I had a great visit with Kathleen and Paul in Charleston, SC. Watched Shark Tank, Antique Road Show, Survivor, two NASCAR 500 races, and the movie Across the Universe which I have seen several times and love. Terrific movie.
Last Sunday I went to the UU Church with Kathleen for a sitting meditation. She and I met 40 years ago when I was a member of a spiritual organization which practiced a sitting meditation. I was a "premie", a devotee of Guru Maraji, a thirteen year-old guru. It was a great stop on the path to enlightenment, upon which path I have made several other great stops and hope to make many more. Enlightenment is always a becoming. People ask me if I'm a Buddhist and my response is that I am, when I am practicing Buddhism. And, I can just tell that enlightenment, for me, will not be achieved in this lifetime. I have been on retreat with Thich Nhat Hanh on three or four occasions and today consider him my teacher.
Ozzy and I have been on the road now for a little over six months. It really has been a great experience and I am looking forward to more. Vehicle is running great, finances are good, we have visited many interesting places, done lots of interesting things. Ozzy has bloomed with this experience. He is such a happy dog. Every new place we go to we find a dog park and he has become less and less of a loner, walking the fringes of the parks. He has begun to run and play with other dogs, by himself run back and forth and in circles. Tail is always up and wagging. A smile on his face. It brings tears to my eyes to watch him play. How many of you remember what he was like when he first came into my life?
I saw some great music in Charleston. Went to the Gogol Bordello concert I was thinking about and had the best time. So much fun! I had wanted to see them for the past couple of years but it was never really the right time or place. The stars aligned for the show in Charleston, in the Music Farm, a great venue for the band and the band was even better than I had hoped. Their videos don't do them justice.
I performed a house concert for Kathleen, Paul and Katie, a very nice teacher friend of Kathleen's, which was fun.
I left Charleston Thursday morning and spent the next day quietly in Hilton Head, SC. Let me talk about food, a bit...A couple of years ago I began a new diet, eliminating meat, sugar, white flour and dairy, especially cheese, milk and ice cream from my diet. I eat mostly whole grains, fruit and vegetables. I have discovered over time that I just can't digest cheese and meat. But, I had cravings for emmenthaler cheese which I love and could never find in Plymouth, but found in Charleston and other places. To make a long story short, I binged on it and suffered the consequences with a discomfitted gut. This, as much as any other reason, forced me into a low-key day in Hilton Head. I am now back on track with eating and foreseeing more pleasant feelings.
In Savannah today. Would like to spend a couple of days here exploring. Spent the night in Walmart parking lot. Weather was not nice yesterday and went to see the movie, Still Alice. Very moving!
So, where next after Savannah? I always thought that New Orleans would be my next destination, but, looking at the map, it is a long way from Savannah to New Orleans with not a lot in between. Thinking about going to Florida, maybe Daytona Beach, it's spring break time, and then maybe across to Tallahassee, Mobile and into New Orleans. Never been to Daytona Beach for Spring Break. I will, of course, keep you updated.
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I wrote all of the above yesterday, Saturday before a wonderful day of exploring Savannah. Happened upon a Farmers' Market in Forsyth Park. Waited in line 20 minutes for a cup of coffee at The Sentient Bean, happily waited, not so much for the coffee as for the ambience. Spent most of the day in the park in the most dog friendly place I have ever been. Zillions of dogs being walked. I am told downtown businesses put out water bowls on the streets. Walked Ozzy in the park on a leash which he usually doesn't like, but, he was very, very well behaved and got lots of compliments from others on his good behavior. Found out busking in the city requires a license which can only be gotten here on Wednesdays. Don't know if I'll be here that long. Though, maybe falling in love with Savannah? Today off to the center market and maybe the River Street District. Feeling great, good night sleep last night in Walmart parking lot next to a nice clean wooded mulched area. All systems go...
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