Sophia's Turn

In preparing for this trip to China, I will get rid of lots of things that I won't need while in China. My Suzuki Savage motorcycle is one of those "things."

A woman named Sophia came to check out my Suzuki Savage motorcycle that I've had listed for a week or so on Craigslist. She was looking for a good starter bike.

She rode it around the parking lot a few times. I encouraged her to take it down the neighborhood road one time to get a better feel for the bike. The skies were getting dark with storm clouds, but we were both excited about a possibile transaction... so she went, even though it was thundering in the distance.

3-4 minutes later, Sophia pulled back into the condo parking lot, with a smile on her face. We had a deal. She put a $200 deposit down, and we agreed that she'd pick it up later in the week. I joked with her that this way I'd have a few days to say "good bye.." One last ride or two.

Looking back, I'm surprised at how much I have enjoyed riding that thing around, and saving some cash every month on gas.

Even though I was way too big for the Savage, she was good to me. But now, it is Sophia's turn.

Handyman for Hire

I posted the below notice to some local friends, and the response was incredibly supportive. In fact, I had to be careful with my scheduling since it got very busy right in the first week. What a beautiful showing of outreach and support. I couldn't have found a finer group of folks... Friends.

My email request went something like this ...
... "I'm hoping to earn some extra funds for my China trip. If you have any tasks or handyman work around the house that you've been needing to get done, please consider letting me help you with these items in the next couple of weeks.

Lifting, painting, yard work, light carpentry, pet/child sitting, cooking, cleaning, errands, music(guitar) lessons, studio recording/producing(I have a home studio), video production, PC lessons, home computer help, Internet tips/help, blog/vlog website setup, etc. ... "

So far, after about a week, I've done some pruning and yard work, shovelled up a gravel walkway, worked on some website design, removed a swing from a really high tree branch, repaired some old wooden siding on a barn, laid plastic under a porch while fending off wasps, giant Wolfe spiders, black widows, and ticks, done some laptop revival and data recovery, and even helped get some folks set up on skype so we can talk overseas for free.

I can only guess what tomorrow will bring. (Actually - gutter guard installation!) It has been a great way to spend time with close friends, to help, and to be helped. Thank you to all who have reached out in this way.

Here are a few of my adventures...

Yard work and gravel at Sandy's!

Take down a tree(tall!) swing at Beths

Gutter Caps at Roberta's!

Windows and pruning at Betty's

Window cleaning at Joe's place

Painting a hallways at Doug and Marsha's

Photo Session!

Our trip coordinators and advisors have been encouraging us to get the necessary forms - resumes, cover letters, and pictures submitted so they can begin to help us with placement. We found a good spot - the Pogue St rose garden to take some photos to go with our resume and portfolio.

Range of Reactions

One of the most interesting aspects of this process has been the range of responses and expressions we have received after making the announcement that we are going to China to teach English for a year.

Some have suggested that I am running "from" something in my life... and that, maybe I should consider that I take myself where ever I may go.... and that sometimes the change that needs to happen, is a change that is within.

This is a deep spiritual question, and one that I very much appreciate, and continue to contemplate.

In one recent email reply to such a suggestion, I responded as such:

"Every moment, the world changes.

I believe that we can, and do, everyday, change the world, both individually and collectively, through both action, and non-action.

Either is a choice.

Some changes are needed internally, and others, externally.

Some individually, some globally.

The two are not mutually exclusive."

It is true, I am a runner. But I am running "to," not "from."

Hard to Breath

Some walk the streets, and feel a kindred spirit a mile away.

Some notice the dead stares of uninspired lifelessness ... waiting on the world to change.

Is there not more than waiting?

Some walk the streets, and see need in the blank stares... some feel the desperation behind the lying smiles.

If I can't recognize a falsehood, how can I know to not follow?

Then if I believe in a falsehood, what is the risk?

I believe such a path has clear signs and signals. If I can't see them, then maybe I can feel them... like not being able to breathe.

"Time to get up, go outside and breathe ..... "
--- --- Grave Dance, Emerald Pool, 1996
www.myspace.com/jombjomb

Sandy, Denisa and John

My close friend Sandy and I had talked about future ideas and plans many times previously, but this week, late June, 2008, was different. Within 24 hours of this discussion, Sandy's close friend Denisa called to inform me that she was going to Shanghai to teach English in September, and I should go too. Within a week I was signed up. These are a couple pictures we took recently.

To Go, or Not to Go ...

"Why would I go to China to teach English?" Perhaps a better question might be, "Why would I not go?"

The opportunity and moment to act has arrived, thanks intitially to friends Denisa Hall and Sandy Bernard.

Sometimes clarity is better available from a distance.

Boundaries are meant for what, if not challenging, exploring, escaping?