Countdown to a Southern Hemisphere Summer

Hi All,

I have been gently reminded that I haven't been posting as frequently as some would have hoped. My apologies. It's really quite simple. There hasn't been much to report on as of late. However, that will be changing quite soon. Monday evening I fly down to Miami, and Tuesday evening I'm off for Buenos Aires. A new friend Gabriel recently put me in touch with his friends and family in Buenos Aires, all of which have offered me places to stay upon my arrival. Between them and all of the wonderful folks on couchsurfing.com who have offered me a place, I am more than covered for accommodations during the next three weeks. (To those who have not heard of couchsurfing.com, do yourself a favor and check it out. It's done in a spirit of giving and brotherhood that can only make this world a better place. If you aren't traveling any time soon, then sign up to host someone. It'll provide opportunity to make friends on a global scale as perhaps never before.) As soon as I arrive I will settle, then strategize my plan of attack for Buenos Aires and the surrounding region. Plans and pics to come.

All are aware by now of the recent attacks on Mumbai. My dear friend Mikey Files was on the ground in Mumbai when the gunshots and grenades began to explode. Luckily, he was unharmed. For a very in depth, reflective and almost philosophical account of what unfolded during the first 24 hours of the attacks, visit his blog at vicablog.com.

For the time being, I should reflect on my time here in Myrtle Beach, working on the Meher Center. For the past 9 weeks I have sanded, painted and stained floors and porches, refinished furniture, cleared hiking paths of overgrowth, dug up (and fell into) a septic tank, painted a bathroom, refinished rusted refrigerators and done a dozen or more things I can't remember at this time. It has been amazing. Truly. I have always enjoyed working with my hands, and to be able to do so in such a beautiful place as the Center has been a gift. For the past 15+ years I have been coming to the Center in one capacity or another. My relationship to it has always been one of service and work. Most people come to have a retreat experience. Life would have it that I come to get my hands dirty. I wouldn't trade it for the world. It's truly one of the beautiful places in world, and to serve such a place has been a gift. In particular I'd like to mention the men I've worked with over these past couple of months - Lee McBride, Mike Cauthen, Dean Nordquist, and the up and comer Joe Dunn. These men are all seasoned craftsmen who I continue to hold an immense amount of love and respect for. What a gift to have been given glimpses into such trade knowledge and secrets. Their combined experience must be somewhere near 100 years, and I got to soak as much of it up as I could. Thanks again gentlemen. It was a pleasure.

I would be remiss without mention of Barbara and Jane, two fixtures of the Center, and of my heart. There's not enough time or space to say all of the wonderful things about you both I'd be moved to say. As always, the pleasure was all mine. If anyone out there who has not yet met and befriended these two angels ever gets a chance to, you'll know what I'm talking about. I love you both immensely. Thanks for the good times.



And of course, I would be entirely remiss - and probably in trouble - if I did not express my undying gratitude to my wonderful hosts Janet and Billy Files. Thank you both so much for your generosity, once again having me as a member of the family. Janet and Billy have generously hosted more wayward young people in their home over the years than any people I've ever known. Thanks for all of the wonderful meals, and for all of the manual labor to help keep my back strong and me in line :-). Glad you both will be following my exploits.

The Center is too vast a place to capture in photos without blowing out the memory of the blog page, so I thought I'd just include a couple. You can never go wrong with serene scenery. Wishing you all much love. I'll be checking in again soon.

With Mixed Sentiments

Hi One and All,

Happy Saturday morning to you. I am doing well, all things considered. I have much to share, so let's get to it. Work on the Center is going well. These days I find much of my time is spent in the workshop wearing a dust mask. I never thought I would sand, primer and paint a refrigerator, nor repair dozens of small leaky holes in a rowboat. However, at a place like the Meher Center, such tasks are par for the course. Here's me smiling for the camera, doing my best impersonation of Joe. I have to say that it's a real joy to apprentice under Lee McBride, Mike Cauthen and Dean Nordquist - all longtime veterans of the Center maintenance crew. Such work chose them for their lives, and they bring so much experience, know-how and integrity to upkeep of this very special place. It's truly an honor to be a part of it for an abbreviated time once again. (I also had a 7 month stint there back in 2000. At that time I worked mainly on the cabin crew.)

Last weekend was Halloween, and I spent it up in Asheville, NC. There's me, Kung-Fu Werewolf extraordinaire. It's always a crowd favorite and allows me to spar with many faceless strangers on the streets Halloween night. In fact, it was Halloween weekend that was central to my being here in South Carolina to begin with. For the past 4 months I had been planning a reunion of dear friends who all used to live in the Bay Area, and at one point or another all moved on, save our precious Brian. While we didn't have the full crew that weekend, Brian (from San Fran), Ben (presently in Myrtle Beach), Mark (Philadelphia) and I (the world) converged in Asheville to give the wonder boys Meherwan and Meherdil a Halloween surprise they'll never forget. Many thanks to Molly and Jonas for your assistance with accommodations and transportation. Long story short, we "assaulted" Meherwan and Meherdil out to lunch in full costume, revealing ourselves only after challenging them to mock fights and causing some mild havoc in the restaurant. Pulling off a well orchestrated surprise on friends who truly appreciate the effort is well worth all the planning and tongue-biting that goes into it. We had a fabulous weekend in beautiful Asheville, which included Halloween clowning around, paintballing with all the local fellas in the Asheville community, a large potluck dinner, a phenomenal Sunday brunch with Roz - thanks again Roz, as always, 'twas delicious - and some great time spent just catching up and being together. Love you guys. Will do it again soon.

With all that's been wonderful, including Tuesday's election of Barack Obama - it's with a heavy heart that I explain the title of my post. Just last night I received word that a friend named John who I knew through a circle of friends at my graduate school ITP committed suicide. There really isn't anything more shocking, disconcerting, angering and saddening all at once. Out of respect to his family and close ones, I'll omit his last name and method of suicide, but would ask you all to simply hold prayer and thought for John and his family. The irony that he and his graduate school circle were/are all aspiring mental health professionals makes the news even more bitter to swallow. I spent time with John and friends during my last days in Saratoga about 2 months ago. Never could I have imagined he would take his own life. According to accounts of friends, there were some recent indications that he was not well, but I don't think anybody suspected suicide in the slightest. I'm certain that there will be a massive reconciling within the ITP community, and amongst its leaders. As crazy and maddening as family can be at times, ITP is in many ways just that, a family. My continued support and love to all who were close to John, and to the ITP community as a whole.

One last note, and I shall be reiterating this point in upcoming posts. Wherever I go on this trip, anyone who is currently reading is more than welcome to join me for any leg at any time. So far Argentina, Fiji and Australia are all set in stone. If the travel bug bites you too, come on out. I'd love to see you.

With Love

Jonathan