In the course of my teaching, over many years, and many different courses and curricula, there are some ideas and concepts which meander through the various discussions and dialogs. Often I think that I really am teaching the same things in every class regardless of what department, skills set or academic discipline the teaching happens to be in.

One idea which weaves its way through my teaching is one I call “maha leela”. I think that I don’t necessarily define or describe it as it is traditionally done, but, let’s not get hung up on technicalities…it is a metaphor, after all.

Maha in hindi means “great, like mahatma, great soul, maharaji, great king. Leela translates as “game, or sport or play”, like the plays the thing and we’re all actors. And so, this great play we call life is a dream of the gods. Our lives are creations of the gods and we are here to entertain in this great play we call life. And, the gods are really enjoying themselves, laughing their asses off really, because they have created the play, put us into it as actors, but, have not told us what our roles nor what our dialog should be. So we are all just bumping into one another trying to figure out role and script. What all and any of us have to figure it out is improvisation. Improvisation…LIFE IS ONE LONG IMPROVISATION. There are a number of spiritual teachings which come from this: like compassion and devotion to the gods. We need compassion for ourselves and compassion for each other because the other humans are having as much trouble figuring out as you are, I am.

Devotion to the gods…. If we practice our meditation and service our roles and dialog should become clear. I have thought long, deep and hard about this as I have exposed myself and others to the concept. Until last night, I thought the gods must be pretty cruel to put us into this predicament. Laughing at us and exploiting our naivete.  I had a realization…we should be thankful for the opportunity and ability to improvise. What a gift!! In our gratitude we should practice it as much as we possibly can. Must not get stuck in the mud of permanence but remember that all is impermanent and as such we must always reach for a more compassionate relationship with others and a greater understanding of the need and beauty of improvisation. Beware the dogmatist, beware the fundamentalist. All structures, forms and practices must be open to improvisation and imagination to be vibrant and open to change.

And now for something completely different…

It is getting chilly out there! Into the 20’s last night and looking like 20’s and 30’s for the foreseeable future. But, Ozzy and I are dedicated to the van and to teaching at the university through January. (I love my students this semester. One of the nicest group of first year students I can ever remember having. I am teaching a lot, because they need to learn a lot, but, they are bright eyed facing me, showing up, doing the work and making the attempt to become more thoughtful and understanding of academics and their lives.) I will teach through this semester and then through Winterim, the January term, after which I will get back on the road. Arizona has popped up in several conversations lately and that may be my destination, don’t know.

Ozzy had a bit of a hard time a couple of weeks ago and needed to be on prednisone. That in addition to the full moon, lunar eclipse and howling and barking all night of the coyotes, he was not himself. He wanted to be a wild dog, but I wouldn’t let him. All is better and I continue to just be so grateful for us finding each other. He’s such a good dog!

I had about a dozen people request post cards from me. If you’re interested, send me your snail mail address.

Hello Everyone,
I have been printing postcards using photographs I have taken. If you, yes you, would like to receive one, please send your snail mail address to me at ozzymozkowitz@gmail.com and I will send one to you. It will be an original print on one side and a thought on the other.
Jay

We are coming to the end of summer, I haven't posted in quite some time and want to resume my posting this evening. 

 

I have worked at the top of Loon Mountain all summer long, two or three days a week.  We have an artisan collective on the mountain where seven of us display and sell our work.  I have been displaying a bunch of my photographs and have sold a number of them.  It really is a great job where I get to take the gondola up when I work. Great views and often many people from all around the world.  I get to practice my French, Spanish, German and smattering of greetings in Chinese and Hebrew. But, I am now burned out and ready for this gig to end. Also, as an employee of Loon, for one payment of $15, I have full access to the Mountain Club, the Loon spa...steam room, shower, sauna, whirlpool, cardio/weight rooms! I love the steam room and have been steaming and showering twice a week for the past month. Not a bad setup for a guy who lives in his van.

 

I began teaching this past week, back at Plymouth State University.  I am teaching one section of a First Year Seminar course entitled, Is Success Synonymous with Happiness.  I taught this for eight years and then took a few years to teach my course, Myths, Masks and Identity.  Anyway, I'm back at it and at least for the first week I think I still "have it".  My students are likeable and appear to want to buy into the program.

 

With Loon in the summer and teaching a section of a course in the fall, I think I will be able to travel from January through April or May. I am thinking that I would like to go to Europe for maybe six weeks.  Of course, the biggest dilemma there is what to do with Ozzy. He and I have become so attached that anything short of taking him with me would be a heartache for the both of us...we'll see what happens.  I may just get back into Van Morrison, where Ozzy and I continue to live, parked on Tish's property in Plymouth, at the point five, and travel south again. I would like to return to Asheville, North Carolina and the whole Blue Ridge Appalachian chain from Great Smokey Mountains to Front Royal and Harrisonburg, Virginia. Ozzy right now suffers a bit from allergies, red eyes, lots of scratching of itches. Van Morrison continues to run well, but, I think pretty soon I will have to put money out for oil change, tires and brakes.

