It's nice JUST BEING

Striving to achieve something, and having a sense of purpose and direction in life is vital. --Andy Puddicombe, MEDITATION & MINDFULNESS 

I received a wonderful card from my cousin, Carol Lucero (Ferris).  She and her husband, Ryan, recently visited NM and the card depicted a glimpse of the Bandelier National Monument (a place I would visit years later).  The nature’s beauty there is top-notch. 

Wed.  Sept. 21, 1994 

Dear Michael, 

Hi there.  How are you?  I know it’s been a while but life has been a bit rough lately.  The good part though is that Ryan and I took a wonderful trip to New Mexico a month ago.  We visited Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Taos (and of course, Cerrillos)!  I had no idea I would eve go there (NM).  I planned the trop spontaneously two weeks before we went—very unlike me (if you know me).  Have you been there?   

New Mexico was truly a magical place for me.  I loved the earth, the sky, the weather, the people and, of course, the language.  An awesome place we saw was the Bandelier National Monument (Indian Ruins and Cliff Dwellings).  We also visited the top of a mountain in each big city (with help, of course, from trams, autos—not all hiking).  

I came back from vacation to enter a more stressful (than usual) workplace but it’s settling (thank goodness).   

Then, Ryan was bummed out due to lack of available jobs (He works for himself doing carpentry) and part of him wants to switch careers into computers—but that’s been more difficult.  Anyway, life’s better this week.   

One of my best friends got married last Saturday.  The first wedding I’ve ever been in.  And Ryan’s brother is getting married this Sunday at YOSEMITE.  It ought to be beautiful.  This has been the year of ‘the Wedding’.  It'll be a relief when this next one is over because for the past year everyone has been putting extra pressure on Ryan and myself with all of ‘the Wedding’ talk around us.  Sometimes we feel like we don’t count as a serious couple because we aren't’ married and because we have no real concrete plans as of yet.  It’s nice JUST BEING.   I think I've had so many life changes in the past two years, I’m enjoying seeming my life settle down a bit before thinking too much of whether I want to be married yet.  Besides, I still feel too young.  Anyway, I could still change my mind tomorrow.   

Changing the subject...how was New York?   I would like to visit there one day.  I might be going to New Orleans in November for a convention.  I want to go just for the music.  I’d love to hear authentic blues in an authentic blues club in New Orleans.  Anyway, I guess I’d better end this letter as I have run out of room! 

Til Later, 

Love, Carol 

On September 23rd Alan and I saw a fantastic movie called THIS BOY’S LIFE, starring Robert DeNiro and Leonardo DiCaprio.  I really loved it.  There were some poignant scenes.  It was about a rebellious teenager (Leonardo) and his abusive stepfather.  It was based on the memoirs of writer and literature Professor Tobias Wolff.  It makes me want to seek out that memoir.   It takes place in 1957—the year my parents got married in Oakland, California.   

And just when one would think they’d seen the greatest movie another one shows up.  Alan and I went to see THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION the following night.  Wow!   Two imprisoned men (Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins) bond over a number of years, finding solace and eventual redemption through acts of common decency.  It will surely get Academy Award nominations.  To be imprisoned brings a whole new meaning to find that feeling of JUST BEING (as my cousin Carol described the phrase in her recent correspondence.  

Barbara Reynolds sent an Arthur G. Dove “ME AND THE MOON” artsy postcard that I really liked. 

24-9-94 

This is like our weather week and Halloween is coming.  Yes!  Wow...flight messes.  I think I won’t have that problem.  How was the AIDS-Playboy Mansion party?   

I'm glad your mom had a great time.  I should call her.  I got a postcard yesterday from a guy I met in Virginia; so, who knows?  I got trained in ExecuStar this week, so that will be fun for a while.  Did you see NBK (Natural Born Killers) yet?  Oliver Stone is so good.  This weekend will have more celebrations in San Francisco Chinatown.   

Later, Love, Barbara  

Meanwhile, I am looking forward to my hometown visit to Alameda to see mom next month.  I’m counting the days.  It’s nice JUST BEING—and that’s what I intend to do when I am there. 

“The sense of wonder, that is our sixth sense.” --D.H. Lawrence, as read in the Sam Keen book:  FIRE IN THE BELLY, On Being a Man