November- and Darkness and Light

-sorry, can't org this one- good luck

Where were you on 9/19/78, that's 1978? I can tell you where I was--in my dorm room at Rutger's 3 weeks into freshman year of college (yes, I went to Rutger's freshman year- then GTown). I knew I had to study my but off if I was going to transfer to GTown, so I had my books in front of me and my stereo tuned to WNEW FM--102.7, at the ready to crank it up at the appropriate moment, which was coming soon---

And here I am, it's a little after mid-day in Spain, and I can't figure out why I am so damn tired---i had a comfortable and good night sleep(heated room!!!yeah!!), so I should be ready for an attack mode afternoon here in Spain after a fine morning walk on my Camino-- then I remember I've been walking for over two weeks EVERY DAY between 12/13 miles and 18 miles. AND I'm NOT HALFWAY!!!! Although I am getting there-

And now, feeling this way, I am starring at the hill (okay, MOUNTAIN!!) ahead of me that I am about to climb-- and I'm thinking with my mind telling my body I'm tired, and the climb in front of me, perhaps I need a little JUICE to get me up that mountain. Perhaps, sometimes, we all need some JUICE--healthy, uplifting, supportive juice, not the kind that ends in tragedy.

My juice of choice brought me back to that night, September, 1978, and the radio broadcast of the Capitol Theatre show. So I tee'd the IPOD to "Prove It", and commenced my pace uphill--"New Jersey, where they prove it all night", and I'm off, reflecting on that night long ago during this day, and thinking of my first September not playing football since I was like 7 years old, and the desire to do well in this school simply so I could go to the one I thought I was destined for--seemingly, anyway, as all my friends arrive where they should be, in Boston, Worcester, Providence, etc, and it seems as though I am the only one here in NJ--it seems that way because I am- the only one still in NJ--- but no worries because my radio is tuned to the live broadcast of BRUCE!!!!

And now it's almost 30 years later (29 exact) and I'm sitting on top if this mountain writing these notes, wondering what words of wisdom TSHEA and others will shed on my mass of convulted, but heartlfelt, emotion.

First, I'm thinking, everything since that night has gone pretty darn well if you measure it in hills climbed, joys experienced, children conceived and now virtually raised (and out of the house till they come back!!), friendships among the best a human being can have, and one woman, one love----- and I'm through "Prove it", and the IPOD is on scramble so "Spirit in the Night" comes on and I get about halfway up over those 20 minutes, and now DARKNESS come's on, and Bruce says "sometimes we all have to go through that darkness on the edge of town"---

And we do-- and it's a hill, mountain, life event or lack thereof, and it get's DARK. It's during those times we find out alot about ourselves, about our doubts, our true values, who loves us and whom we love, and then, on the other side of that darkness, should we be so fortunate, is, of course, we hope, The Promised Land.

Well, my wife downloaded some "darkness" on me that she thought I would want to know, about family events that aren't going quite right (not immediate family, but certainly close family); about some friends who had become the unfortunate victims of their firms' poor risk management and the ensuing layoffs at BofA (really the only news event I am aware of other than some political assasination in a spanish province last week)-- so, 3000 former BofA people will be facing some decisions with their careers/life issues --and I'm quite sure based on past experience that there will be more of that, not less, in the next few months. It's a typical Wall Street cycle---

And I'm up my mountain, this current one, but I've got plenty more to climb, and I reflect and pray that those who are approaching or in that "darkness on the edge of town" have enough JUICE (defined as supportive and loving family and friends, help,) to get them through their current darkness to their real Promised Land--

And I pray for that to happen quickly, for the camino they are on can be a beautiful one too--- just get through that darkness--- and I've already covered about "jobs", about this time of year, and the stress many people put on themselves (excessive) if they have a job, so those without one might be even more prone to stressing out!!!! No doubt.

Well, I can tell you there are so many things more important than "your job" (I have, haven't I?), but I know human emotion well enough to pray for speedy solutions to current predicaments-- which job issues are-- they are "current predicaments"--
They are not life issues, like terminal illness, divorce, sickness, death, and the like. They are current predicaments-- and I've said a prayer for those dealing with them--

It's All Saint's Day, and in Spain everything is closed except the town bar, which is all we pilgrims need (that's the equivalent, but a lot healthier, of your fast food place).

And the wind is starting to howl a bit, and in fact is blowing from the east to the west, so is at my back as TS requested. I might pull my gloves back on for the 'up' in the Meseta's walk ahead of me--

And I'm thinking of my prayer list, of the people that asked to be on it, and the people I put on it, and I'm keeping all those working folk, and recently laid off, and I'm thinking I'll have plenty to think about and pray for the rest of today.

And I'm feeling that wind, and the IPOD is back in the backpack, and I take one last look down to the town well below, and turn to West to the fields of more Meseta's-

And I'm thinking about these last almost 30 yrs again, and I'm thankful that each time my Darkness came, it was never the last song!!!! And I pray and trust you know it will never be your's either-

And I leave you today with the knowledge that;

I see my light come shining-
From the west down to the east,
Any day now, any day now,
I (we all) shall be released!!!!!!
Dylan

Peace
TT

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