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