yoda speaks…

 

“Annoying are you, daisyfae.  Out of my car you shall get…”

I’ve had a delightful opportunity to hang with yoda this week.  At the workshop, i’ve enjoyed watching the reaction of the attendees whenever he speaks… from the back of the room, i would see people talking, getting up for coffee, surfing the web* while presentations were underway.  Yet as soon as the unmistakable voice of yoda was heard commenting, or raising a question?  Silence.  No fingers clicking away on keyboards, conversations cease.  All heads turn to hear the soft, yet poignant words of the master.  This was almost always followed by some groupie saying loudly “Great comment – i couldn’t agree more.  And furthermore…” at which point, heads again nod in Blackberry prayer and people resume their surfing, e-mail and conversations. 

After another round of ridiculous quantities of alcohol, joining the band as guest artist, and other stupid behavior networking late last night, i was up at the festive hour of 5 am.  Prior to my late night excursion into the underbelly of Retired, Over-Cooked Yuppie Central, i had agreed to join yoda on a sunrise excursion with a small gaggle of loyal followers into the Joshua Tree National Park.   With just 3 hours of shut eye, i dutifully reported to the lobby for our jedi adventure. 

He and i are known for our arguments.  Not real disagreements, but debates executed as forensics training.  Neither one of us may believe firmly in our position du jour, but we joust for the sport of it.  After one particularly viscious bout, he attempted to leave me at a seedy truck stop, 2 hours from our destination**.   I had annoyed him beyond his ability to drive.  As he paid the tab, i mentioned that i was going to the counter – populated by large, gruff gentlemen – and would start to cry.  I further informed him that i would explain my circumstances to the nice, sympathetic truck drivers, and hitch a ride.  Wisely, yoda allowed me to return to the car, and all was resolved.

This morning?  Not a hint of disagreement.  The sunrise was breathtaking, and worth the lost sleep.  I think yoda was delighted that he could provide an experience so overwhelming that i was left speechless.  This time?  I was not banished from the car.

And the lesson learned by this young warrior?  Drinkin’ and whorin’ brings tranquility to young jedi – and a tranquil young jedi brings tranquility to the master.

______________

*how rude!  can you believe that?

**my version of events.  his version is quite different.  both are amusing.  neither are particularly accurate…

On writing and relationships…

I don’t remember how we met, or when we discovered the uniqueness of the relationship.  It was through our common professional community, many years ago.

He has been a friend, coach and glorious mentor – personally, professionally and spiritually.  I have a “call sign” for him: yoda.

Note to yoda – yes.  lowercase “y”.  Unless and until you can draw from me the power to vaporize, or at least levitate, the bunghole hat-driver, going 50 miles per hour in the left lane of the highway, turn signal flashing since he bought the car and seat belt sparking joyfully on the pavement, it will remain lowercase “y”.

He writes.  He reads.  He observes.  Thinks deep thoughts and practices the art of reflection like a master.  He also whines a bit, and gets cranky when people don’t understand his messages. 

When discussing the act of writing, and the practice of blogging, I received the following note from him this week…

“I have always taken the position that reading (and by association writing) is the best way of interacting in that it allows you to communicate with those who want to talk with you.  You find your audience and read those people with whom you resonate. 

“Reading folks long dead is still a conversation (albeit a bit passive on their part) for me, and one I want to engage in for folks like Camus, Raymond Carver, Mencken…

“And of course the person I most like to converse with is me, so writing allows me to do that… “

Taken with this beautiful capture from penfold, on the nature of relationships that arrive via the electronic medium, it comes full circle for me – we write, read, observe, think deep thoughts. And we share them.  These relationships can ebb and flow in the manner of all relationships….

Welcome to the internet V2.0…..