Don't Forget Nature

A few deer in the foreground

My job at an RV resort in the higher elevations of the Sierra National Forest gives me an opportunity I’ve always dreamed of.  I get to work where I love to live.

As I stroll through the forest on my way to my neighbor’s space, I hear the forest floor crunching beneath my feet; the pine needles, broken down granite, soft dirt.  The only thing I hear besides my own footfalls is the wind blowing through the pine trees.  I stop to take in the quiet and the sounds of nature.

While I’m listening to this solitude, a little lizard scampers away.  The crisp air and cool breeze brightens my cheeks with a rosy hue.  My appreciation heightens and I am rewarded with a herd of deer meandering through the forest ahead of me.  I watch them in awe and they cautiously watch me.

I wish everyone could share this experience.   Our cities and concrete play yards are stifling and claustrophobic for me.  I need to see the open sky and be surrounded by mountain peaks.  May everyone enjoy this experience, at least a few times in their lives.  Better yet, make it a habit; it will do your psyche good.

My daughter - enjoying the great outdoors

My Cousin Harry Meneshian

Young Harry Meneshian

A good study of Harry

I want to tell the story of my dear cousin, Harry Meneshian.  Harry passed away on August 31, 2017, after an unfortunate illness.

Harry came into our lives when my grandmother (his aunt) sponsored him to immigrate to the U.S. from Jerusalem where he was born.

It was unusual then for a 17 yr old student from Jerusalem to arrive in the U.S. to study so our local newspaper, The Fresno Bee, did an article on him dated 1957.

There were a few bumps in the road, but Harry acclimated to life in the United States.  He eventually went to the Los Angeles area where he married the love of his life, Maggie, and together they had two children.

I saw Harry on and off through the years, but the most important time was when I decided to do my family history after my mother had passed away in 1999.  I had so many unanswered questions and kicked myself for not paying attention or asking more questions when my mother was still alive.  She had tried so hard to have her families' histories written down and recorded.

Harry found out about my interest so he provided me with a family tree of the Meneshian side of our family.  That was like gold in my hands, I was so thankful.  After that, I proceeded to ask his help translating letters and notes that I found in my mother's things.

It turns out Harry spoke not only Armenian, but the nearly outdated language of Ottoman Turkish which Armenians in Turkey used but wrote in Armenian characters.  If Harry hadn't been the willing participant to translate these old documents and letters, I wouldn't know 80 percent of what I know now.  For that I will be forever thankful and grateful.

We had fun working on this history and uncovering things as we went along. It was like being in a gold mine and uncovering one nugget at a time.  Each nugget became a cause for celebration.

Harry was the nicest person that I have come to know.  I will miss him and his joyful and happy attitude that permeated his whole life.  I am sad to lose my history compatriot, but I know he is in a happy place where he belongs and I'm sure he and my mother are exchanging stories even right now.

Visiting Harry in 2006.  L-R Avedis and Anahid Titoian (Harry's sister and her husband), me, Maggie and Harry, my two daughters, Windy and Katrina.

Harry - I will see you soon enough.  Until then...