THIRTY-FIFTH
DAY
THICH
TAKES OVER
October
17 and 18
Finally,
a down day at least I thought it was. We
have been very busy, trying to do it all.
We might be getting close.
Kimberly goes to Italian class and I have sort of a quiet day. I took
the rental car back and surprised myself by taking the right tram and bus back
to the Academy. I take the moment to
meditate with my pal Thich Nhat Hahn.
Apparently, this incredible guy has been writing books about meditation
for years but my new best pal, Michael Kahn alerted me to his books. I have been thinking for a long time that I
wanted to take on some of the questions of mortality. I have been talking to
therapists and shrinks for years about some of these issues but not solving
much. I think I really was too
busy. My friend Peter Lynch, one of
those sort of special feeling people turned me onto Dr. Michael Kahn. Well, it
turns out that Kahn is about 80 and only sees about 8 people a week. I got in sometime early this year. What a special person. I thought he had lots
of solutions to the kinds of questions that I was asking myself. Since I started seeing Michael I have lost
about 20 pounds, begun sleeping better, been less cranky, felt younger and some
other good stuff. He is easy and a sweet
man, fun to talk to and remembers all the hard stuff. Genuine proof that getting older doesn’t mean
that you can’t still get most of what you want.
So a new addition, meditation and a good feeling sometimes. Thanks Peter and Michael.
Feeling
revived, but worried about eating too much,
I go to the gym. Last week the
gym cost 15E a week, but a mistake has been made and now the price is 20E, still
not too bad. They are open every day but
Sunday from 8 until about 10PM. Most of
the action is classes for the local women.
I have still not seen a man in any of the classes. It is an active place and the equipment is ok
although I wish they had my elliptical.
My workouts are parallel to mine at home. The gym has always been an unfailing way for
me to feel good. I guess I think that it
is some sort of health protection. A
little doubles squash would go a long ways here. The tournament that I have sponsored for the
last 15 years is being played at the end of October and I will miss it. My partner Hank Bruce just told me he was
playing with John Campodonidco, a great team for sure. They should be the odds
on favorites for the final in the old man’s division unless Hank plays in the
usual 4 classes that he wants to play and gets too tired. Well, Campo will carry him.
Later
I meet with my friend Kristin Jones. She
wants to do a print project about her Piazza project on the Tiber. I think I am helping, but it is unclear what
we are doing. It is mostly about how to
finance this great idea. I know a lot
about print but the real issue is the dough.
No surprise, but I wish I could offer something other than money. Her friend Pia who works at Temple U in Rome
is going to see a local printer who all the big artists in Rome like to work
with. He has only one name, Bula. We will meet \him this week and see what he
can do to help. More later.
Our
day ends with dinner at the Academy. It
is always fun and the fellows who actually get free food sort of have to show
up. They are a nice group of artists,
architects, historians and classicists.
The food usually is generally bad, but the conversation carries the
evening. We are terribly lucky.
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