r/u_unf_usernotfound

“We’d built our walls too high—his granite silence, my need to prove myself.”

In "The Postal Pilgrimage," Justin reflects on a jar of rattlesnake rattles that encapsulates the intricate relationship he shared with his grandfather, Leaden Posey. On one side stands Justin, grappling with an urgent craving for validation; on the other, his grandfather embodies an impenetrable granite silence, creating an emotional chasm neither knew how to bridge.

“Life has a funny way of planting you where you need to grow,” Justin acknowledges in the opening line of “Mom’s House.” This sentiment resonates powerfully with the rugged backdrop of Leaden’s upbringing, where resilience was not just a virtue but a necessity. Farming or cattle ranching—perhaps both—was the life, and it was hard. Picture growing up amid the relentless challenges of ranch life near Animas, New Mexico, during the Great fucking Depression. The stakes were high, and the struggles were real.

Leaden’s early exposure to grueling labor and adversity forged a stoic demeanor that would define his interactions and relationships. This legacy of emotional fortitude cast a long shadow over Justin’s upbringing. I think of grandfather Fitzwater’s constellation of awards; in "The Living Legend," Justin recalls wearing his grandfather's service medals: “I remember the weight of them against my chest, how important they felt, though I didn’t understand their meaning. I wonder what Grandpa Wayne thought, watching me play at being him. I was pretending at wearing his strength, while having no idea what strength really meant.”

In my opinion, family history loomed large, and that pervasive silence served both as a shield and a barrier, creating a weight that was both protective and isolating.

Blah, blah, blah, maybe you’re thinking who fucking cares? I’m not sure- I was thinking of the current state of affairs and this was part of my thinking. But what the hell does it all mean? In the current state of affairs, Justin finds himself in a shitstorm, desperately trying to prove himself. Did you see his math theorem? Is his over intellectualized explanation a wall stemming from the need to prove himself? No fucking clue. It feels like a fall from grace, like he flew too close to the spotlight, Icarus incarnate.

I hope he remembers his vision and finds a way to overcome this setback. I hope he taps into that granite grit that runs in his veins.

I’m grappling with the present situation; is this a production or part of “The Project”? I was supposed to learn about “the creator”—did I misinterpret that or go too far?

“It’s about understanding the mind of the person who hid it—their story, their obsessions, the places that shaped them.”

What if I disagree or have questions that don’t align with the narrative being pushed? I never expected Justin to be flawless; to me, his imperfections are far more compelling than his precision. But are these obfuscations part of the magic show, or are they merely walls?

If I call bullshit, am I ruining a magician’s trick?

Ultimately, Justin’s story reveals that the walls we construct—whether of silence or ambition—can protect yet isolate us. We are but islands of consciousness, until we build a bridge of understanding, through trust and trust only comes from vulnerability and authenticity. Don’t mind me while I dig my toes on my island. Just know you were invited.

A moon must crest to offer its light - unf

Grab some coffee, read my bullshit thoughts. Provide feedback, be frank.

Justin’s book and poem share the title, “Beyond The Map’s Edge.” Typically, a poem's title sets the tone, provides context, encapsulates themes, and serves as a gateway to its deeper meanings.

What is the context of this title? IMHO, it originates from a rather shocking place. That’s dripping in deep sarcasm, FYI. Time for a spoiler alert 🚨: Forest FUCKING Fenn, (FFF, for short).

Below is the transcript, but you can listen to FFF for yourself for a minute or two here (29:25):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBJxGpKgJ0U&t=1765s

Interviewer:
What do you say to people who say you're crazy, or a public nuisance, or that you're like getting people to dig up outhouses, graves, national parks, or any of that kind of stuff?

Forrest Fenn:
“I pretty much agree with them [chuckles].”

Hold the fuck up! Did FFF just agree to a crazy question- yup. Jack Stuef has two videos on YouTube, this interview is one of them and he’s the one that pointed out this time-stamp and this moment in his video comments.

Forrest Fenn (continued):
“I mean, how can you be a maverick? You know, I hope somewhere in my distant past there was a pirate because I have that instinct in me, I think. I mean, I don’t— I never wanted to break the law, but I wanted to bend some of them a little bit. You know, how do you know where the edge is if you don’t go out there and look? I’m not the type of person that you’ll find walking down the centerline. It’s just not part of me.”

Interviewer:
“Do you feel like you want to inspire other people to have those feelings or to do things that are a little different than they would normally do?”

Forrest Fenn:
“I don’t know that I can inspire anybody. I mean, a personality is a personality. If you don’t have it, then you could just laugh and go play Canasta, you know? That’s the way a lot of people are. But I have inspired some people because they’ve told me that by email. You know, I would never have gone to Yellowstone or Yosemite or to Bandelier if you hadn’t lured me out there with this treasure story.”

From this, we find the context. Forrest viewed himself as a maverick—perhaps even a pirate—because of shared traits like rebellion, independence, and adventure. Both embody a spirit of nonconformity and risk-taking, driven by a desire for freedom and a history of defying societal norms. This theme of pushing boundaries and operating beyond one’s comfort zone resonates deeply.

Justin captures this sentiment in his introduction’s closing sentence:

“You might find clues to my treasure scattered through these pages. You might just find a story about a kid who never quite grew out of his treasure-hunting dreams. Either way, what you won’t get is some ghostwritten memoir where every failure leads to a perfect lesson. What you will get is an obsession laid bare—complete with bear encounters, algorithm failures, and one very patient dog. And Netflix’s *Gold & Greed: The Hunt for Fenn’s Treasure* series? I left some hints there, too. It’s waiting just beyond your comfort zone. Beyond your map’s edge.”

