The Leaking Eye

Finally home after a long day of cat-sits, judo and grocery shopping. I was exhausted. 

As we sat in the car I told her I can feel myself growing a liiiiiitttle weaker every day. If I force myself to exercise I get so tired afterward I have to take a nap...sometimes for several hours. Will loading -- when in the wilds --  necessitate a pre-move nap? Fortunately, the days will be long enough it'll probably work for the middle months of the summer.

Seeing the impact of these guys "leaving" is pretty tough. Karen's still upset over Ralph (it's starting to get a little better after 4 years), but then Keith, and a few months ago Duane, one of Michelle's assistants (he was only 33 but had wrangled depression for years), and now Fred (Keith's Dad). The implications of one's own departure are impossible to ignore. And I'm still speculating on when to pull the plug;  I definitely don't want to get caught in the throes of "the system" through some inadvertent misstep or, god help me, incapacitation. 

They've been testing various psychedelics on terminal cancer patients for years and have had good results with alleviating the pre-death anxiety. I've had three pre-journey zoom meetings with a guide who does integrative counseling for psychedelic journeyists. 

The other day, in a discussion about perspective,  he said "I'm not trying to convince you of anything, just offering food for thought." Journeys are so ineffable...especially the high-dose ones. It helps to have confidence in the guide, but it's almost impossible not to convey SOME perspective. And it can be EXTREMELY difficult, as anyone who's "experienced" knows, to guide (help) someone toward finding their own answers without influencing them....esp when every micro-nuance of prosody is evident and/or open for interpretation.

Now time to get ready to leave for the leaking-eye appt.

Bioneers Celebrate Paul Stamets

 

Late breaking news.

Posted to Youtube "just the other day," January 13, 2021.

Things are heating up! My paranoia rises. How will they "put down" the revolution THIS time? As we oldsters take over -- it's always the olde folks who have the money, power, political pull -- how will the "experienced" (Remember Jimi's song? He starts at 1:44) cope with the off-shore fundamentalists and the Trump supporters? 

Are You Experienced?

Jimi Hendrix

If you can just get your mind together
Then come on across to me
We'll hold hands an' then we'll watch the sun rise from the bottom of the sea
But first

Are you experienced?
Have you ever been experienced?
Well, I have

I know, I know
You'll probably scream n' cry
That your little world won't let you go
But who in your measly little world are trying to prove that
You're made out of gold and -a can't be sold

So-er, are you experienced?
Have you ever been experienced?
Well, I have

Ah, let me prove it to you
Trumpets and violins, I can hear in the distance
I think they're calling our names
Maybe now you can't hear them, but you will
If you just take hold of my hand
Ah! But are you experienced?
Have you ever been experienced?
Not necessarily stoned, but beautiful...

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Jimi Hendrix

Are You Experienced? lyrics © BMG Rights Management

When I talked with Jason in Silverton he said the town had been almost equally split for and against the store. But over the months the tax money had enabled them to raise the salaries of their teachers, buy new equipment for the fire and police departments and the city coffers were now full. All this with NO increase in crime. It was hard for the nay-sayers to maintain their position.

It should be entertaining. 

Silverton Green Works - Colorado

So there I was trudging from gallery to gallery jonesing for some art when the muse giggled. I went inside and there, just waiting to be appreciated, were three paintings by Jon Schneck. It's the Silverton Green Works on 13th Street, a recreational marijuana store. 

Jon checked out about ten years ago, but one of the owners, Jason Carroway, knew him and has had the paintings for many years.

Only 39, Jason had had a stroke six weeks earlier. Still reveling in being able to talk, he kindly took time to tell me about Mr. Schneck. He'd known him since he was six and said Jon was eccentric and kept to himself. His mom knew him better and when he died he'd left her his paintings. There are over 100 and they have yet to see them...they're in a storage locker. He said he's had these three for many years and considers them priceless.

When I asked about the store, Jason said he spent a year and a half getting to know folks around the state before deciding who he wanted to work with. The "foyer" has a couple of couches and overstuffed chairs and feels like a living room. And with the paintings and some large photographs of the Durango-Silverton Train, it's a lot like a gallery. 

                           Philip Carmody (on right) is co-owner and manager. 

The store is in the back -- must be 21 to enter -- with  friendly people carefully chosen by Jason. Our conversation was intense and focused on entrepreneurship and the importance of relationships.