Two Years Old

Happy spring everyone -
St. Patrick's day was my second birthday -- as I call them, my bonus years. I guess a little of the luck of the Irish rubbed off on me that day. And that means I've been doing my "start your week" messages for two years. First you get a repeat of the very first one:

Treat today as if it is
the only gift you were ever given.
It is the most precious!
Fill it with love and joy and serenity.
Try to breeze past all the disharmonies
that may assail you.
Keep today special --
treasure it with every breathe
you take,
and every beating of your heart.

And as a bonus:

May I learn to live in the moment.
Today, may I stay focused on the now.
May I leave the past here --
it is finished.
May I limit my anticipation of the future --
it will be what it will be.
Let me honor today
with awareness and reverence,
Making each moment a gift.

Thank you Dr. Tuli, your medical team and medical science. These 2 years have indeed been a gift. Enjoy another week of life! ! !
Love, Keith

When Teutonic eyes are smiling

Tena koe (guess by now you’ve figured out that’s hello in Maori) -

We’re back in Tucson, me struggling to tear my heart away from New Zealand. As one man told me, they also have their problems, but it seems to me that they are very civil and seem to have their values right (like mine). And much as I like variety in my weekly messages, I’m going to use THE BONE PEOPLE one more time:

Wherahiko (the Grandfather): We don’t want to be left out, to sit ignored in the corner, but we might as well be. All the things we’ve got to tell, years of love and life and hate. We’d be a good drink for them, a fullbodied mature wine, and look at them! Overcome by fizzy pop, lollywater brew. . . sweeping his eyes round, fierce as a hawk, over the grandchildren pile.

Winking to Joe.

Marama (the Grandmother): When they want to listen, they’ll listen.
We can’t wake them up just to tell them our stories. They’re busy making their own. And in the meantime, my love, we’ve got each other. sliding her plump arm closer, tighter.

Winking at Joe.

- Keri Hulme

So often, I think like Joe, and Rie has to remind me that our grandchildren are busy making their own lives. And that we have each other. Happy birthday, Rie. Wink!

Now how do I get to Ireland? Well, Keri does have some European blood – maybe it’s Irish. May you have the luck of the Irish this week – green beer tempered with a wee bit of Maori wisdom.

Kia ora koe (good health), Na tow hoa (from your friend), Arohanui (much love) - Keith

Winging, walking, listening

Tena koe to each of you. Think of us winging our way back across the restless Pacific.
How misnamed it is – always talking.

O, never silent by the sea
always something talking
water on rocks
water on sand
wind and birds
your heartbeat and
others’ words
whatever knocks
keep right on walking
Listening is for free. . . .

Keri Hulme

No matter what happens this week, keep right on walking. The best things in life ARE free.
Arohanui, Keith

Dancing with the Maoris

Tena koe again from New Zealand (or San Francisco, if you prefer).

Our first visit to this beautiful country happened to be on Sept. 11, 2001. That night I got to dance with the Maoris. They were extremely kind and understanding about the events in the US. They even said my tongue-out growl wasn’t bad. ROOLOOWHALL!

Sunlight metalling horizon to silver;
long stretch of ruffled grey.
A matt white line of breakers.
Behind the steel, clouds reach darkly up
tops shaded by cold still light.

Keri Hulme

Begin your week with the calm of cold still light.

Na tou hoa,
Keith

Maori meditation

Tena koe (how’s your Maori?)

My knowledge of New Zealand literature is slight (something I hope to correct on this trip). The one book I loved is by the Maori author, Keri Hulme. Her book THE BONE PEOPLE won the 1985 Booker Prize.

O the spun shiny surface,
mica and stars,
I span: stand stunned
reeling over night and mind,
so far, no sand
or chance strange feeling
blunts my eyes blind. . . .

Keri Hulme

May your week be filled with the brightness of mica and stars.
Kia ora koe, Keith

ps. For more “real time” updates from New Zealand, check out the travel blog here: www.travelpod.com/travel-blog/krgentzler/5/tpod.html

A Day Late (could blame time zones, but Kim just forgot)

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone.

I’m in love with New Zealand! It’s always been at the top of my list of places I wanted to go back to, and now we are. It’s got to rank with the world’s most beautiful places. And you’ve got to admit, the former British colonies are very civilized places, even if they don’t know which side of the road to drive on.

Our guide book begins with these words:

“With its spectacular abundance of nature, New Zealand defines itself by its affinity for the outdoors. It can be gentle enough to clear the mind and recharge the spirit, or call for adventure and the exhilaration of challenge.”

Wherever you are this week, find some exhilaration and let your spirit be recharged.

And thanks, Kim, for letting me know that we over 70s can bungy jump free.

Love, Keith

The Poetry of Music: Part 2

Hello all –

Bet you’ve all heard of the poets, Joe Darion, Joan Whitney and Alex Kramer. My point being that lyricists are even less well known than other poets. Joe Darion wrote the lyrics to my all time favorite Broadway musical, Man of La Mancha. Something about a crazy old poet who retains his idealism in a mad world that speaks to me.

To dream the impossible dream,

To fight the unbeatable foe,

To bear with unbearable sorrow,

To run where the brave dare not go, etc.

Joe Darion

Last year Kim, Allen and Max took us to an outdoor performance of Man of La Mancha. I loved it and got my favorite baseball hat with “Dreamer” on it. Which is a round about way to another song that may be my theme song:

They call me a dreamer

Well maybe I am

But I know that I’m burning to see,

Those far away places

With strange sounding names

Calling, calling me.

Joan Whitney & Alex Kramer

Which is really the long way to saying that we’re off for 4 weeks in New Zealand. But, with a little help from Kim, you’ll continue to get my messages. So go ahead, be a dreamer and follow your star this week. Love, Keith