bringing things up to speed

“Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans”

John Lennon said that. I wouldn’t want to belong to any church, mosque, temple or other religious outfit that wouldn’t acknowledge that Saint John.

This past year it was my good fortune to be spending several months meditating and serving at a vipassana center. If you have any way to attend a course in this practice, I highly recommend it. For me it has been something of a mental enema - helping me keep the piles of mental feces knocked down to fairly reasonable levels. There is no money charged to attend vipassana courses and the benefits can be priceless. I made some exceptional memories and friendships passing through "dhamma-land."

I also spent a month banging around Detroit. All in all it was a good time, despite some unfortunate and sordid dealings with law enforcement concerning bogus 15 year old charges against one of my companions (after she had spent a week in jail a judge was persuaded by the facts to dismiss it).



After Detroit I spent some time with family and making some inquiries with a few medical professionals who didn’t appear to be total quacks or entirely in the pockets of the legalized drug dealers. I was put through a battery of tests which ultimately didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know. They meant well and we agreed to change up some medications which have helped.

By this time I had convinced myself that I was going to return to my adopted roots in the southern mid atlantic coastal region and go back to school. Since I was 12 I’ve never gone to school and not worked at least one job. I was looking forward to the idea.

However, after the excitement of looking things over and applying and moving began to fade and I stood back a little and thought about the time and the money, my feelings began to shift.

As optimistic as I try to be, part of me can’t duck being pragmatic about the health challenge I’m working to evolve past. It won’t stop me, but it can beat me down. I want to squeeze as much out of life as I can, while I can.

I’ve always wanted to travel as just a tourist. In 2005, I was afforded the great gift of traveling briefly to London and Bangkok (thanks will never be enough Jules).

With the school acceptance letter and a newly signed lease on an apartment, I was debating what to do when Synchronicity took a hand in things, as She has Mind to do.

The saying is that devils tend to be in the details (they get a lot of bad rap for as much of God’s work that they seem to do). I’m no angel and who ever is handling it, the details have been working themselves out..



Long story short; over the course of the last three weeks, arrangements have been made and I leave on a flight to Thailand in less than a week.

A month later I’ll be headed for Cambodia.

Beyond that, I can’t yet say. China and the Philippines have been mentioned. India and Egypt are also on my list. So are Portugal, Europe, Guatemala and Peru. Bit of a global walk-a-bout, hopefully it will be at least mildly amusing for those watching it unfold.

The truth is I've never been very consistent with letter writing and this blog should (hopefully) serve as a way to keep a certain few interested parties up to date on (most) of my activities (as far as they know). If along the way I amuse or even incite an occasional reflective thought with my screeds, all the better.

High praise, shameless flattery, thoughtful comments and monetary gifts are always welcome.

Criticism and questions are considered (though not necessarily acknowledged, answered or acted on).