CHRISTOPHER MCCANDLESS SYNDROME.....OR NOT?

 A series of short stories.....

The Magic Bus of Christopher McCandless

.....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E. Hughes

I have often speculated as to just what it is that pulls each one of us in certain directions throughout our lives whether it be work related or, simply, pleasure oriented.  And, I might mention here that I am exceedingly happy for all of you who have successfully been able to combine the two scenarios......for you are the fortunate ones!

"You must have ants in your pants!  Why can't you just sit still?"  How many times did I hear my beautiful Mother say these words to me?  It was a foregone conclusion that those afore mentioned ants would segue into the reality of being antsy, a word that has described my personality for years.  It would show in the 'need to be anywhere else other than where I was at that moment' to, physically doing the opposite of what was expected of me to, after owning our first home, needing to rearrange the furniture as often as possible. 

One thing I always knew about myself was that by placing my feelings and ideas into written words, my journals and notes helped to soothe a restless soul....release anxieties and frustrations.  Like the drummer in a rock band, my keyboard (pen or pencil) was my trusty drumstick beating out a song of highly sustained rhythm in the hopes of attaining total freedom.

Leo Tolstoy

All of these current thoughts surfaced this week due to a quote from Christopher McCandless which went, "Happiness, only real when shared."  His journals claim that he was in reference to a passage from a novella written by Leo Tolstoy published in 1859 and entitled Family Happiness.  A passage from this novella is quoted in the book, Into the Wild, written by Jon Krakeuer in 1996 about the travels of Christopher McCandless into the wilderness of Alaska, and adapted into a film of the same name by Sean Penn in 2007.  Both book and movie involved the life of this young man who had rejected civilization and openly relished 'survival mode' in a remote area of Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska in April of 1992.

Another quote from the works of Leo Tolstoy and found highlighted by Chris went, "I wanted movement and not a calm course of existence.  I wanted excitement and danger and the chance to sacrifice myself for my love.  I felt in myself a superabundance of energy which found no outlet in our quiet life." 

This is an example of how strong the shear power of the written word can be, especially with regards to Chris McCandless, (also known by his alter ego, Alexander Supertramp).  Chris was found starved to death in an abandoned bus he called home and weighing only sixty-seven pounds.  How does Chris relate to Leo Tolstoy?  According to Wikipedia, "An extremely intense young man, McCandless had been captivated by the writings of Leo Tolstoy.  He particularly admired the fact that the great novelist had forsaken a life of wealth and privilege to wander among the destitute."  For several years, he had been emulating (Tolstoy's) asceticism and moral rigor to a degree that astonished and alarmed those who knew him well.




Chris McCandless in Alaska ~
Courtesy of Wikipedia

Many of Chris' actions were inspired by literature.  When he was found in the bus in Alaska, he had in his possession five heavily marked-up books written by Jack London, a writer known for stories about the wilderness, Individualism and Naturalism.  Henry Thoreau, a writer who was known for his philosophy of Transcendentalism (living life to its fullest in order to understand life), was a philosophy in which Chris adopted as his own.  Including Tolstoy, "These authors played an integral role in developing Chris' personality and, if it weren't for the presence of his literary heroes during the time he grew-up and the last days of his life, Christopher McCandless would not have died at peace with himself."

 

 

I truly believe Chris died as he had lived....at peace with himself and with nature.

I'm not saying that I need to "live off the land" by hunting wildlife and scrounging for wild berries to make-up my next meal and sustain me.  I can relate, however, with the general philosophy of appreciating the 'fruits' of this magnificent planet, as well as the incomparable beauty it showers down upon us via its valleys, mountains, flowers and rivers!  Like Chris, Jack, Henry and Leo, I seek the power captured within just one grain of sand; admire an Irish hillside lush with 'forty shades of green' and alive with sheep as far as the eye can see; relish the simplicity of routinely walking to the Boulangerie to purchase the daily bread (baguette) and, marvel at the pure solitude of a wooded walk on a gloriously sunny afternoon in September with a good book in hand.

Nature and literature speak to me every single day.  If I am not capturing nature in pictures in one moment, you can be certain I am writing (or reading) about it instead. 

Ireland 2013

Christopher McCandless, it was later determined, was slowly poisoned and became paralyzed by eating massive amounts of toxic wild-potato seeds in an attempt to survive but it rendered him unable to hunt or forage.  Irony at its darkest point.  It was not arrogance that killed this lovely, open-hearted young man, it was ignorance.  I refused to believe that anyone who became known for saying that the happiness we enjoy in this lifetime is meant to be shared with others could possibly be suicidal. "I've decided I am going to live this life for some time to come.  The freedom and simple beauty is just too good to pass up."  This was a man who openly relished the gifts of nature that surrounded him and whose order of the day was to live life to its fullest.

The History Channel on cable television has highlighted many of these 'maverick' individuals, men and woman, who share the love of nature along with Chris McCandless.  Mountain Men, airing on Sunday evenings, is my favorite by far.  Haven't we all wanted to explore the far reaches of the Alaskan wilderness, implement the ancestral techniques for tanning hides in northwestern Montana or learn wilderness survival skills in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina?  Marty, Tom and Eustace have guided my 'alter ego' through the natural beauty of the rugged lands they call 'Home' and I always hunger to learn more!

Literature can invariably play the role of guide, trapper, teacher and friend as we discover, via the written word, worlds far beyond our own reach and imaginations.  Books transport their readers through time and space......as we explore the realities of history and speculate about the possibilities of co-habitation on other planets.  When a subject arises, you can bet that someone has written about it at one time or another.

I have not seen Sean Penn's movie about the life and death of Christopher McCandless.  Someday, perhaps, I will.




River in Oughtergard, Ireland

Until then, you will always find me with a book in my hand and the idea that this busy world will slow down just long enough to allow me to read a chapter or two at a time.  Or, maybe take a few interesting photographs with my trusty Canon EOS.  And, when the opportunity to travel to places unknown to me arises, I will explore, discover and write about each and every adventure with the desire to sooth my restless soul while discovering freedom and the happiness within me that only becomes real when shared with others.
I leave you with one of my favorite quotes by an unsettled, young man whose love of nature combined with a heart that was wide-open to all of life's possibilities left us far too soon......

"The core of man's spirit comes from new experiences. If you want something in this life, reach out and grab it.”
― Christopher McCandless

Chris in the Wilds of Alaska ~ Courtesy of Outside Magazine

Copyright © 2014 By Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved