Every day can be the trip of a lifetime.
This one is going to be hard. Hard to write. Hard to read. Maybe hard to process. But, it is what it is. It is reality. It is what is happening right here and right now. And right now I'm in Costa Rica for a week, just here, just being with what has transpired and … Continue reading Cruel and Unusual Punishment
As I look in the side view mirror, I can see death gaining on me as I travel down this road of life. Every breath, closer to death. That goes for all of us. It's been a rough couple of weeks. I am unable to perform live music these days. I had to cancel band … Continue reading Objects in Mirror are Closer Than They Appear
I just sold my bicycle. My last bicycle. What, you only have one bicycle? Just like guitars, I've had three of more in the home at any given moment. My final bicycle was a real hum dinger. Close to the top-of-the-line, straight-bar, electric-assist, built in lights and very expensive. It gave me a few years … Continue reading The Impermanence of Bicycle Riding
As I reminisce about the long and wonderful life I've had, I realize I've enjoyed so many small but enjoyable experiences—experiences that when I look back on, I really appreciate my life even more. I recently have come to label these experiences "Magic Moments." They come in different shapes and sizes; most are full of … Continue reading This Magic Moment – The Music Edition
My formal introduction to Theravada Buddhism was in 2018 at Wat Arun in Bangkok, Thailand. Laurie and I had wandered in to the Meditation Center and meditated. When we were finished we were greeted by Mr. Hartanto Gunawan, the director of the center. The meditation center also includes an LNA program for at-risk girls and … Continue reading A Man of Many Lists
As we squeezed into the elevator at The Inn at Longwood Medical, right beside DFCI, I couldn't help but strike up a conversation. It’s just a Massachusetts habit I guess. I turned to the two women across from us and asked where they were visiting from. They were from out of town, so naturally, my … Continue reading 14. The Guinea Pig, Day 138.
Our Balinese family's persistent invitations to experience Nyepi, their day of silence, finally came to fruition on our fourth Bali adventure. Nyepi, the Balinese lunar new year, is marked by a complete island-wide stillness. I'd heard about it, but experiencing it is something else entirely. The airport is closed down for a full twenty-four hours. Every business … Continue reading Falling Silent with Grace & Gratitude
First, a little housekeeping. If you're new here or don't have the whole story, I recommend starting at chapter one - click here A little over thirty years ago a got an up-close, first hand look at what death from prostate cancer looked like. My step-father had recently passed away and we had hospice services … Continue reading 13. Death as Teacher
Today I'm sharing a poem that I read in a book gifted to me by a dear friend. The book, The Poetry of Impermanence, Mindfulness and Joy, contains over one hundred poems. This one poem stuck out. I come back to it every few days. If You Knew, by Ellen Bass What if you knew … Continue reading 12. The Guinea Pig, Day 33
When the dust settlesThen we'll visitAnd hugBut not too hardWe can bring along our tearsAnd make it rain And see what grows But the dust never settles So we should say goodbyeEvery time we part ways That short poem just flowed today. Right out, with no effort. I had a brief conversation last year with … Continue reading 11. The Guinea Pig, Day 4
Which Country From? 