Life's Gift

 Loving Grace

Spring on the way

I am still writing, reading, speaking, listening, deeply concerned about our world's horrors while simultaneously in awe of the wonder of life

22

I hope you can manifest joy and courage with healthy relationships with members of the world

New

I recently taught what was most likely my final class at my language center, although it was remote, hundreds of miles away from NYC.  I wrote a similar post in June when I taught my final class actually located at the center before a four month hiatus to focus on reviewing my writing.  I was unexpectedly offered this evening class the day after I told my other school I wasn't available because I didn't reside in the city anymore.  The past eight weeks of this online class formed a helpful bridge allowing me to keep my savings from dwindling before my first full family reunion in two years.  I'm having a blast playing with my four year-old nephew, chatting with my sister and brother-in-law, and watching my parents delight in playing their roles as grandparents.  

When I began this class, I initially planned to be off for the holidays, and if they really wanted me back I would consider it in the new year.  But after eight weeks of talking to black squares representing students, more than half of whom were hardly ever even there, I've had enough.  Last night there were quite a few of the usual expressions of gratitude, for which I am thankful, and I will likely miss their company somewhat.  Then again, I've done this so many times that it doesn't mean so much to me anymore when we all say good bye.  Although it feels anti-climactic, I am realizing that it's been eight years working for this school, the chronological equivalent of two presidential terms.  I'd never been in a job for a full year before this one, so I think I'm ready for something new that helps me grow.

Moving on often makes me happily sentimental, and I enjoyed listening to certain songs while recalling all the glowing faces of those intriguing souls, each from distant places with myriad goals

One to one to one

Reviewing my piece, I'm not a fan of the beginning or the end, but I'm working on them, and I like most of what's in between

Tracks

 

 I love having fires under the stars

After Work Evenings

 A brisk jaunt with the Milky Way

Benefits

 Yes, it's ice cold, but I can see snow on the mountain peaks, and I'm keeping the fire going while the stars are glowing

I wanted to say something today...

So, here goes:

"Hello! How are you?  I hope you pull through in whatever you set out to do, as long as it brings joy to some section of the omni U"

Survival

The Sunday night before this annual October holiday, for about half of my life, I have taken some time to be more thankful than usual that I am alive.  This is because when I was 17 years old I crashed a car into a telephone pole, which snapped in half and missed my car by a few feet when it fell.

Well, after my visit to New York City to see a beautiful show by Hiromi Uehara and her Piano Quintet, I will always be thankful on Saturday's this annual October holiday, because I had another near brush with the reaper yesterday afternoon, which I will write about once I can process the events.  Even so, I had a fantastic visit to the city, and really needed all of that, including the scary near death experience.

Love and light to you, reader.

We're something and not nothing, which is everything 

The Show

I'm getting pumped for my first concert in almost two years!

77 days away from paying work, schedules imposed by others, and urban atmospheres have provided me with a blessed abundance of reading inspired by my own real stories, which are teaching me important lessons and reminding me of certain ideas and ideals which have guided me to beautiful treasures in the past.  This is a welcome experience in this often solitary existence this summer, with an uncertain but potentially bright near future on the horizon.

I am thankful for all the energies which came together to present me with these incredible resources so that I understand my journeys and the world's stories along the way each day

Moving

 Today I think I finished my current NYC English as a foreign language teaching job.  I'm not sure yet... it's been a weird year to say the least.  I kept expecting this job to end for various reasons the past year, and even thought I'd have to find a new job/profession years ago.  The dollar was too strong, the state department cut visa approvals in half, and then a deadly pandemic threatened to put us out of business.  Then I didn't have enough hours and thought I needed to quit, but they gave me more.  Then we got bought out and they sold the location where I work, but the class has been the same for half a year.  I've been reporting to work 3/5 a week for the past month, remembering what it's like to live in New York City after a year away, but the students mostly haven't.  They've stayed online.  That's contributed to my decision to to take off the next three-month session for various reasons.  Mostly, I just want to focus on sorting through piles of writing that have accumulated over the past decade, but just as importantly, I technically don't have a residence in the city, as I've been staying in a friend's extra bedroom (his roommate also left during the pandemic).  But I do have a free place to stay in, and it's far from subways, city humidity, asphalt, sirens, other people's bass and anything remotely resembling a crowd.

I will write a longer post in a few days when I've had some time to digest this milestone.  Last night my subconscious was well aware it was my "NYC morning routine" day, so of course it kept me awake until some time after Thursday, and therefore it's been hard to be too emotional about anything today, although I will think often of these English as a foreign language students I've met in New York City

A Traveling Discussion

Mountains

Today I talked with fun people from all around the world, wrote my thoughts in public, ate healthy food, read news articles, took a nap, read a great book about adventure in a foreign country, hiked a mountain, read some poetry, drank a beer, enjoyed a nice supper, listened to great music, canoed, listened to wind playing with trees, gave many thanks

I Remember You

 Well hello, I just noticed I didn't write on here for the month of April, so I thought I'd come around.  I got a new laptop today, because the other one had been on the outs for the last five months.  Anyway, this is the first thing I've written on this keyboard.  Nice to meet you and your keys, keyboard!  We will know each other very well quite soon

Simple Bear Necessities

To follow bliss: healthy food, enthusiastic exercise, interesting books, soulful music, glowing nature, scintillating conversation, lovable people

Remember, My Fellow Worthy Individuals

Know there is goodness, creativity, intellect, bravery, kindness in people

Chick Returns to Forever

 Until this year, I'd been slowly exploring Chick Corea's discography.  He was one of Hiromi Uehara's influences and mentors, so a year ago I began exploring his fusion supergroup Return to Forever as part of a larger exploration of 1970s jazz fusion groups (including The Weather Report and Mahavishnu Orchestra).  I stepped it up in the New Year and spent more mornings than not listening to one of his albums while I showered, made breakfast and got ready before class.  Some of them were very long, and I continued them while making lunch.  His works spanned traditional jazz classics, far out fusion, and expert covers of classical pieces.  I got up to 2006, The Ultimate Adventure, but was saving it for a special session.  Yesterday morning I listened to his most recent record, "Plays," which covers an eclectic variety of classical and jazz.  Unbeknownst to the public, he had left the day before. I hope his spirit is soaring through the universe as I write.