DANCING ON THE EDGE

Chaco likes the Edge   Here in Colorado people are grieving an act of senseless violence, perpetrated by someone desperate to participate in the cult of celebrity.  The impulse to kill for that reason, the fact that in the face of such tragedy there’s still argument over the need to make such weapons less available, the culture that fosters a sense of self-esteem based on wealth and fame – all that makes me want to take the world and its inhabitants by the shoulders and shake them, asking, “Good God, what are you thinking of?”    But listen – two things happened yesterday to turn me in a different direction.     The first was that I saw a man, walking down the streets of Gunnison, engaged in lone and personal prayer.       He was short, dark-skinned, and balding, and dressed all in white – I assumed he was from India.  Periodically he would stop, bring his hands to his chest in the “Namaste” position, and chant, his voice soft and cool as a breeze.  It was soothing to walk behind him and then pass through the air he’d prayed in, as if I was stepping into the fresh salt water of ocean waves.   I had no idea what he was doing or why, and I didn’t need to know.  I only felt deep appreciation for someone who would live out his connection with the sacred in a way that was both visible, and unobtrusive.  He wasn’t seeking attention.  He was speaking with his gods, and I could ignore it or witness it as I chose.       The second thing that happened was that my friend and colleague, author and teacher Michaela Roessner, sent me a video link called  Happy People Dancing on Planet Earth and you should watch it.  In it, the filmmaker dances with people all over the world, from Zimbabwe to Lebanon and Milan to Denver.   Yes, Denver.  Even Denver.        Nobody explains.  It’s not necessary.  The music plays and people dance, and you get it:  This is what we’re here for.  To dance with each other.  To walk oddly clad down unlikely streets  and sing to our particular vision of the sacred.  To appreciate, enjoy, and help each other. Ziggy and Chaco Rest after Dancing    Now, I’m not blind.  The world is full of problems that can’t be dispelled with dancing, so I’ll add that we’re also here to solve problems.  That’s why we have brains as well as hearts.  But I think the dancing helps us remember the kinds of problems we’re supposed to be solving.    Political problems aren’t about power.  They’re about how best to serve.  Insurance companies aren’t supposed to solve the problem of generating larger profit margins, but the problem of getting their customers the best possible health care.  Hollywood’s problem isn’t  how to create blockbusters.  It’s using their art to tell stories – all the stories.  Not just the ones that serve corporate interests.      And doing any of that these days is, well, dancing on the edge.  If you can't imagine how I feel about that, here's a hint.  In my novel , A Lunatic Fear , when Alex asks Jaguar if she’s taking him dancing on the edge she replies, “We seem to like it there.”  She knows that when greed and fear rule the center, it’s time to move out.        Well, I could go on and on, but I’ve already busted the dominant paradigm by going over the edge of what’s acceptable for the sound-bite of blog length.  Anyway, I’m sure you get it.  It’s like the Mohawk say – every creature on the planet has a job to do, and the job of humans is simply to give thanks, and learn to live in harmony with everything else here.      In short, we’re here to dance.    So go dance, or sing, or plant your garden.Thumb your nose at the celebrities and be the star of your own life.  Dig deep to find the right problems to solve, then solve them.  Go put something good in the world.  Make art.  Make supper.       And don’t forget to play with your food.
      Below is the recipe for the Dark and Stormy, which is something us writers  enjoy before we dance, or make our art, which is really the same thing after all.  

      A Lunatic Fear pits the powers of greed and fear against those of love in an unusual way.  You can find the kindle version at Wildside Books .  And you can find me on Facebook . 

DARK AND STORMY
Dark and Stormies Dancing2 oz.  really good dark rum - preferably Gosling's Black Seal3 (or 4 if you like it lighter) oz. really good ginger beer (NOT ginger ale1 slice limeIce
You know.  Liquid in glass, add ice until it shivers, and garnish with lime.



YEZZI’S YEZZITO
Poet David Yezzi, faculty here at Western’s MFA, invented this when we ran out of ginger beer.  At that point, of course, we had to PLAY WITH OUR FOOD!
1 part really good dark rum3 parts Santa Cruz  (or other) raspberry lemonade1 tsp. sugar1 slice limeAbout two teaspoons fresh basil, rough choppedIce
Muddle the basil and sugar in a glass.  Add the rum and lemonade and stir a bit.  Add the ice.   Sip and dance.