Hi Jesse: Since you are all into birthdays, today, June 8th, is the birthday of the late Nanalee Berry that ran your mom's fan club back in the 70's. I called Nanalee every day and had to intercept the phone bill at my parents' house as there were no cell phones then. We also wrote letters daily. There is a picture of Bev posted wearing the fan club T Shirt. She was a nice person. If you can ever get ahold of a fc journal, I'm in there under special thanks. Also wrote a poem about DNV that was Godawful but your mom said she liked it. Just kids, as the saying goes. Paul Bender.
Wow! I like this! Good work material! Keep on writing, Jesse.
I keep all my notebooks, calendars, diaries. I also have big hat box where my correspondence of postcards, letters, love letters are in. I feel like writing MY story with the help of those precious items. Elementary school to 1992. At age 38 I did a three week trip by myself that changed my life. Camping in CA’s National parks. A tent and a pickup truck. I met my husband hiking up Yosemite Falls! Who knew! ♥️😃 Still, I am antsy, don’t feel ‘I am there yet’ at age 64. Ugh. A bit stressful I’d say…
Ohhh wow, thank you for reminding me of this post! Written just over 1 year ago today! :) My birthday is coming up once again in a few weeks so it's helpful to revisit these words from my past self as I level up to LEVEL 38! :D I love that you did the 3 week trip when you were 38. I love doing trips by myself so much. I went to Alaska by myself 2 years ago and had one of the best times ever. Nearly time for another trip, I would say! <3 And I love that you met your husband while hiking in Yosemite. That's so romantic and fun. Where would you love to go next?? Thank you again so so much :)
Grateful to be reading this nearly a year later. I’d love to have you as an interview guest on “Harrowings” - it’s a low fidelity podcast I’m working on - interested?
Hi Jesse: You know what they say: "When in doubt, throw it out." Happy birthday in advance. You share a birthday with a good friend of mine. I don't know what level I'm at--I'm old, I know that!
It has been a while since you wrote this post so I don’t know if you will notice this response, but your message impacted me in a deep way. It left me with that happy/sad/nostalgic feeling that I sometimes feel after a great movie. I guess what I am trying to say is that it touched my soul. In dark days such as we are living through now it is encouraging to remember that there are many many people on the planet who are contributing their positive energy to our collective travels. Namaste.
What a lovely post. I think many of us probably have those things to go through (being very critical about one's achievements....) and it can be really hard to lose out of view the things that we have, what we love, what we have achieved. I have struggled with this for a really long time as my work path isn't straightforward and I started later than others in my field of work. Feel a lot better and relaxed about it now! I'm not even sure how that happened - I think just experience, life, things happening that are more important - over the years it changes your perspective.
I think I might try out the 4 categories sorting of things to keep and not to keep. Good idea!
Ps: I think the ritual you used to have about writing a letter before turning a year older and one just after, that is a great ritual! Might try that next January :-) (that's going to be 40!)
Happy early birthday. I applaud your journey to examine your life. I retired 11 years ago to do just that. I have lists I made and journals I wrote for decades starting when I was 18 about things I wanted to accomplish in my lifetime….degrees I wanted to earn, countries i wanted to visit, books I wanted to write… life took me off my path for a few years, but periodically I would review those plans and add new things, most often those things I then wanted for my children. But I knew all during the journey that I was doing the important things that would sustain me when I could no longer physically do them. It’s lovely to have those memories I had first listed as a young student. Occasionally I still add new trips and I’d like to take: to go to Bhutan or to walk the Camino de Santiago, but, realistically, I know there some dreams that I have to experience from where I am now, through books, videos, on-line tours, those things I found have me joy during the pandemic
Thank you for this post!! Good luck in the immediate efforts of organizing/ moving - sounds like you’ve got a good plan. Ive been trying to sort through - edit, repurpose notebooks and such as I am in a house I moved into when I was 6 . My list will be “When I am 64!!”- I better practice on my clarinet which I still have !!