There you have it folks, be a pirate, a maverick, or FFF himself. If you don’t like those options, Justin has provided you with new examples, how about the Hardy Boys- often portrayed as mischievous, funny, and adventurous young detectives. No? Maybe, you better identify with a mischievous animal like a Racoon? Is that better? Justin said it himself, he enjoyed the occasional urge, “to STOKE the embers of mischief” (emphasis mine).

"Stoke" primarily means to fuel or poke a fire, figuratively encourage strong emotions (e.g., "stoke fear"), or signifies high enthusiasm ("stoked"). I read that shit as “stroked” initially. 😂

Anyhow, Justin provides clear examples like “breaking into a military base”, his “counterfeit email” to the Bursar’s Office, his “illicit midnight street races” and plenty others. What’s with all the mischief and loophole talk about in the books?

Forrest encouraged you to “bend the rules.” Does Justin want you to “find the loopholes”? This is context I perceive and view the image of Justin and his brothers as young outlaws in The Conquistador Conquest. Bandits, mischievous - and apt to explore. In that chapter, the phrase “Are we going in the right direction?” is italicized. Let’s go back to FFF and his answer above.

To distill the essence of the Q&A above, when asked if he (FFF) wants people to dig up a national park, Forrest essentially responds with a resounding, “Yup, I agree.”

Dog rules, park fees, etc - have you ruled out the hiding location based on your moral reservations? Aka, “Justin would never bury it in a National Park” or “it can’t be hidden there, cause they don’t allow dogs.”

Listen- I AM NOT asking you to do anything illegal, immoral or unethical, nor am I suggesting Justin is implying you have to- but one fact stands out: FFF’s treasure was buried in a National Park. If you had reservations and you searched for FFF’s treasure, he said it himself - a personality is a personality. And allegedly, Justin refused to use his “secret weapon” and employ Tucker. Would things be different if Justin was more like Jack and held less reservations? 🤷‍♂️

So I can be really clear, follow Justin’s advice in The Treasure Trail:

“Whatever it is, embark on this journey with the spirit of Tucker wagging his tail at the sheer possibility of it all, my father’s wisdom as a guiding light, my grandfather’s resilience, and with my brother’s sense of wonder as your compass.”

To spell it out further, use his father’ wisdom as a guiding light, particularly when he told Justin, “sometimes the real treasure is the federal crimes we don’t commit along the way.”

About wisdom - it’s interesting that Justin elected to carry over this theme. Both Justin’s and FFF's poems explore the theme of wisdom, highlighting its elusive nature. FFF suggests that wisdom comes through experience (“if you’ve been wise and found the blaze”), while Justin emphasizes the need for introspection (maybe) to uncover it (“wisdom waits in shadowed site”).

In “Seventeen Dollars a Square Inch,” Forrest Fenn uses the word “wise” and states he is “twenty-five years north” of someone, which is an unconventional way to reference age. The sentence is “After all, he was twenty-five years north of me, age wise, and a person who…”

Forrest and habit of such word play, for example in Me In The Middle, Forrest writes:

“My brother Skippy came along two years later, then it was my turn, followed by my little sister June. There were two years between me and both of them so I was in the middle and that was significant because I felt somehow surrounded. You can laugh at that if you want to, but think of it this way: Skippy was older so I looked up to him, and June was younger but I couldn't look down to her because my father wouldn't allow it.”

FFF, just dropped bars, he said June was younger but he couldn’t look down on her because his father wouldn’t allow it!

Talking about BARS and being a Middle
Child:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WILNIXZr2oc&ra=m

Sorry about the detour. You’re probably asking….So FUCKING what?

Forrest's unconventional phrasing—like being "twenty-five years north"-subtly emphasizes the idea of age as a form of wisdom, suggesting that life lessons accumulate over time in unique ways. His playful word choices often disguise deeper meanings, inviting readers to engage with the text on multiple levels. This echoes Justin's approach, where he invites readers to ponder their own experiences and the shadows of wisdom that linger just out of reach. Awaiting a journey. Justin’s exploration of wisdom closely mirrors Forrest Fenn’s insights, emphasizing that true wisdom often emerges from experience and introspection.

In “The Treasure Trail,” Justin’s father’s remark about federal crimes humorously suggests that the adventure itself holds as much value as the treasure. Both authors highlight that wisdom isn’t linear; it resides in the unexpected twists and the courage to embrace risks. Their works encourage stepping beyond comfort zones, suggesting that the real treasures may lie in the experiences along the way.

In the end, Embers of Mischief ignite a call to adventure, urging us to venture beyond the map’s edge. Justin and Forrest Fenn remind us that true treasure lies in the courage to explore the unknown and challenge norms. Embrace the thrill of discovery; wisdom often waits just beyond convention. Dive in, take risks, and let mischief guide you to hidden gems. Or don’t, you decide- right, Frank?

“From the vantage point of my warm, comfortable spot on mother earth, I could see off into infinite space and the eternity of time. In just a few hours, I thought, some of us are going to make that leap into eternity. And I will be one of the instruments of that voyage. I may also be one of the travelers....It's going to happen sooner or later. But if today is my day-I'm going to have a cup of coffee first.” - E. Haney