We’ve been traveling since late November starting in Nairobi, Kenya, on to the fabled nature preserve of Masa Mara in Western Kenya, on to Tanzania – the Serengeti Nature preserve, Selu River, and to Zanzibar in December. At Christmas and New Year’s Eve in Mozambique visiting one of our dear friends who is the new Peace Corps director. On New Year’s Eve a bunch of people came together for music and drumming, with a huge fireworks explosion over Maputo harbor. Then on to the next two months through Lesotho, Swaziland, and South Africa, more amazing, beautiful, and complex culture than we could had imagined. Our journey thus far of some 10,000 kilometers, that has lead us here to Cape Town, then on to Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana for a week at Victoria Falls. Turkish Airlines had a super cheap deal we could not refuse, the chance to spend 48 hours in Istanbul on our way back to New York. It has been a life-long dream to visit, understand, explore, and be awed by the sights we have seen on the journey so far. The cost? What is the price and value of living one of your life time dreams? In our four month stroll through Africa we’ve been astonished and surprised at every turn. In particular, it is the joy and fun of meeting people from all walks of life from former prisoners of Robben Island in Cape Town, our hosts along the way, the house party where I performed in Johannesburg and met a fabulous fun group of people, the bright and courageous activists in Soweto who are creating art schools for underprivileged kids, and other activists leading cultural tours in the impoverished townships. Musicians of all kind surprised us at every turn. Yesterday, we went along the southern coast near Cape Town and a lovely duo Fusa and Zoe were unexpectedly playing. I gave a concert of classical guitar/ flamenco in Eastern South Africa in Blythe Canyon for people who had never heard this kind of music. This is the pure joy of traveling, allowing the spontaneous surprise to emerge. The most unforgettable moments are watching children going to school, some with their mom, dad, or their older sibling holding their hands. Many of the children came from the impoverished Townships and yet despite the lack of water and basic services the uniforms were spotless. This is the enduring dignity of people that we have met – the poorest people with their hope and vision for a better life for their children. Oh, did I forget to tell you about the wildlife? Our original impetus had been to see the great wildlife migration of Wildebeest, Gazelles, and animals. The kind you see on the National Geographic Channel, but the opportunity to see the great five – rhinos, African buffalo, elephants, lions, and cheetahs… there is a spell binding enchantment as we roamed through the great animal preserves of Masa Mara and the Serengeti. Though we have been to zoos around the world, nothing compares to seeing these beautiful animals in the wild… all manner of gazelles, zebras of all stripes (sorry, couldn’t help myself), antelopes, giraffes, and that is only the tip of the astonishing variety of creatures. It is a veritable Garden of Eden. This was never so much true as seeing Ngorongoro crater, the most pristine valley in Tanzania, and the largest volcanic crater in the world. At sunrise, watching the light over this verdant pristine land gave me the feeling of how the gods first imagined and created the world. All the creature from flamingos, to wildebeest, lions, antelopes, the rare black rhinos, and birds of all kind who swooped above us. We were truly in the Garden of Eden. Too often, in the West, our view of Africa is of incredible poverty, vast slums, and misfortune galore, while that is true to an extent and important to consider in our travels, more vital is the amazing diversity and beauty we found in our journeys. We have been energized to meet, advise, and help people with their local community projects. In particular, young activists who have a ton of dreams and need a wee bit of organizational planning. But the brightest stars on our journey have been all the school children in their uniforms all with their backpacks bursting with possibilities. For us as senior travels, in our mid-sixties, we have our share of aches and pain, but we are vibrantly healthy in our passion and curiosity. We still walk between five to fifteen kilometers a day and we are travel junkies. Though we have visited about 100 countries and counting, we are even more animated and curious about the world. Simply, we could not imagine a life where we did not travel. Our budget is modest, out lodgings simple, and If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing the vast beautiful areas of the Serengeti, the Masa Mara, the bewitching beauty of South Africa’s Wild Coast, the dreamy enchantment of Zanzibar, moonlight over Maputo harbor, to para-glide off the top of Table Mountain and dance hundreds of meter high in the wind, and to know that you have only tasted a tiny bit of this extraordinary enchantment of the world. In the weeks to come we will journey on to Victoria Falls, more of South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and finally winging home via Istanbul. Come and visit this extraordinary beautiful land and discover this enchanted corner of the globe yourself.
