I’ve met many people who have lived on or worked on farms in their lives. THey all have the same funny frankness around death that has to do with the fact that they are around death so much. I dont think it is a gift or a curse but as they tell me, “it simply is”. They still cry when their grandmothers pass and they still get sad remembering old cats but their perception i guess is more real. They understand it better than any of us will who arent surrounded by it constantly. I think it is an interesting way to connect his writing to his life because he doesnt believe that the environment will eventually die. I guess i would think that someone who is so accustomed to the idea of passing on could see there was also a time and an end to the natural world but his optimism is interesting