Mixed Blessings

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on September 30, 2018 in collaborating, distraction issues, impediments, Inner Struggles, Personal Values, Social, Striving

September 29, 2018, Prescott-

I went to an annual event, this morning, with a full intention of serving, to the best of my ability. The day started at Hope Fest with my joining the off-loading crew, that helped the vendors of various merchandise transport their wares from vehicle to booth. That part always goes fairly well, as there is a highly-motivated group, with no ego attachment to their work.

This year, I agreed to serve much of the day, as personal assistant to the headliner group, which, for propriety’s sake, I will not mention by name. The group and their manager arrived, around 4:30 pm, and after introductions, I helped them settle in to the Green Room. I took a seat, in the meeting area, but far enough apart from the artists that they had no one looking over their shoulders, whilst they were practicing and discussing ideas about their music.

When it comes to these sorts of things, I am like Las Vegas. What happens in the room, stays in the room. At this point in time, I could not and would not tell you the things that were discussed, though there was only honourable and uplifting dialogue.

For whatever reason, however, as soon as two security guards showed up, and announced themselves as the band’s detail, one of the teens who was volunteering with hospitality showed up and said the band manager, who was on the other side of the event grounds, wanted all three of us to get out of the Green Room. We went outside, but were readmitted by the band members, five minutes later. They apologized to us and said they saw no reason for us to be out of the room. I wondered, though, how did the manager think to get rid of us, at that particular moment?

The rest of the run-up to their performance went fine. I got them to select a restaurant and had them write down their selections. The manager was included, of course, via text. The performance was lovely, and I introduced a Christian friend to the band members. They seemed to hit it off well enough. I even got my friend, her sister and nephew prime seats near the stage. Then, I went and got the group’s dinners and set the table in the Green Room, waiting there with another hospitality crew member. When the band returned, I prepared to go outside, whilst they ate. That was co-opted, though, by what appeared to be a private meeting, to which I was not invited, among the crew on the sidewalk outside, followed by a loud, angry message from the manager (still elsewhere) to our crew chief: “Get that guy out of the Green Room!” Well, certainly- people are normally given privacy whilst they eat. There was no need for such anger, especially when he was not at the site. Again, I wonder, were the band members being passive-aggressive and messaging their manager, letting him be an unnecessary heavy?

Needless to say, I left the area and went to help with the breakdown of the stage and artist’s row, as I had promised the event’s founders. That was accomplished with a much larger crew than in past years.

My takeaway, from the behaviours of both the band and my fellow crew members, is simply to take part in the set-up and breakdown of the next such event, and leave the day to the small, self-contained group, which doesn’t seem to like newcomers. That is, if I am even invited to participate, next year.

Embraces

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on September 22, 2018 in children, collaborating, Inner Struggles, Personal Values, Social, Striving

September 22, 2018, Prescott-

This is probably the latest I’ve been up, in many weeks. Yet, spending much of the day reading friends’ posts reminds me to get something of my own out.

I was not much for physical contact, when I was a child. Teenage brought a sense that girls were to be touched, but only if they themselves wanted. I was all over the place, in my twenties, but still rarely gave an unwanted hug- and backed way off when the person was resistant. Years of a good marriage largely erased the discomfort with physical contact that was so much a part of living with Asperger’s.

With Penny gone, my tendency has been more to hug, when a person seems to need or want a hug. That also comes naturally, working with children- and I have never adopted the “no contact” dictum that was the overreaction of the Politically Correct, to incidents of molestation. It was up to the child, whether a hug was in order, and up to me, the adult, to honour reasonable rules of decorum- above all, that physical contact be in the presence of other adults, and that I never be alone with a child, with the door closed.

This is pretty much how it is between adults as well. I have no significant other, yet have plenty of fine friends, of, as I have said several times, of all sorts. What I embrace, above all, is the notion of dignity and worth, to be given all whose paths I cross.

Pain

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on September 19, 2018 in collaborating, distraction issues, impediments, Inner Struggles, Personal Values, Social, Striving

September 18, 2018, Cave Creek-

A friend called me, a while back. The message was that someone had been harassing her, leading to severe anxiety. We spoke for a time and I made the offer of a window of opportunity to put a good distance between her and the tormentor. Tomorrow could be the first step in that direction.

