XX

Before leaving town, we stopped to pick up some gas. I filled the tank while my wife went inside to pay. I took a close look at some of the other customers. They didn't seem to have the joy on their faces that I had seen so much of over the past 2 days. How would this affect me? Would I follow their lead and smile less often, be less giving, caught up in the illusion again or would I continue to let my light shine, to let the joy manifesting in me be witnessed by all, even on my "worst" days? I pondered these thoughts as we hit the road and headed back to Minnesota. Before leaving Illinois, we had to stop several times to pay tolls. The toll booth attendents didn't appear to be very joyful, either. What would make them happy, I wondered.

I felt a palpable sense of relief as we entered Wisconsin if only because the scenery there is more lush and there would be no more tolls to pay. I was greatly looking forward to seeing our dog and cat once we arrived back home. As it got closer to sunset, my wife said she'd like to stop for a bite somewhere. I knew a place in Janesville that she would most definitely enjoy: IHOP. We entered the restaurant. There weren't too many people there. I ordered some pancakes while my beloved had some pancakes and eggs. I was glad that I had the following day off to recuperate and reacclimate myself to "everyday life". As we left the restaurant, the sun had all but gone down.

What a day. I had seen Neale have an actual conversation with God, had my pic taken with him (with Neale, not with God...though maybe they are actually the same), had my toes read, and heard Marianne speak, all with my life partner at my side. She talked excitedly about going next summer if it was offered again (I've since found out that it will be). My wife rarely sleeps in the car, so it was quite a surprise that she fell asleep shortly after we left Janesville. I listened to various CD's as the hours went by and we got closer to Minnesota.

I'd been looking forward to this event for so long. What would I do now that it was over? Reading Neale's new book would be one thing, I guess. Perhaps I could also peruse the Gary Zukav book my wife had bought. The toe reader had said I should meditate more. I could look into that, get in touch with my inner monk. I would continue to be thankful that my wife and I had been able to reconcile our relationship late last year and that our canine had survived a close call last fall. I would continue to start my day with 5 affirmations: I am joyful, I am loving, I am accepting, I am blessing, and I am grateful (these are the five attitudes of God as revealed in Neale's "Friendship With God").

My wife continued to sleep as I realized I would need to make a pit stop. I was quite pleased there hadn't been much traffic on the roads. For the most part, I was able to have the car on cruise control and zone out a bit. I stopped at a rest area. My girl asked if we were home yet. I said, "I hope not. I don't wanna leave this mortal coil quite yet".

We passed into Minnesota at around midnight. One thing I knew is that I would not soon forget this weekend or the things it had caused me to remember. I would take this weekend into my heart and use it on a day-to-day basis. It wouldn't be an easy thing, but I looked forward to trying. All the things I experienced this past weekend can be summed up in one word: mashugana.

No, the word is love. Love, love, love, love, love, love, love. We passed into Rochester and were now just moments away from home (our earthly home, that is). The summer of '08 had just started and all was well. We entered our homestead and greeted the dog and cat. Our Pomeranian was mighty joyful to see us, the cat...not so much...but such is life. An hour later, we hit the hay, our great adventure now over, but in many ways, only just beginning.

My Experience in Ashland, Oregon at the End of 2008

My Experience at Celebrate Your Life 2009