Stranger Every Day

Here's What's Been Happening

It's been a while since I lasted posted; but, in my defense, it's been one helluva month.

To start off, I had a weird thing going on with my ticker, irregular beats and whatnot. So, after much prodding by my beloved, I went to see a cardiologist. After all, they're the guys with the diagnostic toys and I suppose it was good to know what was going on. I got the whole work-up, baby. EKG, Stress test, echo cardiogram, etc. Probably a couple thou' against my almost meaningless health insurance (Welcome to the world of the self-employed!). Turns out that I was experiencing PVCs, which I already knew. They are pictured at left, indicated by the arrows, and, I'll be damned, my EKG looked exactly like that.

Everyone has the occasional PVC, but mine have been quite a bit more frequent. This condition runs in my mother's side of the family. Of course, being a male that is aging and under stress also tipped it into the more frequent side.

However, it turns out that there is another reason. PVCs happen more often in those with mitral valve prolapse, which I also found out I have (though a mild case). Probably had it since birth. A-ha! Solution to the riddle of the PVC frequency? Maybe. Regardless, there it is, but it hasn't seemed to put too big a dent in my life to date.

I've gotten used to the idea now that this is the way my heart is. The cardiologist offered no treatment and stated that basically, I'm doing fine. Of course, they want to watch it (to the tune of a couple thousand dollars more in six months). OK, fine. It is what it is, as they say (and all too often, in my linguistic opinion).

But there was more to come. On Sunday (27th), I received news from my sister that my father passed away after a sudden illness. He was just shy of his 85th birthday and was, all in all, a pretty good guy. Not flawless, but not bad. His wife of 60 years, my mother, is handling it well enough. Thankfully, the end was relatively swift and merciful (no, it wasn't a heart condition -- I heard what some of you were thinking).

I'm glad that I was able to talk with him on Christmas, and that he was in good spirits then. It was a good final conversation.

The death of a parent is a big deal, I know. So I'm taking a bit of time to come to grips with it. Maybe I'll post again soon, maybe not. Attending the memorial service, getting my head together; it all takes time.

All I can say now is, "Bye, Dad. Thanks for everything. I love you."

Donovan Mountain

First, there is a mountain,

Then there is no mountain,

Then there is.

- Donovan, "There is a Mountain"

I'm taking a trip down memory lane this time, for a look at the music of Donovan Leitch. In Donovan's heyday, the 60's, he morphed from Scotland's folky, minor answer to Bob Dylan. He became a full-fledged flower child, dabbling in more mystical, even psychedelic, music. Still, it was always tempered with an underlying simplicity that made it both feel-good and feel-deep. A Gift From a Flower to a Garden is probably my favorite of his albums (in fact, on vinyl it was two albums and became a single CD later). This album is filled with wonderful songs and very much worth a listen. In other words, the guy is more than Sunshine Superman or Mellow Yellow; and more than the father of actors Donovan Leitch and Ione Skye. I mean, this guy influenced The Beatles, fer cryin' out loud.

[Pictures are of Donovan, then and now (age 63)]

On the surface, There Is a Mountain is a pleasant little ditty, with a Jamaican, ganja flair. The lyrics, however, contain the short verse above, which I consider to be one of the most succinct and elegant expositions of the enlightenment process that I've ever heard.

Consider: Initially, we are all in the state of duality, that place of Self and Other (First there is a mountain); with the beginning flush of enlightenment, the sense of duality falls away and we are struck with the realization that all is truly One (Then there is no mountain); finally, when the full realization of enlightenment infuses us, we realize that even though all is One, the illusion of separation remains (Then there is), and this illusion is true as long as we inhabit the material world.

Dude, this is heavy stuff.

The lyrics remind me of the Zen statement, "Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water." Simple, useful, accurate.

For those looking for a transcendent experience, there are plenty around to be had. However, true enlightenment requires actually being in the day-to-day. Of course, Donovan's lyrics have more advice for those of us who wish to attain enlightenment. While doing your ordinary routines, you must remember to Wear Your Love Like Heaven.