I was raised to take action, when confronted with pain in my own life- be it physical or emotional. Several times, I’ve had to pull myself together, and do the uncomfortable or the inconvenient, in resolving hard issues. Hey, we all have. Life has never been mistaken, by anyone but the foolish, for a sweet bowl of cherries.

So, a week ago, yesterday, I had another tooth pulled, not because it was causing me pain, but because it was seriously infected and heart problems run in my family, on both sides. Dental issues are directly connected to heart issues. My own heart is physically in good shape, and I’d like to keep it that way.

Arrangements are being made for a replacement denture, which led me down to the office of my dentist of the past seventeen years, this evening, after work. Then came the follow-up call to my above-mentioned friend.

Candice Bergen said, many years ago: “Men are such jerks about beautiful women”. To be sure, I have had a few periods of jerk-hood, and came to the conclusion that, if I didn’t have so many doubts about myself and my own worth, any obsession with beauty would not take hold. The physical frame is a fine gift of the Creator to mankind, but it is only part of the package. Were that not so, then plain or homely people with exquisite spirit, personality and skill sets would never have a shot at much. Were it not the case, ravishingly attractive people would never suffer pain, and we probably all know of at least one person who has suffered, either despite, or because of her/his comeliness.

My physically attractive, suffering friend (who, we both agree, is like a sibling, and no more than that) is enduring things that I, and many others in my circle, do not have to tolerate. It happens that way, sometimes. Life is an equal opportunity provider, of both good and ill.

I thought further of this, whilst in a small burger joint, Big Earl’s, in this, my favourite Phoenix-area town. The very pretty teen girl who was serving me whacked her elbow, whilst loading a bucket of ice, and my paternal angst winced a bit. She shook it off and kept on with her work.

So must we all. I will do my darnedest to help sister-friend get through her current nightmare. She will, eventually, find her own light.

Tangential, Part 2

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on September 13, 2018 in collaborating, Community, impediments, Personal Values, Service Activities, Social, Striving

September 13, 2018, Prescott-

There are two kinds of events that impact anyone’s life. Scheduled and anticipated occasions tend to get most of my attention. My niece’s wedding, earlier this year, was the centerpiece of my scheduling the entire road trip, with a gathering at a friend’s house, two weeks later, being the climax of the journey. My mother’s 90th birthday, this past Monday, entailed careful gifting and a pleasant early morning call. Another family event, of which I will speak closer to its happening, will take place in mid-November. There are numerous faith-based and community events here, between now and December, that will take on an urgency, either in the minds of their organizers and/or in terms of their real impact on our community.

The second kind of event, of course, is the random, serendipitous happening. Spontaneity is common to our species. So, a late night message from a friend or loved one will also take on a certain urgency. A chance encounter with a good-hearted soul, or with an opposite number, will do likewise. Dealing with miscreants, in Montreal, during the above-mentioned road trip, was certainly an example of this last. Connecting with U.S. Federal and Canadian provincial authorities was an example of dealing with good-hearted souls. Then, there was the run down to Florida, out of concern fro my mother-in-law’s fragile health, especially after the losses of her last-surviving sibling and one of her cousins, earlier this year. Here at Home Base, numerous things happen, almost daily, that are either on a whim or the results of several prior events-but somehow are not anticipated.

I deal better with the random and sudden, than I used to. People’s individual concerns and events seem to be hyper-urgent, these days, so I feel the need to keep myself sharp. Even across the country, as dear friends and extended family prepare for yet another “Storm of a Lifetime”, or maybe four such storms, I keep ready for whatever might be needed.

Spontaneity is becoming routine.

Tangential, Part 1

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on September 8, 2018 in collaborating, Community, distraction issues, Inner Struggles, Inspiration, Personal Values, Social, Striving

September 8, 2018, Prescott-

This morning, on a visit to Prescott Farmers Market, I spent a few minutes sitting on a bench, near where the guest musician was playing an acoustic version of Outkast’s “Hey Ya”, accenting the powerful words of the sometime party tune.

I began to get caught up in the presence of his delightful little family, noting his daughter’s interaction with a another little girl, about her age. As I smiled at a nearby vendor’s waving and goofing around with the singer’s infant son, the mother looked at me quizzically and I gave her the proper explanation, as to what was happening, before excusing myself and going off to finish my purchases for the day.

