Finally someone has some answers

An answer from Erik Zweig:

We are not crazy. We do not have answers to this messed up world. We only have our answers. Your answer is different from my answer. Clive’s answer is different from our answers. I also love the Lord’s Prayer. One thing I love about some Buddhist teachings is that nothing is constant. Everything is changing always. Detach. Do not hold on to anything. That includes “answers.” My answer today may not be my answer tomorrow. In fact, it most likely will not be my answer. This is one reason, for example, why I could never become part of a hippy community where people grow vegetables organically and live according to specific values that they feel are superior. I would much more prefer to be part of a community living how I wish to live as long as I’m not hurting anybody and be able to communicate with others via the Internet regarding life in general. Communication is a wonderful thing.

“Talk less,” says Mehul. That’s his New Year’s resolution for 2008. I believe in that. Talking is different from communicating.

Last night was amazing. I was sitting in my hammock, looking at the moon and listening to the insects and neighbor kids and cows and donkeys and loving it. Sometimes I sit on my porch and imagine that I am steering our planet around the sun. With the breeze in my face and the moon rising and clouds and stars moving overhead, it feels like it.

I’d like to read Bluebeard. I’d like to read more. I’m ready to retire, but I need a legitimate/ official reason to stay. At this point, I need some perspective. I am a bit nervous about immigration causing problems.

Last night, I also had a disturbance from Doto. I was deep in thought and just enjoying the evening, when Doto came by. I said hello, but then just kept staring to the East.

I don't think I need to say anything but AMEN, and maybe that hippy is not a word, but we get the idea.

Confessions from the garden at 8:32 AM

First a question for Erik Zweig.
Are we a bit crazy or do we have the answers to this messed up world? Or do we only have our answer?



Read this book, maybe
I could of started to get ready for work 20 minutes ago but I was at the end of "Bluebeard" by Kurt Vonnegut. Maybe you need to read it, maybe not. It is a suggestion, not an exhortation like how you should ride your bike more or have a bigger vegetable garden. Anyway the book tells it all, like the Lord's prayer covers everything.

Kurt Vonnegut
I started to read him at Oldonyo Sambu . There was a cloth bound copy of "Breakfast of Champions" at Oldonyo Sambu. I liberated the copy for good from the shelf in 1980. I had come to read parts to people, like when he would define an asshole. When I told the nun I was stealing it she thought I should do that as I was the one who was devoted to the book and would take care of it.


Radio
For years I did without radio and sometimes even a tape player. So I am feeling good listening the classic rock station from Texas USA in my garden while procrastinating going to work.


Disturbances
I am in my private secret garden finishing "Bluebeard" and listening to Chicago sing 25 to 64 (or whatever the name of the song is) and the first disturbance is Andrea the gardener. He is on his first day back from leave taking a walk around the garden. I want to be alone and he wants conversation. Long story, poor guy. I should give him some attention but I am selfish.

Five minutes later the phone chirps, and I roll my eyes as I dread any call. A number not in my phone book, but instead of complaints or bad news it is a seldom seen longtime friend Samuel Wilson in my office wondering if I am on my way.

(Wow, what is a guy who commutes to work by bicycle doing with a gardener? )


Book seller
Massawe who sells used books should get a medal from the mayor of Arusha. He has a couple of crates of books by the post office and has given me and others countless hours of joy and edification. Sometimes I am walking past and he yells me over and smugly plops down a paperback and knows I will like it.