I love this time of year. The earth is slowing down, readying itself for the winter's sleep. The downside is I realize how many things I didn't get done this summer. I gave up my dojo space because after 25 years renting it the new Mayor wanted to quadruple my rent. That was a bummer, but not unexpected. Everything is about the money today. I never charged for lessons so the raise in rent was more than I could afford or justify. Maybe it was that time in my life. Of course just last weekend I met a man who wants me to train him in kenjutsu. Geeze where was he a month ago, right? I sold him a sword and a copy of "The Sword and the Mind." We'll get together somehow if it's meant to be.
In the span of one weekend I met several amazing people. A woman from Angola who is a spiritualist, a man who does security training and has all the same interests I do. A young woman who has cancer, whose beautiful face and piercing blue eyes now haunts my days and nights. A man who was in Army Spec Ops and doing much the same work my father did. Its like friends I never knew were popping out of the woodwork, and people who needed to be seen. Maybe they are people I knew from another lifetime. Life is such a spider's web of interactions and human inter-connections, physical and spiritual.
I had my 76th birthday last weekend. Wow that's really old! I was at a powwow and one of the ladies came up to me and said the people are waiting for the "elders" to get their food first. First time I have been called an elder. It was a sign of deference and respect which is mostly lost on today's generation. No I am not an Indian or Native American. I am a Scots Highlander. Both are tribal warrior peoples and recognize that in each other. It's like a couple weeks ago I spent some time with the local Amish. They recognize me as an elder also, and they were pleased I was not English! My friend said they would not accept you if they didn't trust you, you would be ignored. Instead I had a nice conversation with an Amish farmer/carpenter/husband about, of all things, religion. We openly contrasted and compared our faiths and felt at ease doing so. To me that was quite an honor. I couldn't have had that same conversation with my neighbors across the street, without fire shooting out of their eyes and ears. LOL
Maybe there are some slight advantages to being old. (Very slight) At least I am going to operate on that presumption. My 78 year old Seneca friend had a heart attack 2 weeks ago and he is recovering. Now he is more conscious of his age too. He is the one who helped nurse me back to health last year. He invited me to the Powwow, and introduced me to the Haudenosaunee, which means "the people". I never once talked about guns, knives or swords but we didn't run out of things to talk about. Just like this blog. I haven't talked about any guns, swords or knives. Surprisingly I do have other interests. A person needs breadth as well as depth and that partly comes with age. One man was remarking on how his grand-daughter seemed capable of picking up and doing anything. Languages, musical instruments, technical skills, etc. No doubt this is not her first time around. Such people have acquired these lessons and skills through many lives not in just her 20 some years. Ahh well I hope I have not bored you with these ramblings but not everything in my life is weapons oriented. Hoping you have a wonderful Fall season. Be safe.
In the span of one weekend I met several amazing people. A woman from Angola who is a spiritualist, a man who does security training and has all the same interests I do. A young woman who has cancer, whose beautiful face and piercing blue eyes now haunts my days and nights. A man who was in Army Spec Ops and doing much the same work my father did. Its like friends I never knew were popping out of the woodwork, and people who needed to be seen. Maybe they are people I knew from another lifetime. Life is such a spider's web of interactions and human inter-connections, physical and spiritual.
I had my 76th birthday last weekend. Wow that's really old! I was at a powwow and one of the ladies came up to me and said the people are waiting for the "elders" to get their food first. First time I have been called an elder. It was a sign of deference and respect which is mostly lost on today's generation. No I am not an Indian or Native American. I am a Scots Highlander. Both are tribal warrior peoples and recognize that in each other. It's like a couple weeks ago I spent some time with the local Amish. They recognize me as an elder also, and they were pleased I was not English! My friend said they would not accept you if they didn't trust you, you would be ignored. Instead I had a nice conversation with an Amish farmer/carpenter/husband about, of all things, religion. We openly contrasted and compared our faiths and felt at ease doing so. To me that was quite an honor. I couldn't have had that same conversation with my neighbors across the street, without fire shooting out of their eyes and ears. LOL
Maybe there are some slight advantages to being old. (Very slight) At least I am going to operate on that presumption. My 78 year old Seneca friend had a heart attack 2 weeks ago and he is recovering. Now he is more conscious of his age too. He is the one who helped nurse me back to health last year. He invited me to the Powwow, and introduced me to the Haudenosaunee, which means "the people". I never once talked about guns, knives or swords but we didn't run out of things to talk about. Just like this blog. I haven't talked about any guns, swords or knives. Surprisingly I do have other interests. A person needs breadth as well as depth and that partly comes with age. One man was remarking on how his grand-daughter seemed capable of picking up and doing anything. Languages, musical instruments, technical skills, etc. No doubt this is not her first time around. Such people have acquired these lessons and skills through many lives not in just her 20 some years. Ahh well I hope I have not bored you with these ramblings but not everything in my life is weapons oriented. Hoping you have a wonderful Fall season. Be safe.
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