 

I have seen lots of good bands this summer for not a lot of money.  I have been sitting in front of the Flying Monkey Theatre in Plymouth and hoping that someone going to the show has an extra ticket which I can buy for cheap.  Most tickets from the box office cost from 50 to 80 dollars which is too rich for my blood.  But, I have gone to The Wailers ($10), Dr. John($15), Rickie Lee Jones($10), Keb' Mo'(Free, Guest list, met him downtown Plymouth) and tonight I got into Los Lobos for Free, extra ticket someone had and didn't want money for it. The highlight was Rickie Lee Jones, just a perfect show! Dr. John was really good too, his voice and piano playing are as good as ever.

I, also, played some music this summer. I am a busker/street musician at heart and got to play twice at the Plymouth Farmer's Market, without amplification. I strolled and the second outing was joined by Peter Heimlich on banjo and guitar, and Ella Grey on fiddle.  It was a lot of fun.

 

Coming up this week will be the Faculty Art Show opening at the university, in which I have a photograph. I'm liking being back at the university and Plymouth.

 

 

 

Extra, Extra read all about it...
wow, last post was almost exactly a month ago!!

I have been mostly in Plymouth...living in the van (given a name, which I will get to) at "The Point Five" on New Hebron Road.  Tish Hill's property.  I was laying in the van one night and the name came to me...don't know why I didn't think of it earlier.  Been thinking about naming the van because it has really been the third member of the journey.  So, we now call the van, Morrison.  How much more obvious could it be?!!?  A shout out to Schultzy at J&M auto who put Morrison back on the road after spewing coolant out the rear end. (Morrison, not Schultzy.)  Fixed up in 20 minutes and charged a minimal amount of money.  Other than that, Morrison runs well.

I have been working on the top of Loon Mountain at the Artist Village where about six of us contribute work to the gift shop.  I took some pretty good photos on my journey and have been printing, matting and framing them and actually selling some!! (If you go to my timeline on Facebook, you will be able to see many of them.) Many people have made very positive comments about them and over the past two weeks I have sold about a dozen photos.  I am printing them from a computer I bought, Dell 380 Desktop with Windows7 for $160 from the university.  All in all I have made about a $350 investment which has been slowly but surely returned through sales.  I am pleased. It really is hardly like working...I mostly schmooze all day long.

I also put together a website for myself www.ozzymozkowitz.wix.com/jaym and business cards.  Please, take a look.  Did it all by myself and am proud of it.

Also, after saying that I did not want to teach again I have decided to return to the classroom in the Fall to teach one section of First Year Seminar, Is Success Synonymous with Happiness?  I think this will set up a good new pattern for me...work on the mountain in summer, one section of a course in fall and then back on the road January through May.  Money from the university along with the mountain and social security will be the perfect amount for me to continue my journeys.

We have been parking at night in the National Forest when not at The Point Five so we are closer to work at Loon and don't have to use so much gas to commute.  So, all in all, things are looking pretty good.

Ozzy is happy and healthy, if a bit bored now that much of my time is spent at Loon.  He was going to work with me but the bosses put the kibosh on that.  Too bad.  A lot of people have asked for him as he is the real celebrity of the two of us.  I have put photos of him in the shop and people all have their dog comments to make.

I will try and return to my habit of fairly consistent blog postings...

It's Sunday and I wanted to post my weekly update but, I'm not really prepared yet to provide the narrative I want to.  I am in Plymouth, NH, parking at the "point five" on New Hebron Road, getting ready to begin work in a week on top of Loon Mountain in Lincoln, NH.  I will be looking for places to park up there and will be spending most of my time in the Lincoln area.  I found out the other day that my senior national park pass works as a parking permit in the national forest and so I don't have to buy a permit and I will be able to park in the forest which I will probably do over the summer.

As I said, I'm not really ready for a final observational post for the road trip that Ozzy and I have been on.  There are lots of issues I would like to address upon which I have been quite reflective.  When I feel I can articulate my feelings appropriately, I will update again.

I did spend time putting a website together this week and the readers of this blog may be interested in giving it a look.  Any feedback would be appreciated: 

ozzymozkowitz.wix.com/jaym

So, I'm off for a cup of coffee and fresh air to clear my head...

From Colorado I took the interstates to Bloomington, IN where I spent the day taking care of chores.  Laundry and shower for me and a bath at PetSmart for Ozzy.  He picked up a bunch of pine tar in Colorado and needed a bath.  Unfortunately, when I got him back, he was clean but none of the tar was removed.  Anyway, spent a nice evening with Dani, who I met in Smokey Mountains.  Rob worked all day, but I did get to spend a few minutes with him, also. Bloomington is nice.

Traveled from Bloomington to Clarksburg, WV on the highways and spent the night at a rest stop on Route 70.  Decided to take a smaller road from there and got onto Route 50 which I took to avoid tolls and just to take a smaller road.  What could have been a four hour trip from Clarksburg to Lancaster, PA turned into a seven hour trip.  Route 50 through West Virginia and Maryland was nothing like I expected...it was beautiful, but, treacherous.  Hairpin turns all along with soft or no shoulders and lots of semis coming in the opposite direction.  Hair raising in some places.

