "Tom," were previously used to haul logs. The Pyrenees dogs, "Katie" and "Kerr-Mutt," are great company
along the way.
Lee wants to be known only as "Lee the Horselogger" and requests that his last name not be used. "Life is all about being human,"
he said. "Names are only labels. People shouldn't be grouped according to their title, religion, vocation, size, color or race. People
should just be human."
Lee has no agenda, is not endorsing or protesting anything. He is not raising money for a cause or selling anything. He is just living
life to the fullest.
"That's basically it," he said. "Ye haw!"
Starting out from East Glacier, Montana on August 9, 2006, with only $75 and two weeks' worth of food, his quest was to eventually
visit a his childhood sweetheart, Nancy, in the Boston, Massachusetts vicinity, living life to the fullest along the way. He is a man
with a lot of faith in himself, people and a higher power. "This is not a trip into the mind, but a trip into the heart," he said.
He lives out of the wagon and depends a great deal on the kindness of people he encounters along the way. He draws attention
from the media everywhere he goes. Newspapers, radio stations and television crews are always on hand when he stops for the
night. So are crowds of good Samaritans and curiosity-seekers.
"I have faith that everything will work out if I allow the creator to work it in a manner he chooses," said Lee. He said having such faith
changes a person's thought processes and outlook on life.
Lee was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2005. After using holistic medicine and refusing any traditional treatments, he decided to
plan his big trip. He considers is cancer "a gift" and maintains an optimistic attitude about beating it. "I have the cancer under
control by the way I handle my life, so cancer is not handling me," said Lee. He credits his careful diet and use of herbs for
reversing the growth of the tumor as part of his holistic treatment.
Lee has always lived a simple life. He was raised in upstate New York and his childhood was spent mostly outdoors cutting
firewood, planting trees, logging and tending horses. After he graduated from high school, he went on to college, but left the
institution "degreeless but educated." He settled down in Montana, learning through life itself. He likes the rugged life with no
electricity and no running water.
Though he received a formal education, he says "life lessons don't come from books, but through relationships and interaction with
people."
His home is a mini-barn of sorts and Lee's long-bearded appearance is a little rough. But he is certainly not a hick from the sticks.
In visiting with him, it is obvious that he is an educated, sensible, gentle and caring man. Any person lucky enough to spend any
time at all with him will be inspired--even if in only a small way. You can't spend time conversing with him and not learn something
about yourself.
Lee and his "troupe" travel about 100 miles a week, perhaps 20-25 miles a day. He is not on a schedule, except to find a place to
stop for the night. Many times, towns and cities have heard of his coming, and are ready for him. People along the way are anxious
to help in any way they can. Lee said, "I have yet to ask for anything other than 'Do you know somebody down the road who might
have a parking lot I can camp at?'" Everything else he has need for has just shown up. He frequently gets more groceries and
supplies than he can carry. He uses the steady supply of donated cash mainly to keep his "mobile home" in good condition and his
horses healthy.
During our visit, I asked Lee a typical "journalistic" question: What is your most memorable event so far? He couldn't come up with
a "most memorable," but said there were so many kindnesses reaped upon him, he wouldn't want to single any of them out
anyway. He did offer a cherished memory of a little old lady giving him $2 when she couldn't afford it. Another woman gave him a
$20 bill as a way of vicariously helping her husband, who had passed away before realizing his dream of riding a horse along
North Dakota.
"That's what this whole trip has been about. Other people having a dream that fell through; life caught up with them, so they help
me," Lee said. "I in turn encourage them to follow their dreams."
"The main thing is that life can either be lived or it will live you until you learn your lessons," said Lee.
Lee gets to see America the old-fashioned way. People in a hurry just pass him by. Lee is content with the clippety-clop of Max and
Tom's hoofs on the road and enjoys the slow, relaxing trip. Lee is not a "hustle and bustle" type of guy.
Lee eloquently sums up his quest as "living life is an adventure from day to day. Receiving my gift of cancer, letting the ranch go,
continuing the path of learning, enjoying the journey to visit my childhood sweetheart and loving life."
During our visit, we developed a friendship. Lee and I agreed that I would create and maintain a new website so people across the
nation can see how he is doing and post their own stories about meeting him. Please check this website often!
(By Patty Goff, Publisher, Lone Tree Leader)