Dar Es Salaam Tanzania 14-16 December 2018
On the 14th through the 16th we were in Dar es Salaam. Flying in from Julius Nyeere airport. Dar es Salaam – like many African cities bursting with overpopulation, lack of opportunity, intense poverty, lack of electricity and clean drinking water for the majority of the people. One of the things that struck me however was how civilized driving was. After spending time in Algeria earlier this year, there wasn’t much horn beeping were aggressive driving. The other problem we saw in Arusha was the cops constantly engaged in shaking drivers down. It was kind of funny in a weird way. There was no radar or speed gun, the cop would say you were going to miles above the speed limit give me $12. Then they would give a printed receipt from a machine that look like a credit card reader. A very legitimate appearing receipt. But, the police are paid a pittance, and this low-level racketeering is endorsed. We could’ve stayed at the higher end part of town by the beach, but we thought we could take in the older museums and the monuments. However, the downtown is broken sidewalks, buildings that look worn and shabby, and the waterfront was strewn with trash. On this Sunday morning of the 16th we walked around the older part of Dar es Salaam. The previous night we had been at a vegetarian restaurant called Swastik. Though the swastika is an ancient Indian symbol it had been sadly hijacked by the Nazis. We met our dear friend Sarah who has worked with us for the past several years. She is on a fellowship here in Dar es Salaam. It was wonderful to get her local knowledge on this. It is exciting to seeing a young friend approaching life and her adventures internationally in the way we did some 40 years ago. During the daytime the city seems relatively safe, but it is dodgy at night. It is a simple equation. It’s just that there is so much poverty that even purse snatching or worse, is the alternative. Generally, we say hello and greet people in Swahili. It is part of our campaign always the matter where we are to master at least the basic 50 words. In some countries it is less and another countries a bit more. On a Sunday it was very peaceful. Very calm. Tanzania is divided roughly half-and-half between Muslims and Christians. So on this Sunday it was very pleasant to walk around the old part of the city. No charm nor anything truly memorable. We did walk by one Lutheran Church close to the waterfront. Oddly they had a German Lutheran mass. There is also a Catholic Cathedral St. Joseph’s. We did not go in since both were full. There is also a mosque a few blocks away that was closed. I am sure like all mosque it would be open to us if we wanted to pray.In the morning at about 430 I enjoyed the sound of the first prayer call. Dar Es Salaam much like most other third world cities is deeply divided. Though we are only here too brief over time, it is a familiar tale. This downtown area that has grown so shabby and worn, and then a few kilometers uptown is the beach area where the international community and the embassies are. It was like taking a rocket-ship to a different planet. We ate at Salt for an Sunday afternoon brunch. All the things that I can’t eat, pancakes and waffles, and it is like being at Bella’s dinner in New York. The only thing missing was the maple syrup. As a Vermonter, it is sacrilege to eat a pancake or waffle without maple syrup. Not just your ordinary maple syrup, but grade B syrup is best with that slightly smoky flavor. Though we are fairly lightweight travelers, generally we travel with some maple syrup and coffee. Delicious first world breakfast! We so enjoyed the time with Sarah and hearing of her adventures in Tanzania. Her story of staying overnight in a Masai Mara home, while welcoming, made my delicate stomach cringe. It is not just the idea of drinking blood and cow’s milk together, but according to her story you pee wherever you want, and you defecate outside the gate. No one washes with soap. There is none. There is no such thing as filtered water. I am sure their got ecology is robust and bullets would bounce off of it. I bet you none of them suffer Crohn’s disease. It is all those invincible parasites. However, I will take a cup of yogurt to assuage my delicate digestion. I know there are travelers, who eats street food in Calcutta to Shanghai, and I am jealous of their intrepidness; however, my gut is made for slightly more refined fare. Sorry to be a woos! Sarah’s story of after the dinner, they would store it underneath the floor and the mice would come out and eat all the leftovers from the pots and pans. She was trying to sleep and kept hearing the sound of mice crawling across the pots. I am waiting for her to write down the story. That evening after we said goodbye to Sarah we went to this incredible first world shopping plaza on the waterfront, the Slipway. It was as if we had landed in Miami Beach or some first world waterfront Esplanade, but this Esplanade was filled with Tanzanians, Africans of all color, lots of East Asians, and a diversity of Mazungos (white people/ foreigners) We had dinner at a Thai restaurant on the waterfront and watching the sun going down across the harbor in Dar es Salaam. The sound of a disco in the background, children wheeling around on little bicycles, families strolling along the Promenade, and occasional women in a burqa, a few women in the multicolored scarves for a hijab. The conversations in the wind were of Swahili, English with accents of all kinds,
AFRICA TRAVELS
Friday, November 9, 2018 AFRICA THE START OF THE JOURNAL November 2nd in Vermont Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Mozambique, Swaziland, and South Africa 9 Nov 2018 I have never been on Safari in Africa. Venturing to see the wildlife Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, and Kruger in South Africa. Safari, from the Arabic word of Safar, to travel. I love these various words for travel, journey, perhaps best, always is “Walkabout” a journey and travel to discover self. I have been an armchair traveler when it comes to the wilds of East Africa and to the amazing game reserves. On the wildlife channel and other places I’ve seen the astonishing diversity of wildlife from birds to lions, chimps and elephants and everything in between. I do not like going to zoo’s they are too depressing. It’s like going to a state prison and gawking at the prisoners and wondering why they’re there. I’ve seen amazing zoos in London with the tiger enclosure and the big open spaces for wildlife in zoos trying to create a natural habitat for the animals; however, as well intentioned as they are, It is still a prison for animals. As humans continue to willfully and sometimes intentionally destroy this Paradise of nature, it really does compel me to think about this word of humanity. I am not too worried about my safety with animals. I’ve been a vegetarian for 45 years. I have an agreement with the animal kingdom, I don’t eat them and they’re not supposed to eat me. I have been trying to communicate this message as widely as possible in all the countries where we are visiting. I assume that the wildlife will kind of see me and Zoe with a neon halo above our heads, and when they get hungry though go for the carnivores. That is our working thesis we will let you know how effective this has been. Though I have read much of Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Rwanda, Mozambique and South Africa… This will be the start of a three-month adventure in November 20 72 the beginning of March. Though I work full time as a writer and artist, I have the freedom to take this three-month journey with my Zoe. We have been cogitating on doing this trip for several years and after several delays we are finally doing this. A friend of ours Megan has a friend’s wedding in Kenya and we will travel together for a little bit With so much information you tube videos, and the plethora of information I feel like I’ve been there already. However, no matter how good your imagination is ain’t nothing like the real thing. There is so much wildlife tourism and how do we choose the wisest path? Getting ready for three-month trip The rule we try to follow which often doesn’t happen is to travel light. For myself, I generally fail. I travel with my guitar, a tennis racket stored in the guitar case, an Eagle Cree suitcase on wheels, my computer, my Nikon D 3200 camera, a backup Olympus camera, cell phone, chargers, and then with all that stuff we add a wee bit of clothes. We try to choose one climate zone per trip. Last year we had stopped in Iceland in late November and it was frigid. So we had to pack for Iceland and Spain. In East to southern Africa the temperature will be moderate to warm. Some hiking shoes, sandals, and just enough cloths to get by. Not to look like the grubby backpackers we were as youngsters, but stylish enough for Safari trip in both the city and the wilderness of Africa I know that this trip is privilege with a capital P! Huge privilege! Granted we have both worked diligently to afford this privilege, but as we have often traveled and lived in Third World countries, we are acutely aware of the economic disparity. I am uncomfortable with poverty. I feel like a Zillionaire compared to most people we will meet on the trip. The majority of people on the planet do not have access to clean drinking water, sanitation, adequate food, and shelter is often precarious. How do we travel simply without the glaring ostentatiousness? Of course, you can’t. Even more so as white elderly travelers, even as modestly as you may travel, especially in most parts of Africa you are seen as a wealthy white person. Is there a peace with this? Even being on these Safari trips to Kenya and Tanzania, they are designed to protect the wildlife and habitat. It is also a vital part of the local economy. By creating these wildlife preserves, sometimes as big as the state of Rhode Island, or even a fraction of that, the tourism is essential. RELUCTANT TOURIST We all have a slight reluctance to travel. Some people I know absolutely hate traveling and never want to leave their hometown. I can understand the desire to stay with the same level of comfort and familiarity. But we both love adventure and travel. In particular, I like meeting people on the road. As an artist and writer I love doing projects that involve people where we travel to. We’ve done community theater art projects as far south this Chile, over to Palestine and Algeria, , community activists projects in the Dominican Republic, humanitarian trips in Haiti and other places in the globe. Each new place and destination, each person that I met along the way enriches me. And I hope equally that it is an enriching experience with them as well. I find that I am the best that I am on the road. There is a freedom and unattached by the daily expectations. We meet new people and it is a discovery. Some of those relationships on the road have lasted all of our lives. Some simply for the moment. Though I am at heart a Libra homebody, I often find my home wherever I am.
1 May 2018 – Oh, no! Traveling again
1 May in Vermont and one of the last things I want to do is travel now. I am awake at 5 AM and starting to write. This is my morning routine at Blue Heron pond– I wake up, make coffee and start to create. I think of the line from Prufrock by T.S. Eliot every time, “”I have measure my life out in coffee spoons.” I love to sit at my desk overlooking b lue Heron pond. It is one of the most serene places on the globe. There is peace, tranquility and focus. I am so at home here. Yet, I find myself getting ready to travel for two months. We have just come back from several months in New Orleans with a big art show “Pornography of War and building a Peaceable Community,” then on to Guatemala, and points in between. My Zoe and I are gypsy homebodies. Yet, we love the discovery of traveling. We love the bazaars of cultures, languages, wonderful people we meet on the road, and the adventures we can’t even imagine. We are inveterate travelers. There are some travelers who can put a toothbrush and a change of underwear in their shoulder bag and be ready to wander the globe. I am jealous of that simplicity. Perhaps that is something we would do when we were younger, but now in our seventh decade we like a wee bit more comfort in our travel. My travel bag includes my sketchpad and black case for my colored pencils. Of course there is a laptop and a cell phone. A camera. Then there is my guitar and harmonica and a few changes of clothes. As kids we would travel the globe with some cash (not much and sometimes less) and a lot of optimism, but a credit card and some careful planning makes life far easier. When we were younger and first traveling in Europe we would sleep on the train overnight and arrive at our city to wander around during the day. Then when the last night train would pullout we would tumble into a 3rd class seat exhausted by all our discoveries and dream of our next place the following day. But I prefer my one to two star hotels now. I prefer my Eagle Creek backpack on wheels versus the heavy rucksacks. I have surrendered some of the spontaneity, but there is a joy in slowly savoring and discovering the world. I am not interested in simply putting another notch on my belt of a country that I visited. Instead, I love how we discover new colors and ways to see the world. It is not only in the cities and the monuments, but this incredible beautiful world that we live in from oceans to mountains, forests and jungles and all places between. Even as a poet, I find myself faltering for words, and simply capture the experience in a sigh of surprise. In my journeys and writings I hope to offer people the sense of how I look and travel. I am best armed with my sense of wonder. Though we are experienced in travel, it is always the task to look with beginner eyes as in the Zen expression beginner eyes. One does not need to travel to exotic corners of the globe to have beginner eyes. Living in this small corner of Southern Vermont there is more than enough enchantment to occupy us for our entire lives. As the poem by William Blake suggests, “To see heaven in a wildflower and eternity in a grain of sand.” Imagine if we could simply be aware of the incredible beauty in each moment. It is a lot of fun being on the road connecting with old friends and making new friends. I love the surprise of traveling. Setting aside our expectations don’t we all become a bit complacent at home? We know where the light switch is in the middle of the night and we can find our way to the bathroom in the pitch black. We know where the switch is for the coffee maker without looking. I have my guitars and all my drawing pads here. Who would want to leave? Not me. But on Friday we take off on Aer Lingus to Dublin for 12 hours. The flight only takes about five hours and we stumble into the airport and grab a bus downtown. My Zoe is a genius when it comes to traveling. She scheduled a massage for us at 11 AM in Dublin on Saturday morning. She is more of the planner and I am eternally grateful. At noon we take in a play by Bernard Shaw with our friends. Then wander around downtown Dublin for a few hours and stumble on a plane to Portugal. See it is not that different than when we were kids. Though we have been to Portugal before this is the first time we will visit the South, Faro. I am looking forward to Fado music. This is another opportunity for me to mutilate another language. Though we are both Spanish speakers and 70% of Portuguese is similar, we won’t be there long enough to gain any kind of mastery. We are the masters of the 50 word lexicon in any country. With the exception of Chinese and Hungarian. it is absolutely glorious on blue Heron pond today 6 AM the sun is rising just over the treetops. Though I am looking to the West the light is illuminating the sky and clouds. 1 May is a harbinger of the glorious and magnificent spring. How could I even think of leaving and missing this beauty? But a series of circumstances, opportunities, and the chance to see both the French and Italian open tennis tournaments. Yes visiting with lots of friends along the way and our Algerian family in June for a wedding is fabulous. But being at the French Open and watching Rafa Nadal and the great stars of
Tech Support: How can I help you
Tech Support: Can I help you? I’m afraid. I’m sorry sir, I can’t understand you I’m afraid… ah… Don’t be afraid, sir. Why would you be afraid? The computer I mean, it isn’t doing what I need it to do, its stuck, frozen. Did you turn it off? No, I’m afraid to turn it off, I might lose the data. What kind of data are you trying to save? A … form… for… insurance and…. I will try to give as much assurance as possible. No, you didn’t hear me correctly, IN surance. Gees, don’t they teach you English Ah, sorry, the connection is poor, you know that at our call enter we don’t always have the clearest signal. English is my first language. Where are you? In the Philippines, sir. Uh…I hear life is tough there, tsunami, hurricanes, and stuff. Ah, yes, it is tough here, as you say, dengue fever, malaria, no electricity. I’m very sorry sir. (His voice trails off) I guess I’m afraid too. You’re afraid, you’re a kid. I can hear it from your voice, you can’t be that old. Sir, about your computer? No, you have nothing to be afraid of. My life… my life is… Sir? At least you’re a free country – we freed your country, we gave you liberty, and you’re young. Uhm, I’m sorry sir, but that isn’t true. I really want to help you with your computer that is stuck. What isn’t true? Sir, please, read a bit of history, our country, the Philippines was occupied by the US and hundreds of thousands died. Nonsense, we’re a democratic country, we have jobs and booming economy…kind of Booming economy, and as soon as I get this damn computer unfrozen I have another job application that will surely get me work. Sir, so you need help with the computer so you can finish your job application? Damn straight, then we can get the god damn creditors off of our back! You think you have it tough. I make $2.00 an hour at the call center, support seven people on that. I have a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering in a country that can’t even provide decent electricity! This damn call center job is 12 hours a day and the toilet doesn’t even work! Last week a monsoon shut down the city for three days! That is tough! I’m sorry, my friend, you sound like a talented young man who is having a hard time. Sir, I’m sorry, I lost my temper. I’m sorry, I’m about to lose my home that I’ve lived in for the past 22 years, my company was downsized and the entire factory moved to China, I’m about to lose everything, the home, all we have left is a used car, and mobile home in the back How big is your mobile home? About 600 square feet, a bathroom, small kitchen, and… Sir, it is twice as big as my apartment in Manila, except I have my in-laws, my mother, and my two kids…I’m not complaining, but you own the mobile home. Why, yes, free and clear, and I guess… but I don’t want to lose this home, this is everything, I’m afraid. I had worked so hard Sir, at least you have the mobile home, you have unemployment, but here we are always walking on a glass floor, beneath us is an abyss, I’m lucky I can make $2. an hour, but many can’t even make that. We’re totally….screwed… your country.. the USA has devoured so much of the world… and you and I are victims. We’re victims? Yes, we’re victims, you can’t run your computer and your jobs have moved to China. Though I can build a computer from the ground up I can’t…there’s not enough electricity to run the building. We’re all walking on a glass floor. Three million homeless in your country, 15% or more unemployment, and the Philippines is a natural disaster zone. But the problem today is your computer, and I’m afraid if my boss heard me talking with you for so long I would be fired So, you can help me? I don’t know, but don’t be afraid. I wish I could, I’m not sure.
Travel Is An Essential Color to our Souls’ Palette
Travel is an essential color in my palette of wonder. The comfort of my home in the woods, overlooking blue heron pond, with all my creative toys, holds me in a serene enchantment… but the wind carries fragrances from exotic lands, birds land on my porch with stories in their wings, and the clouds with their tales of journeys invite me to wander the globe. I am a homebody and I am at home on the road traveling with my love, guided by an insatiable curiosity, delighting in meeting new people, and savoring the feast of life and wonder. On the Ganges river at sunrise, with the smoke and fire of offerings and cremations, the stench and beauty of the morning burns in our soul. Snow-capped Annapurna mountains at midnight, moonlight full simmering luminescent fire that threatened to drown the world in beauty. A melody of wonder in the most perfect symphony. Venice the serene city filled with music, art, and the thousands of secret sanctuaries that I uncover. Far from the hordes of tourist, there remains an exquisite mystery forged by time. But I don’t linger in the cherished memories of traveling adventures on five continents, nor am I ready to nestle by the fireside to share tales. Even after wandering around the globe for decades I still hunger for the journey of tomorrow… trekking across the glaciers of Iceland, visiting the temples of Tibet, and places I’ve yet to imagine. My palette of wonder is a rainbow of possibilities, best discovered when I’m traveling. Perhaps, I will see also see you there in a cafe or walking in an enchanted dream of travel? Come, my friends, let us wander together. This is dedicated to my favorite gypsy travel buddy Zoe – who still inspires me to travel and wander the globe. And to all of our friends who love to travel, discover, wander the world… I celebrate your spirit of adventure, wonder, and curiosity.
As a White Guy How does Racism F– – With My Life?
