Summer Storms
"In an event like this," he said, "your mind goes to strange places. You'll experience every emotion, from the highest highs to the lowest lows. You must understand that you may be beset by storms of powerful emotions--exhilaration, despair, fury. But like storms, the emotions pass. And like storms, these spikes of emotion have no meaning. I once ran alongside a woman who described in meticulous detail how she planned to kill her new husband, because she hated the bastard so much. Remember, strange places."
- Michael Bain as taken from http://www.badwater.com/training/bane.html
Reference: "How To Write a Song" by Joe Henry http://www.esquire.com/features/music/ESQ0701-JULY_MUSIC?click=main_sr
During this week Phoenix was besieged by summer storms, or monsoons. I believe we Phoenicians are about to enter into monsoon season, so I am sure that I will see more of these in the coming weeks. As these storms have blown through Arizona, a good friend of mine from college also blew through Arizona, specifically the southern portion of this great state, and wanted to see if we could get together. Our schedules didn't mesh, but we did have a chance to catch up over the phone--which was very entertaining and insightful.
I saw Justin in San Francisco in the latter portion of 2003. In college Justin was planning on entering the priesthood upon graduation. He's a good looking guy and his absolute disinterest in "soiling his soul" just drove the ladies crazy. Too bad he never got to capitalize on that. After graduation something happened--I wish I knew for certain--but he decided the priesthood wasn't for him, and that for the most part religion in general was a load of snake oil. That was where I left off when I departed from San Francisco, and we parted ways. That story was apparently just the beginning.
I found out this week that my friend had worked as a personal trainer for a billionaire in India. After that he started his own company, then fell in love with a woman, moved in with her, and was subsequently kicked out of their shared dwelling space as she had fallen in love with shaman. These were just the high points of 2005. Our conversation diverted, so I have no clue what happened in 2006 or 2007, let alone the chunk of missing space in 2004. I'm not exactly sure, but I am guessing that it was interesting.
Justin also shared with me that he had just gotten back to the States after spending the past month in Thailand. It was during this time that he realized that he wanted to be a musician. He's decided that he will be moving from the Bay Area of California to Austin, Texas to once again reinvent himself.
For those of you who do not recall, back in 2001 Esquire was a great magazine. I didn't have the money at the time to buy the high end stuff they were pushing, but the writing was killer. I'd like to believe that I read Joe Henry's article "How To Write a Song" in Golden Gate Park, or in the Japanese Tea Garden, but I am pretty sure that I read it on dirty sheets in my shit hole apartment. Other than his use of language and visual creation, I was floored by his concept of The Truth. According to Henry, most people are cool searching for the Truth, but are hesitant to take it up once they find it. Finding it, means that you have to stick with it and gut out some stuff, which isn't nearly as romantic as being a searcher of the Truth.
From what I can gather, my friend is still searching for the Truth--which is cool and noble. Most people either lack the chutzpa or the lack of judgement necessary to say, "Fuck it," and go off to try something that they have always wanted to do. Personally, I find it sort of odd that I am not outlandishly jealous of my friend, and his traveling, free-spirited ways. This tells me one thing: I have found my Truth. In Henry's article it was a legendary jazz musician calling him and playing "Happy Birthday" that was his "ah-ha" moment. I think my conversation with my college friend was the equivalent of this same realization for me.
Maybe all that people need to have to feel free is to know that they could change their current job, living situation and geographic location if they wanted to. Just knowing that the possibility is out there makes one's current decisions to embark down a certain path much more palateable.
Anyway, it looks like Justin will be blowing through Phoenix on his way to Austin in the next few weeks. Hopefully, I won't end up in jail on an Indian Reservation as a result of his enabling. I feel like my bad twin is locked up pretty good. The last thing I need right now is for someone to let him out of his cage.
Other than thinking these heavy thoughts, I had a mellow weekend. I got the car serviced and took my alpha pair of black cap toes in to be re-soled and re-heeled--these are the ones that I have lovingly referred to as "better than new." They will be ready tomorrow evening. I'm looking forward to sporting them along with some navy trousers and a crisp white dress shirt.
I have some new additions to my list of guilty pleasures: (1) An organized closet full of clothes back from the cleaner; (2) folding shirts that have some right out of the dryer; and finally (3) shaving with a brand new Mach 3 razor blade.
Namaste
- Michael Bain as taken from http://www.badwater.com/training/bane.html
Reference: "How To Write a Song" by Joe Henry http://www.esquire.com/features/music/ESQ0701-JULY_MUSIC?click=main_sr
During this week Phoenix was besieged by summer storms, or monsoons. I believe we Phoenicians are about to enter into monsoon season, so I am sure that I will see more of these in the coming weeks. As these storms have blown through Arizona, a good friend of mine from college also blew through Arizona, specifically the southern portion of this great state, and wanted to see if we could get together. Our schedules didn't mesh, but we did have a chance to catch up over the phone--which was very entertaining and insightful.
I saw Justin in San Francisco in the latter portion of 2003. In college Justin was planning on entering the priesthood upon graduation. He's a good looking guy and his absolute disinterest in "soiling his soul" just drove the ladies crazy. Too bad he never got to capitalize on that. After graduation something happened--I wish I knew for certain--but he decided the priesthood wasn't for him, and that for the most part religion in general was a load of snake oil. That was where I left off when I departed from San Francisco, and we parted ways. That story was apparently just the beginning.
