This site is dedicated to sharing memories of Mark Garvey, a man who touched all of our lives. Please post anecdotes or stories of how Mark has made an impact on your life. If you have any problem using the site or see something that needs to be removed or fixed, contact Ben Garvey.
He made me do it !!!
Mark certainly encouraged people to try new things "He took people out of the box"... As Peggy says, "he could always take you out of your comfort zone".
What an understatement!!!
While taking a casual stroll through the woods with our families so many years ago, Mark spontaneously snapped a twig from a tree. He told me to shove it in my mouth and swish it around. Like an unquestioning lemming, I shoved it into my mouth and carefully followed his instructions, cuz Mark would never set me up (yeah, right...)I can think of no other person in the world who could convince me to try brushing my teeth with a twig that was probably just licked by a squirrel. Wouldn't you know that it actually had a spearmint flavor. He told me that was how Native Americans first practiced oral hygiene. Another Garvey factoid. I assume it was a true story. Hey, let's face it, I was in no position to refute it... Amazing man, he was...
What an understatement!!!
While taking a casual stroll through the woods with our families so many years ago, Mark spontaneously snapped a twig from a tree. He told me to shove it in my mouth and swish it around. Like an unquestioning lemming, I shoved it into my mouth and carefully followed his instructions, cuz Mark would never set me up (yeah, right...)I can think of no other person in the world who could convince me to try brushing my teeth with a twig that was probably just licked by a squirrel. Wouldn't you know that it actually had a spearmint flavor. He told me that was how Native Americans first practiced oral hygiene. Another Garvey factoid. I assume it was a true story. Hey, let's face it, I was in no position to refute it... Amazing man, he was...
When we moved into our new house, after walking around the yard, he knew it was destiny that we moved there. He found a toothbrush tree in our own back yard :) To his delight, he immediately began brushing his teeth and encouraged everyone in his company do the same... and as you put it, like unquestioning lemmings, we carefully followed his instructions.
The tree you're talking about is a Black Birch. Mark had been on a Boy Scout Nature Hike with Ben and Jake. That's where he learned how to scrape the bark off a small twig and use it as a toothbrush.
He loved doing stuff like that.
The next time anyone stops by, make sure you have a go at the 'Toothbrush' tree.
I was very saddened to hear of Mark's passing. My heart goes out to all who knew and loved him.
Uncle Mark gave a few of us a tour of your Toothbrush Tree as a break from Mulch Madness. I didn't know what he was up to, but I recognized the look on his face so I obediently stuck a stick in my mouth, trying, like Mr. Jacobson, not to think about when the last squirrel strolled by.