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