A Day In
This Phanerogenicist's Life
Peace Corps Mini-Odyssey
I awake just after the
sunrise. It seems to me that my heart is wanting to play so I take
it along with the physical shell in which it is encased. Since that
encasement is substantive of me, in everyday terms, my mind pilots
the entire operation with glee.
I ride my bike out into
stunningly beautiful early Summer Heartland bliss. I smile to
myself as I note my baseline heart rate, the pulse on the hilltop to
which I ride, and the home recovery count is dropping with each
expedition.
I shower and go for my 4
wheeled machine.
I receive the gift of
amiable conversation with a passing neighbor. I relish describing
the image on the Internet of the Dr Martin Luther King Park. It
shows two parallel walls with Dr King sculpted coming out of one wall
with his hand out (as for a handshake) while the other wall shows
Robert Kennedy doing the same with the effect that the two are
shaking hands.
Bidding adieu, I zip along
on the gloriously tree lined roads, routes, avenues, arteries, lanes
and boulevards to the Picnic put on by the Peace Corps group
here in Indy.
In
no time at all, I am lost.
I stop and get out of my car
asking directions from the closest person on the street.
Their extreme politeness, softspokenness and joy exudes
a great Peace.
I follow flowing forms
finely bestowing grace, With the Peace I have just
received and all that I have ever known, [while I still don't know where to find the picnic] the soul's path is clear, ablaze
with light.
I grew up in the fabulous
Chicago; adventured in exotic locales around the world for several
years and have been fortunate to have visited, studied, worked,
loved, prayed, played, and created in Indianapolis, Indiana on and
off for more than a half-century now. As when fine tuning a
microscope brings something into focus, I come to realize, basking in
this June's balmy beneficence, that Indianapolis may well be the most
tolerant, respectful and peaceful place on this good earth. I am
wondering if, in no small part, it is because the people here are so
deeply happy and dwell in a profound soulful Peace.
Yet
methinks while this Joie
de vivre flourishes, it does so sub-Rosa.
I am awed and inspired by
people's persevering yearning for this happiness to be readily
available for everyone - and thus the dynamic of being independently
happy with self, while engaging fully with the world - - which I have
finally translated from the Hoosier saying: "I'm trying".
This also illuminates the water-color softness that cloaks the
indefatigably celebratory Hoosier spirit of good, rendering it
demure.
I am so grateful.
While I am pondering
these wonderful things about the Hoosier Psyche, driving lost in one
sense, and found in another, I snap pictures of some of the images
around me confirming Indy's diversity, creativity and the state of
having something for everyone - plus several light-graph-joys of the
last few years.
