The Summer of 2006 was one of migration and saying goodbye to a place that I have loved forever - - Colorado.  After one-quarter century in Colorado, I am back in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.  The first time I lived near Seattle, my every thought was of returning to Colorado at my earliest opportunity.  This prevented me from actually being anywhere - - I wasn't in either Colorado or Washington with that mindset.

Now I AM in Washington and I will not survive here - - I will thrive.  My great sleep of the Summer is over and I think I am ready to return to Zaadz. 

Just a quick, random blog entry this morning.  I took this picture several days ago of a beautiful tree that sits facing a quiet stream just beyond my front yard.  This tree appears sentient to me - - seems a repository of ancient wisdom.  Just thought I'd say that 'aloud' and share the photo.

I have been in the process of a slow-motion migration from Boulder County Colorado to Issaquah, Washington since late April.  The slog is almost over.  Helen is in Issaquah now with our two sweet pups preparing our bare house for my arrival with the moving vans this coming Saturday.  In two short days, I will supervise the loading of the two vans (one big, one little one which I will drive - - loaded with our fragile stuff).  Then, within a week from now, the chaos that has characterized my Summer should be in the rear view mirror.

As much as I regret having to leave Colorado after a quarter century here, Washington is a good place to land if one has to leave Colorado.  As soon as I settle in to my new life in Washington, I intend to re-assume my place in our online community here on Zaadz.  Thanks to all who have shared their good wishes with me over the course of this chaotic Summer.

Liam

Dear friends on zaadz. 

I am in the midst of some important and energy consuming processes right now to bring stability and order to my life.  I still check zaadz daily and love reading your posts and stories.  For about five more days, I am going to be somewhat pre-occupied and then I plan a full return to zaadz!

What a wonderful community we have here!!

There are many people who know who they are and are that same person regardless of the circumstances - - they don't feel the need to change to blend in or fit in with a person or a group.

I feel that I am not such a person - - I feel myself to be a chameleon.  I have often written in various journals that I was in search of the authentic Liam - - the guy who's still there after all the masks have been disposed of.

I'd enjoy reading the thoughts and assembled wisdom of my fellow zaadsters.  How have you found your authentic voice  - - your authentic self?  How do you avoid becoming whatever it is you PRECEIVE the other person needs you to be at that moment?

For myself I want to declare an end to Liam the Chameleon.  I begin this necessary step with the realization that this chameleon, this imposter, is not me.  He deserves to 'die' and this must happen now.

I am reading one of Colleen McCullough's fascinating books on the Roman Republic era.  It got me to thinking about some of the 'high fallutin' Latin phrases that we use now in all manner of settings:

E pluribus unum
cogito ergo sum
carpe diem
deo fiscus labora
sine qua non
sic semper tyrannis (spelling??)

Latin was the language of the leading power of its time.  The language is now 'dead' (with all apologies to the Roman Catholic Church and my ninth grade Latin teacher).

America is the 'leading power of our time' and English is its primary language.  Someday this empire will be gone and this language will be 'dead'.

I wonder what modern English phrases will grace the courthouses, coins, currency, and class crests and mottos a thousand years from now?

Just do it.

Sh*t happens.

We hold these truths...

Tastes great! Less filling!!

I have a dream...

Liam

The floowing is taken from a comment I posted to Ariel.  As I wrote it to her, I realized that I wanted to 'say it aloud' to a larger zaadz audience:

I feel blessed to feel love here on zaadz - - I find that we all seem to be genuinely interested in one another and that we share a form of love that is able to make the transition across the miles and across the internet.  I find myself amazed that this online community - - which in a certain physical sense exists only as ones and zeros on computer disks - - is in fact alive, awake, aware, and full of real love.  What a wonderful realization.

I do find myself amazed that the love inherent in the people on zaadz is able to break through 'the barriers' of time, distance, and electonic representation and manifest itself so powerfully.  I am go glad that we have zaadz and that it is evolving a profoundly positive soul.

Here is a miniscule piece of good fortune that shows how we are often cared for even when we fail to recognize it for such.

I have been separated from my wife for coming up on six weeks as I seek a job in Seattle whiule she remians home in Colorado.  So, we are maintaining two households on one salary - - money can be a little tight sometimes.

Today I was getting ready to go out to a restaurant and pick myself a little lunch  - - using some funds I really didn't have.  Just as I grabbed my car keys to leave the office, an email came across to all employees that there was extra 'noodle food' left over from a catered business lunch.  I went to the cafeteria and ate a delicious and free bowl of phad thai  - - about my favorite dish.  Then, as they were cleaning up, the folks in charge of the meeting gave me another plate of food for the weekend - - 'we know you're a bachelor while you and Helen are seprated, we thought you might enjoy some extra food."

So - - is this Earth shattering?  No.  Is this the best example of being taken care of in time of need?  I hope not.  But it is a miniscule example of how sometimes our needs are just taken care of - - and if we fail to notice and appreciate these thousand little moments - - then we are missing much of the detail that makes up the tapestry of our lives.

To whomever or whatever, wherever, I say, "Thanks for being there for me yet again."

I am a talented and experienced analyst with a reputation for successfully tackling 'the tough questions'.  That is a blessing and my personal curse.  I have allowed this expertise to force me to appear perfect and always in possession of great knowledge.

This makes me weary from having to maintain this facade of infallibilty.  Today, I want to drop this facade and present myself anew in my dealings with people - - in business and in 'the real world'.  I am not the expert but simply a person who enjoys tackling the tough questions - - I am a seeker.  I don't have to be perfect.

 

I've had the joy the past four days to house sit for friends who live on several acres of heavily forested land along Newaukum Creek in Enumclaw, Washington.  Their home looks out over some very tall firs, pines, and hardwood trees to the east - - toward the creek.

Yesterday morning I had a very good morning.  I have been taking my morning coffee the past few days seated on their deck overlooking the creek and the trees.  Yesterday, the Sun rose behind the dense trees and shot golden rays of light in a corona around each tree - - as if each tree were on fire from within.  I sat mesmerized as I watched the sunrise unfold over the course of 15-20 minutes.  Gradually, it grew warmer and the Sun caused mists to rise from the still damp leaves and limbs making it look as if the trees were smoldering with inner fires.

As I watched the sunrise and the mists off the creek and the thousand mists off the leaves and limbs, I decided to do something I normally would not do.  Because I was protected behind a dense wall of trees and because the Sun was so inviting and warming, I decided to greet the remainder of the dawn nude - - why? - - I guess because the spirit just moved me   So, I slipped out of my jeans and shirt and faced the bracing dawn mists and the rising Sun with just my coffee and my smile. 

I sat that way for maybe 5 to 10 minutes, enjoying the feeling of the Sun and the morning cool on my skin.  We don't often have the opportunity to face the world without our first layer of defenses - - our clothing - - so I just reveled in the feeling.  Then, because I needed to stir myself around to get ready for work, I drained the last of my coffee, stood one last time at the deck railing looking out over the creek, and then and walked indoors.

I don't know when or if I will have the opportunity to do that again - - but I am very glad that yesterday I greeted the day naked to the world.