I was challenged, earlier this morning, as to having been short and to the point, in my communications of late. Simply put, I felt a lot of pressure this week, especially at work, with hard things happening to my team members, and a difficult person inserting herself into the classroom mix. I have no problems, in particular, with the person who sent the message this morning. We each are highly intuitive, but intuition, on a human level, is not foolproof. One’s own fears and challenges get mixed in, invariably. I take my own intuition with several grains of salt, and end up doing the same with other people’s observations, regarding my life.

Prescott Farmers Market, and the local Planet Fitness franchise, are places I frequent. I notice that, with one or two exceptions, the management team in each of these places tend to keep me (though not their favoured few) at arm’s length, most likely for good reason-but what that reason has to do with me, specifically, I’m not sure. Conversely, having the managers of a given establishment be my well-wishers is not why I avail myself of its services. The Market does have several stalls, where I am on good terms with the vendors and can chat for several minutes, without the emotional door slamming in my face. The gym provides me with a reliable set of full-body machines and the incomparable Hydrobed, a next-gen version of the Ceragem massage bed that we had, in the Phoenix house. Besides, the manager’s front desk assistants are uniformly more personable, and actually seem happy to see people come in, who are less than buff.

This leads me, again, to the whole culture of anonymity that seems to pervade the urban American West. This puzzles me. No one really seems to enjoy living as if under siege, but each of us does it, to some degree. I have made some headway, walking to and from downtown and Yavapai College, and joining in more group activities, especially in the past two years.

I am approaching a crossroads, of sorts, which I had hoped would not be imminent until at least Autumn, 2020. Still very much hoping to complete this academic year in one piece, the difficult academic specialist aside, I go to work each day and give it my best. Still hoping to be of value to my Baha’i and other communities, I am a regular at scheduled and spontaneous events. Still hoping to keep my head above water, I listen, carefully, to the voices of both support and of criticism, to glean the necessary lessons.

Part 2: Affirmations and expectations

The 2018 Road: Honours, Learnings and Observations- Part 1

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on September 2, 2018 in Assistance, collaborating, Family, Social, Spiritual, Striving, Travel

September 2, 2018, Prescott-

The forty-day journey, whose chronicle I have just completed, is now well-past the reflection stage. The longest trip I have undertaken, since 2015, has passed without controversy, among those of my family and friends who have viewed my travels in the past, with some consternation.

There were mostly good things that happened, this summer that is nearly passed. I want to first note those who have honoured me with their presence, in the deepest of ways. Then, I shall note the learnings I picked up from the trek. Finally, some observations are in order.

Honours-

The first of these always goes to my family: Being in Christ Church, Philadelphia, for the wedding of my beloved youngest niece; having my son, Aram, and his girlfriend next to me during the service, throughout the reception and for much of Father’s Day. I’m grateful to her, for having given him much happiness; being with all of my siblings, nieces and nephews and nearly all of my extended family.

My northern Nevada family has always been there for me, as well. This year, over Memorial Day weekend, was no different.

My sister in spirit, Corina, drove an hour each way to visit with me a bit-once I got to Wilmette, but to no avail. My arrival was way too late, so back she went, to spend Sunday afternoon with her beloved. I feel honoured, nevertheless. Just being in the embrace of the Baha’i House of Worship is a singular honour, in itself.

Having dinner with friends in Mishawaka, IN, was a sublime blessing. Thanks, Val and Sparky.

I cannot say enough, for the staff and fellow hostelers at Auberge Bishop, Montreal, for confirming my worth as a human being, in the aftermath of a serious loss. I am also grateful to the agents at USAA, for mitigating that loss. It was a joy to take lunch at one of the restaurants of a friend’s establishment: La Panthere Verte. I would feel similarly honoured, again, at hostels in Baltimore and in Memphis.

One of the greatest honours is to connect with the spiritual energy of one’s ancestors. My maternal grandmother’s hometown, Plattsburgh, NY first welcomed me, and a few weeks later, my sister and a maternal cousin connected with some of Grama’s grandnieces and great grandnephews.

Penny’s family will always be my own, as well. They helped me greatly, in the wake of Montreal. A few days’ respite, in the family home, in Spring Hill, FL helped me rest before the home stretch, and reaffirmed our bond. Paying my respects to her departed cousin, a few days before, in Maryland, was essential.

There are many, across the nation and world, who I regard as spiritual family. They are of all Faiths and of no Faith. Connecting with a woman who is like a daughter to me, in Virginia Beach; an immigrant friend who is like a brother, in Salisbury, NC; and my Tennessee brother and sister of the heart, in Crossville, have made all the difference in healing a part of me that still grieves, somehow.

Being in Memphis, and feeling the pain that all of us who are of good heart experienced, the day Martin Luther King, Jr. died, was cathartic. I had not cried in a good long while, and this overwhelming sadness brought out a lot. Later in the day, walking along the banks of the Mississippi and along Beale Street, felt like a dirge was playing. Dr. King honoured us all.

NEXT: Learnings

The 2018 Road, Day 40: In The Conquistador’s Shoes

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on September 1, 2018 in Community, Historical, Personal Values, Social, Travel

July 4, 2018, Petrified Forest National Park-

The long journey around the length and breadth of North America is coming to a close today, the 242nd anniversary of our nation’s Declaration of Independence. I have re-entered Arizona, my home base for 35 of the past 40 years and, most likely,for 2-3 years to come. A relatively short four hours remain, before I am back in my Prescott apartment, and I will face weeds, a small amount of dusty furniture and four days’ accumulation of dirty laundry.

This morning, however, I embraced Independence Day, first by enjoying a simple breakfast on the patio of Sunset Motel, then taking a short stroll in its small garden.

Moriarty is becoming a bedroom community for Albuquerque, a scant 40 minutes away to the west. I have been to the Duke City, nearly a dozen times, over the past four decades. Until today, though, I had not set foot in Old Town, Albuquerque’s original settlement, established in honour of the Duke of Alburqerque, who was Viceroy of New Spain at the time the settlement was established, in 1706. The statue shown below is of Don Francisco Cuervo y Valdes, the founder of Albuquerque.

I spent a bit more than an hour, on this early Wednesday morning, taking in the sights of a historical district that is still waking up from pre-Independence Day revelry, last night.

There are many artists’ studios, crafts shops and small restaurants in Old Town. The centerpiece, though, is the Church of San Felipe de Neri.

This is the eastern arch, leading out of the church property, into a pleasant promenade along Old Town’s many shops.

Below, is a view of the west arch.

The promenades led me to a Salvadoran restaurant, which was closed, and to Black Bird Coffee House, which was very much open.

I chatted with the proprietress of the shop, who was pleased that I had made Old Town the focus of this Albuquerque visit and hoped I would feel at home there, on future such jaunts. She told me that the former owner of the shop had headed to Prescott, hoping to open a coffee shop there. I wish him luck, as our town has fifteen such shops, counting the chain franchises.

On the way back to Elantra, I spotted a couple of significant plazas.

Near Sombra, there was a curious silver backed bench.

Old Town was starting to stir, for Independence Day, as I made my way to my car and back to I-40.

I stopped briefly at the first rest area in Arizona, near Lupton, for a short nap, then came here, to the Petrified Forest Cafe, for a quick lunch. Now, it’s time to head out on the home stretch.

The 2018 Road, Day 39:Plowing On, Through Remorse

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on August 27, 2018 in distraction issues, Historical, Social, Travel

July 3, 2018, Moriarty, NM-

I woke up in Sallisaw, just after 6 AM, which is my usual wake-up, when on the road. Ed’s Cafe was across the road from Sallisaw Inn, so I headed over for breakfast. The waitress looked to be a sassy sort, the kind that can handle truck drivers very well. She plopped a menu down in front of me and took my coffee order, then walked over to a gray-haired gentleman and plopped her cleaning rag in front of him. I liked her right away. Turns out, he was indeed a regular, coming by here every two weeks.

I ordered the special, and Sassy Stacey got me to change it to the same plate from the regular menu, telling me quietly that “the boss jacks up the price for the special, when all it is, is more hashbrowns.” So I got a good deal on a very decent breakfast.

I headed straight across Oklahoma, bypassing OKC, and stopping at a Braum’s, in Weatherford, for lunch. I like Braum’s for their milkshakes and malts, getting one of the latter, to go with my chicken tenders. Weatherford is a nice little town, so getting in out of the heat there, and giving the Elantra an hour’s rest, made perfect sense.

Next was the Texas Panhandle, a far more magnificent place than many people might see. My remorse came from not giving old Texas Tidbits enough of a heads-up, as I approached Amarillo. So, it happened that my only Texas stops were gassing up in McLean and a short meditative visit to the rest stop off I-40, at Alanreed.

