I did a post about Eastern Sierra Hwy 395 from my recent trip, including the landmark Sam’s Cabin on 395 under the glow of sunset. Yesterday I suddenly got a DM from a lady asking me if she could share my picture with the Sam House? It’s her grandparents house. I was surprised a bit, as I rarely get messaged on FB. and that a descendant of the original owners saw my picture and reached out to me, and so politely…Most time people just share without asking.
I think we often forget that a long-abandoned house still has a belonging, a history of love and memories. I had to slow down my mind to process all of this. Of course I told her it’s my honor, and replicated her polite manner to ask the history of her grandparents house. The house was built 1925 by her grandparents. Frank, a notable Paiute leader, and his wife Betsy lived there long time, until their passing away in 1975. She used to play in that house when she was little.
I have a natural spiritual connection with Native Americans. As I am always deeply drawn towards their culture and history. She told me the mountain behind the house is special, in old days, their people used to travel on horse or by foot that way to Yosemite. I can just picture it in my mind.
We talked for a long time, exchanged a little bit about each other, even found something in common: as how a place can hold and connect our heart with our loved ones, especially the ones that have passed over. Though Sam House is empty now, it carries the eminence of the past, the link with the loved ones of generations, sometimes a physical place can hold what a heart is missing.
At the end, she sent me this video of wild horses grazing by a lake in Nevada, with wind as background, the mare just had the colt for a few days, and the baby was throwing a little tantrum, refusing to leave. It’s so peaceful, natural, like part of the scenery, like the way it has been for thousand years.
Although I was a stranger whom she never met, she shared this beautiful video with me. I was overwhelmed by the whole event, how intertwined and somehow all things merge into one.
“I am a fish, he is the moon, He cannot touch me, but he can light up the entire ocean where I live.” -Rumi