I’m a White middle class middle-aged man with more than a few dollars in the bank. I see the police and can wave at them and drive safely on by. If I reach into my coat pocket for my wallet and identification I will probably not get shot with forty bullets. I can shout out my magic protective words, “Don’t shoot me, I’m White. Put on some James Brown, see I can’t dance!” Oops, did I just fall into a stereotype? So, as a White guy does racism affect my life? Being White and of European descent I don’t worry that I’ll be mistaken for a brown Muslim named Mohammed, strip searched, and undergo a rectal probe at the airport. However, given Timothy McVeigh’s role in blowing up the Federal buildings in Oklahoma it would seem reasonable that White guys should equally be suspect and the US should have launched an invasion on Scotland. (Though it is still puzzling to me why fifteen Saudis attacked the World Trade Center Towers and the US invaded Iraq and not Saudi Arabia: A case of the US being geographically challenged?) When I apply for work and they look at my credentials or college education employers will not wonder if I was successful because of affirmative action. The employer may assume I did it on my own merit or at the least perhaps if I did attend an Ivy League school, it was because I was smart or in the case of GW from a wealthy and well connected family. If I was from that well connected family a gentleman’s C grades will do. When I go into a grocery store and decide not to use a shopping cart and stuff a few things in my pockets; generally, it is assumed that I was in a rush and the management doesn’t call the police. Because I am a White middle aged man who is not walking around in raggedy clothes mumbling to myself (most times) it’s assumed that I’m harmless, a little careless in not using a cart, but not a significant problem. If I was Black or Hispanic, how long would it take before the police are called? I can walk into a local bank and cash a check without an ID. They will not ask me for four pieces of ID, even though I might have had a bank account there for years. I will not have the bank guard calling for back up because I get in an argument with a teller over an error in my bank account. As a White middle aged middle class professional, I know she will defer to her manager, and we will resolve this. If I move, I can be pretty sure of renting or purchasing housing in an area which I can afford and in which I would want to live. I don’t need to ask my friend to find an apartment. I can let the grass grow on my front lawn, have the hedges a bit shabby and the neighbors will think “He’s still a bit of a hippy.” But if my name was Gonzales would the neighbors think, “Those damn Hispanics – one moves into the neighborhood and look what happens.” It is the hundreds of small clues during the course of day that says, “You’re different. You’re not quite like us.” If there is a fistfight at the school do they assume the Black or Hispanic youngster is the aggressor? When an African American friend of mine comes to town, do I need to give them a heads up about our local police department’s history of racial profiling or bias. If he is stopped does he need to do his Black thing? “Yes, sir officer. I know it looks suspicious being a six foot tall black man wearing a suit and tie waiting on the street corner for my wife. No, I wasn’t casing the store for a robber. Yes, officer I have identification. Yes officer, observe my hands as they are going into my pocket. No, I don’t have a gun or a shiv.” Do people of color and various ethnicities feel safe and welcome coming into town? Will they spend their money for shopping? Will they buy second homes here? Will they invest their talents as lawyer, carpenter, artist or poet? Will the richness of many diverse cultures that have strengthened our collective national cultures be welcomed and become an asset to our community? Does racism affect me in my life? On the surface it doesn’t. As a White middle-aged man, living in a predominantly White community, racism can be a ghosted shadow drifting invisibly by. However, racism/ bias/ discrimination, is the sure and slow corrosive acid that that eats away at the fabric of a community. It says there is an “us and them.” It is another wall in the community that divides neighbors, differenced solely based on ethnicity or color.
At 62, before I go… and a brief Update
I’m not going, yet… I’m mostly healthy and fit, a lot of bumps and bruises from life. It is nearing autumn, friends had died this past year, and the memory of their incomplete lives haunts me. The rustling bones of autumn leaves dance in the wind. My writing, art, and creative work… too much is incomplete too many dreams still to live. I face this imperative each morning at sunrise Write more! Publish the poems! Varnish the paintings. Create more projects for peace and a few more dozen countries still to see. I want to wander in the Himalayas again. Sip tea with friends in Ibb, Yemen. Photography the Serengeti migrations. Play my guitar at the Court of the Lions. Sail to the heart of mysteries unimagined. Dance with my love at Carnival in Rio and this an all too brief list. I want to savor each succulent dream, suck out the marrow, and lick my fingers with delight at this tasty feast. NEWS: 18 August 2017 Please consider my new book “Celebrate Life,” CLICK HERE And also, our Kindness Campaign at www.gracecares.org http://www.gracecares.org/building/ – Is the new Peace Arts Project in New Orleans. THANK YOU – Namaya and Zoe