I found out this week that my friend had worked as a personal trainer for a billionaire in India. After that he started his own company, then fell in love with a woman, moved in with her, and was subsequently kicked out of their shared dwelling space as she had fallen in love with shaman. These were just the high points of 2005. Our conversation diverted, so I have no clue what happened in 2006 or 2007, let alone the chunk of missing space in 2004. I'm not exactly sure, but I am guessing that it was interesting.
Justin also shared with me that he had just gotten back to the States after spending the past month in Thailand. It was during this time that he realized that he wanted to be a musician. He's decided that he will be moving from the Bay Area of California to Austin, Texas to once again reinvent himself.
For those of you who do not recall, back in 2001 Esquire was a great magazine. I didn't have the money at the time to buy the high end stuff they were pushing, but the writing was killer. I'd like to believe that I read Joe Henry's article "How To Write a Song" in Golden Gate Park, or in the Japanese Tea Garden, but I am pretty sure that I read it on dirty sheets in my shit hole apartment. Other than his use of language and visual creation, I was floored by his concept of The Truth. According to Henry, most people are cool searching for the Truth, but are hesitant to take it up once they find it. Finding it, means that you have to stick with it and gut out some stuff, which isn't nearly as romantic as being a searcher of the Truth.
From what I can gather, my friend is still searching for the Truth--which is cool and noble. Most people either lack the chutzpa or the lack of judgement necessary to say, "Fuck it," and go off to try something that they have always wanted to do. Personally, I find it sort of odd that I am not outlandishly jealous of my friend, and his traveling, free-spirited ways. This tells me one thing: I have found my Truth. In Henry's article it was a legendary jazz musician calling him and playing "Happy Birthday" that was his "ah-ha" moment. I think my conversation with my college friend was the equivalent of this same realization for me.
Maybe all that people need to have to feel free is to know that they could change their current job, living situation and geographic location if they wanted to. Just knowing that the possibility is out there makes one's current decisions to embark down a certain path much more palateable.
Anyway, it looks like Justin will be blowing through Phoenix on his way to Austin in the next few weeks. Hopefully, I won't end up in jail on an Indian Reservation as a result of his enabling. I feel like my bad twin is locked up pretty good. The last thing I need right now is for someone to let him out of his cage.
Other than thinking these heavy thoughts, I had a mellow weekend. I got the car serviced and took my alpha pair of black cap toes in to be re-soled and re-heeled--these are the ones that I have lovingly referred to as "better than new." They will be ready tomorrow evening. I'm looking forward to sporting them along with some navy trousers and a crisp white dress shirt.
I have some new additions to my list of guilty pleasures: (1) An organized closet full of clothes back from the cleaner; (2) folding shirts that have some right out of the dryer; and finally (3) shaving with a brand new Mach 3 razor blade.
Namaste
posted by Zen_Accountant at 8:41 PM
3 Comments:
A massage, lemon drop martinis (no sugar on the rim--it makes my fingers sticky), IV demerol with fentanyl
(just discovered that one last Friday).
The illusion of control does make one feel more powerful. In reality, there is no security. Everything you and I have or love can be taken in a flash. But, we do have the option to accept and even embrace change. Your friend, Jason, seems to have exceeded the limits of the bell curve on this particular skill set. I wonder what he is learning as he moves from experience to experience? I feel sad that he has lost his faith. The combination of spirituality and journeying is
profound
Your friend certainly sounds like an interesting guy. I used to be jealous of people like that. People who could just pick up and experience whatever life had to offer. When I fully came to accept/realize that life is full of trade-offs, I stopped being jealous. I have a friend who is similar except her passion is backpacking. She works just hard enough to afford shelter, equipment, and 2 month backpacking trips. Then came the day the bones in her foot started to separate and she had no health insurance. Walking was tough until she could get it fixed. I realized I like the trade-off of a steady job with health insurance.
Aunt Shelly is right that you can be hit by a bus on your way home tonight but that doesn't mean control over your life is an illusion. You have a significant amount of control over the events in your life. I've been diligently working to achieve what I've achieved in my life, and I'm happy here. I truly believe that in general my current life is exactly what I've been working to achieve. True, maybe I didn't know the specifics at the beginning but that doesn't mean I didn't have control.
Remember the conversations we had about elite athletes. How they have to give up a lot to attain their goals. Well I see Justin in the same group except instead of an athlete he is an elite traveler.
MAD
A close friend of mine, travels where the wind pushes him. He has lived in a little VW van and surfed around new zealand while squatting, and bumming meals from locals he meets. He taught english for a year in Japan until that became old. He has traveld extensively through tailand and then will come back to the states to go where his interest are perked. Sort of like the guy from "into the wild."
After sharing a few beers with him, it was sad, I think he was actually lonely, and in the process of "finding himself" he has really lost his way. Yes, he does have great stories, and close calls, and great trinkets to add detail to the stories, but that's it. My friend is an elite traveler as MAD puts it, but w/o a place to call home. Maybe that fits certain people, but man I love coming home and being able to partake in some of my guilty pleasures, like a gin and tonic and watching the sun set.
I find for myself that freedom, is being comfortable at failing something, but then attempting to concur it, get back on the horse. Whether it is a climbing route, or even a relationship. Deep topics, need to have a few beers to delve deeper I'm afraid friends.
Skyshark
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