I never saw my parents be affectionate, so I assume I was born as a result of immaculate conception. That happened 73 years ago today at 1730 hours GMT, at Kadlec Methodist Hospital in Richland, Washington. Like my house, my school, the Catholic Church and the science center, Kadlec had been built ten years … [read more]
Memoir
Be Here Now
Richard Alpert was a partner of Tim Leary at Harvard and Millbrook in the early 1960’s founding the Harvard Psilocybin Project, then turning to LSD (which Dr. Hofmann had synthesized in 1938), in a quest to explore the topography of human consciousness. Harvard lost patience with these two rogues and with the flood of … [read more]
Cat Dharma
When we got married, Sandy had two twin Tonkinese boys, litter mates. I grew to love them. They’re gone now. But their personalities were a gentle teaching. Rico was the bigger of the two, darker in color, slower and more cautious, tentative, and reserved. I felt the weight of his fear and judgments. He was … [read more]
A lesson in connection
I Image: Ruel del Jamorol Interconnectedness reveals itself in innumerable ways, most very subtle, often hidden. Few are this disarming I have been staunchly anti-war since I was a teenager, confidently so, smugly perhaps, schooled on Howard Zinn, Staughton Lynd, Tom Hayden, and David Harris. But my commitment was never tested. I read … [read more]
Soothe
Caitriona Balfe, Buddy’s Ma An assassination attempt two days ago. A political convention today where some of the most draconian plans are being seriously considered. A good leader stumbling publicly. Record heat. Wildfires. Though I was born in the final two weeks of the Truman administration, I was a Kennedy kid. That world would last … [read more]
Memory revisited
Image: Alex Dukhanov John died over eight years ago, but listening to REM brought him back to life last week. I leaked like an old faucet hearing his voice. I remember the specific details of Megan’s, Athena’s, and Ian’s birth days vividly, along with foods we ate, midwives’ names and times of day. As well, … [read more]
