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The Oregon Surveyor
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Vol. 39, No. 6
18
By G. Robert Taylor, PLS
O
rville’s family was present when he passed away
in Eugene, Oregon in September, 2016. They all
knew that Orv was failing as his health had worsened
over the past few years. Their hearts were sad but
their minds knew it was time, so that was the day that
Orville Caswell died.
Thus begins a journey taken by the spirit of people. As
Orville’s spirit left his body, he turned to see the family
he loved so well. He so wanted to say words of comfort
to them and reassure them that his spirit was strong
and he felt no pain, only a calm which had made him
strong again.
He smiled with his heart full of love and turned away to
find himself at a trailhead along a beautiful mountain
side. There was nothing that told him what to do, but
he felt an inner urging to start up that moss covered
path through the woods filled with ferns and cedar and
fir and vine maple which were just starting to turn their
yellows and reds and oranges. Reaching the ridge top,
he found a clearing. The trail continued straight, but
there was also a path which lead down the side slope
where he could see small columns of white smoke rising
and as such, his spirit rose with them. He started down
this new trail toward the smoke and wondered what
awaited him. The trail had twists and turns, but it was as
beautiful a trail as he had ever seen as a man.
He came upon a spirit along the path who greeted
Orville and introduced himself as Hal Pavey, the
gatekeeper to the Land Surveyors Camp. Orville smiled
and asked “Where’s the gate?” Hal smiled back and
said “They never really put up a gate because we are all
spirits here but that’s the title I wanted so they said fine,
it’s yours.”
Orv asked Hal what happens next and where do I go?
Again, Hal smiled and said “I can tell you’ve a lot of
questions, it seems all the surveyors are that way. I’m
going to take you down to the Recall Master and he
can get you going.” Hal turned and in the blink of an
eye a spirit appeared and he too had a smile and said
“Welcome Orv, we’ve been waiting for you.” Orville was
staring at his old friend Pete Maring.
“Pete, what’s going on, where are we?” asked Orville.
Pete said “Come with me, Orv, and we’ll head on down
this trail to the Camp where you’ll get to meet some
other spirits you know.
Here your spirit can wish to be with any other spirit
you’ve known. Your parents, grandparents, siblings,
aunts, uncles, and cousins. You can meet your ancestors
as far back as you wish.
We are all here awaiting the time when there will be a
final judgement. At that time we will all know if we will
stay here with these spirits in this place or if there is a
different place for us.”
Orville asked “When will all this happen?” Pete smiled
and said “We have no time here, Orv, we are here in the
moment. You simply wish yourself to be at a place and
a time of your choosing. You can be 10 years old at the
home you grew up in if you wish.
At that moment on the trail a group of spirits were
sitting around the largest of the several campfires. This
is of course only for effect as spirits at this level don’t
get cold or hot. They just like smoke and camp-fires.
There were other small campfires around it and all
seemed to be encircled by a lively bunch of spirits in a
talkative mood.
At the big campfire some spirits had tin cups at their
seating place. Layne Caswell had a little scotch in his
cup, George Cook had something with Clamato juice in
it. Bruce Shaner had a fine wine even though it was in a
tin cup, and Al White had something from a bottle with
a “No.7” on it. Others had empty cups because spirits
really don’t need to drink anything.
A few yards away was a group where everyone was
standing and laughing. There were Dexter Milne, Bert
Mason, and Cecil Navin, accompanied by their wives. On
the other side of that smaller fire were Stephen Ford
and Ozzie Shaw and they were listening to a Shaggy Dog
Story from Andy Paris. Then up the hill walking toward
the big campfire was Dick Skinner and he was laughing
with Clyde Randall, each holding their tin cups.
As Pete and Orville approached the big fire Bruce
looked up and said, “Hey, we have a new one.” Layne
was the first one to recognize Orville and as he stood up
he yelled, “My god, its Orv, hey buddy are we ever glad
to see you.”
Everyone stood and while they greeted Orville, each
one gave him a good will wish for his family. George told
Orville not be saddened and that he would see them
again, and in this place of no time and only the now it
wouldn’t be long.
Orville smiled at the group of people and said, “I know
this isn’t heaven, but it’s awfully close.”
Spirits List: Oregon PLS number, name.
205 Clyde Randall
245 Dexter Milne
289 Andrew Paris
322 Bert Mason
430 Bruce Shaner
431 Ozzie Shaw
489 Al White
494 Orville Caswell
522 Cecil Navin
540 George Cook
737 Layne Caswell
869 Dick Skinner
In Memoriam: Orville Caswell
Taken From a Dream