Despite the ominous clouds, I did not get so much as a drop on my windshield today.

After leaving Texas behind, I made two stops in eastern New Mexico, dinner at K-Bob’s, in Tucumcari, taking advantage of the chain’s delicious catfish plate and generous salad bar, then gassing up at a Mom and Pop store in Milagro- just because the young couple are making a heartfelt effort to revive the windswept little settlement.

Finally, the day ended at one of Moriarty’s oldest inns: Sunset Motel. The widowed daughter-in-law of the motel’s founders runs this place with a velvet fist. Her business acumen and graciousness do not clash- which I find admirable and reassuring. She keeps her late husband’s and in-laws’ legacy running very smoothly.

The 2018 Road, Day 38: Memphis, Part 3-Resolute, Whilst Sitting On A Beale Street Sidewalk

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on August 25, 2018 in Community, Entertainment, Historical, impediments, Personal Values, Social, Spiritual, Striving, Travel

July 2, 2018, Memphis-

The man to whom I am referring, in the above subtitle, was one of a relative few who were sitting in various spots, along Memphis’ touristy and bustling Beale Street, “Birthplace of the Blues”. I had no green in my wallet, and so gave him a few quarters-though I generally avoid such donations. He is a man my age, though, and probably served in “the Nam”, which tends to be more of a bond than many might understand. So, I dug in my pocket. Of course, it was something of an insult and he yelled in protest, as I made my way back towards my car, parked just off the riverfront. He struck me as being altogether determined to survive and maintain his place in that particular spot.

There is, in Memphis, a publication called The Bridge, which is sold in tourist areas. I bought one, from a man working the parking lot of the National Civil Rights Museum. Ironically, the lead article was about the last regular occupant of Lorraine Motel, who was evicted to make way for its conversion into a tourist venue. She stands, most days, across the street from the Museum, holding a protest sign and calling for more humane treatment of the very people for whom Dr. King fought.

I did notice, as well, there was a certain hardness about the people, mainly African-American, who were working in the Museum. As cogent and compelling as the subject matter was to me, to them, it seemed like just a job-from the no-nonsense ticket seller to the bored young lady sitting in a nearly empty gift shop, in the annex, across from Lorraine Motel.

I carefully parked my Hyundai in a lot one block from Beale Street. The place is a sanitized version of the place known by W.C. Handy and B.B. King, and tourists, many of whom perhaps have buried their own Blues, were in full force on this Monday afternoon. I contented myself with buying one t-shirt, actually one of two trinkets I’ve picked up, this journey. (The other was a “Moose” t-shirt from Ausable Chasm.) I might have dropped into one of the several restaurants that line the five-block area, but Arcade took care of my hunger, very well. Beale Street is an area that is worth visiting, at least once. On another trip this way, I would figure to spend more time in places like Sun Studios.

Here are some Beale Street scenes.

Above, is the west entrance to the entertainment district. Below, the Orpheum Theater has hosted a good many musical events, for nine decades.

The name, itself, tells all.

Here is a view of the heart of Beale Street.

I got my t-shirt at Beale Street Gifts, an unpretentious and very busy little shop. In the background is the east entrance to the district.

I came across this sculpture, in Beale Street’s small park, just after my encounter with the leonine man on the sidewalk.

The widely revered, but tortured, Elvis Presley will always be a part of Memphis.

Leaving Beale Street, I spent a short time on Memphis’ Riverwalk, paying my respects to the Big Muddy.

On the river, many visitors took in the sights from one of two river boats. Here is the Memphis Queen.

A smaller vessel took visitors further upriver, to the north side of downtown, near Mud Island.

As I prepared to head towards Arkansas, one last look uptown was in order. The Pyramid will be on a future itinerary-if for no other reason than that it is there. Pyramids, even commercial ones, are symbols of hope and unity.

I crossed the I-55 bridge, wending my way past West Memphis and cruising through Arkansas, stopping only for a light convenience store supper, in Conway. Sallisaw, OK offered the night’s lodging, at Sallisaw Inn. The town seems to have grown a bit, since I was here in 2016.

	slmret on False Equivalence
	Patty Wolters on Limits of Responsibility
	Sagittarian Seeker on Limits of Responsibility
	Patty Wolters on Limits of Responsibility
	Sagittarian Seeker on Limits of Responsibility

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