But, I made it to Lancaster and again was put up on Judy Watson's sofa for a couple of nights.  Last night we went to a club in Lancaster and saw a friend's band. (Bob Lawson's Mama Tried.)  Met up with Dewie there and ran into an old friend, Peter Kingsley.

Ozzy and I are now waiting for Judy to get up so we can say goodbye and hit the road.  Will take one or two days to get to New Hampshire.  At the risk of tempting the fates, I must commend the van which has been a real trooper.  In the last three weeks we have gone from NH to Quebec to Ottawa to Madison to Estes Park to Bloomington to Lancaster without any vehicles incidents at all.  The van just keeps on truckin'.  One more leg of the journey to go, Lancaster to NH and then Ozzy, the van and I will settle for a little bit.

I will be working on top of Loon Mountain at the Artist Village we have there.  I have taken some pretty good photos on my journey and will be spending time printing and matting them for sale at the shop on top of the mountain.  I will be looking for a place to park and live in the van in the Lincoln area, spending more time up there and less in Plymouth.  I am already being asked what happens after this summer... 

Wow! Whoa! Whew! What a ride!  When last I updated this blog I was in the upper penninsula of Michigan.  Today it comes to you from Estes Park, CO, just outside of the Rocky Mountain National Park. 1,500 miles and 22 hours from each other.  The road was long and grueling.  I did go to Madison, WI where I spent one day in reminiscence. It was an incredibly beautiful day and Ozzy and I spent most of our time behind the student union building for the University of Wisconsin, where there were hundreds of people out enjoying the weather beside the lake.  It was beautiful.  But, neither Madison nor I are the same as we used to be almost 40 years ago.  Not much the same, but, I am glad I returned as I have many fond memories of Mad City.  Some of the happiest days of my life were spent there.

From Madison I decided to get on the interstates, which I usually avoid, and put the pedal to the metal and hightail it to the Rocky Mountains.  Pouring, beating down rain for most of the trip.  Much of the midwest has had too much rain and the crops and farming in general have been suffering.  I listened to a number of farm reports.  Of interest in those many miles are the many calves and foals one sees along the road.  Also, the cloud formations when the skies broke were incredibly beautiful.  Needed to get two new tires in Cedar Rapids and back on the road.

As much as I don't like the interstates for their speed and the need to maneuver around semis and RV's of every description, I needed the speed on this trip and when I stopped for the nights I slept in the interstate rest areas.  What a welcome sight it was to see the "Welcome to Colorful Colorado" sign and welcome area. I arrived in Colorado on Wednesday and spent the night in a welcome area outside of Greeley, CO.  Now, it would be disingenuous of me not to mention that Thursday morning I drove into Garden City, CO and found the Natural Herb and Wellness Center where I made a legal purchase of recreational pot.  And that's enough of that subject.

So, I have been sick since I left Quebec City two weeks ago.  Razor blade sore throat and ear infection.  Very uncomfortable and made the grind of the long drive ever more difficult.  When I arrived at the National Park I felt even more sick than when I arrived and suspect that the altitude effected me, as well.  I loaded an altimeter app on my phone and my campsite is at 8200 feet above sea level.  Mile and a half.  The first two days in the park I could not walk ten feet without feeling nauseous and wanting to pass out.  Ozzy and I have been really incompatible here.  He is jazzed and ready to go.  But being the really good dog that he is he is always sympathetic when I don't feel well and allows me to move at my own rate. (Friday morning I could hardly get out of bed.) But, I am feeling better this morning, not 100%.  I have one more night in the park and I am hoping that today's rest will get me ready for the long drive ahead.  (And, despite my illness, the beauty of the park shines through.  What an incredible place.  Lots of photos.  Some on Facebook.)

I finished reading Steinbeck's Travels with Charley and a Louis L'Amour, swashbuckling pirate saga.  It was fluff and very enjoyable.  I think I will try and find another of his books to read.

Tomorrow I head back on the road.  Next firm destination, Bloomington, IN.  Coming your way Dani and Rob.  A day or two there and off to Lancaster, PA coming your way Judy.  and, then to NH to begin preparing for my work at Loon. So, I plan on being in NH somewhere in the middle to late June.

I am not unhappy with my decision to return to NH and work for the summer.  I really don't know what I was thinking in the first place.  The road has become difficult for me.  Too many miles and too many expenses for me to bear by myself.  Gas is a killer at $2.50 a gallon and in Canada at $1.15 a litre (close to $4.00 gallon).  I am tired and road weary.  I posted on Facebook once that I just can't remember that I am 65 and not 25 anymore.  The problem I find in most of the places I go is that I still think and feel like a younger man, but, alas, that is not the truth of the matter.  So, today I will rest up and when I get to a lower elevation will heal and feel ready for the road again.  I have reached my westernmost terminus and it is now eastward bound.