I think I am more in the category of “grateful to be “ rather than “I’m only” ! I love the positivity in your posts Jesse ! You truly are an inspiration! The past few months have brought challenging health issues , anxiety and disappointment but reading your words is encouraging and more than welcome. I hope level 37 treats you well Jesse ! Sending love and gratitude to you as always. I have my pencil poised to start my list ! 🌻❤️ 🖊️
I am adding to my earlier comment simply because I have had time to process everything and write my lists about my next level:) Chronologically I am older than I feel or want to be but I refuse to let that affect the goals and aspirations I have. I have lived this life in two genders and, in terms of my second life that would make me 12! Now I am not going to take it to that level BUT I will accept that in my present incarnation I feel like 40-something...and that is the mindset I will cultivate as my birthday approaches!
I’ve always had the thought that I could channel any age I’ve been.
I soothe my inner 5. I radiate my 38.
I’m also spring cleaning and spring finding…
things I’ve misplaced. funny how my world works. oddities to add those zesty lessons in life in my life
Birds I n song
morning rise
another day
another shine
I filled many notebooks of rhymes and riddles, poems and ideas and lists of wishes and plans. It was like coins for a piggy bank. I added pages of moment to moment thoughts.
I wish I had saved my notebooks, had a way to scan them to see how my writing has changed the size, the shape of my words where I placed them on the page and the doodles of a messes made.
most of my notebooks I did not begin on the first page and I still don’t. I wonder why that is.
the things we keep
the things that stay
what do they speak
what do they say
01
I wish to play guitar and sing at the same time. I need to get some inspiration I need to tune into songs from the Trail.
My son is turning 37 and he was spring cleaning too. He found a notebook I had written for him. A sort of diary about his milestones and facts about his habits, his relationship with his sister and Dad, and my feelings about being a Mom. He used Artificial Intelligence and somehow was able to turn it into an audio book. It is a cool way to save it.
Wow Jesse, perfect timing as usual. It’s spring cleaning, gathering my thoughts along side others. Enjoyed this. Great idea. Love you enjoyed Michigan air, beauty. I live in an awe inspiring place and realize there are so many others. Our planet is awesome and we need to continue to protect and nurture , especially the Park! Thank you Jesse. You are an inspiration, just a 37.
So very resonant ~ Thank you for sharing your wisdom and deep heartfelt reflections.. and optimism.. which I agree with.... as really, all is perfect as it is.. and each of us souls are living our trajectory as we should be.. learning what we need to learn, growing how we need to grow, and loving how we need to love. There is no right and wrong, ultimately. And as Rumi says, "you have to keep breaking your heart until it opens." Not sure if that resonates, but thank you as always.
Thank you for this beautiful post. As you think about ways of preserving/remembering this history, you might also scan the pages in addition to transcription. I sometimes find the movement of the pen on the page, the doodles, and other markings tell a rich story that may not be captured with transcription alone.
At 58, it makes me smile to write, "You're only 58!" But I am grateful for so many things. For my daughter who will begin an MFA in art in the fall at Rutgers, for my wife who grounds me; for my gardens, and for my job teaching such wonderful students, for being in relatively good health, and for my two old cats, Fernando and Finn. And I'm grateful to have a few moments this morning to sit with my coffee and reflect on this post.
Good luck with this new chapter in your live, Jesse, and happy early birthday!
Hi Jesse: Since you are all into birthdays, today, June 8th, is the birthday of the late Nanalee Berry that ran your mom's fan club back in the 70's. I called Nanalee every day and had to intercept the phone bill at my parents' house as there were no cell phones then. We also wrote letters daily. There is a picture of Bev posted wearing the fan club T Shirt. She was a nice person. If you can ever get ahold of a fc journal, I'm in there under special thanks. Also wrote a poem about DNV that was Godawful but your mom said she liked it. Just kids, as the saying goes. Paul Bender.
Wow! I like this! Good work material! Keep on writing, Jesse.
I keep all my notebooks, calendars, diaries. I also have big hat box where my correspondence of postcards, letters, love letters are in. I feel like writing MY story with the help of those precious items. Elementary school to 1992. At age 38 I did a three week trip by myself that changed my life. Camping in CA’s National parks. A tent and a pickup truck. I met my husband hiking up Yosemite Falls! Who knew! ♥️😃 Still, I am antsy, don’t feel ‘I am there yet’ at age 64. Ugh. A bit stressful I’d say…
Ohhh wow, thank you for reminding me of this post! Written just over 1 year ago today! :) My birthday is coming up once again in a few weeks so it's helpful to revisit these words from my past self as I level up to LEVEL 38! :D I love that you did the 3 week trip when you were 38. I love doing trips by myself so much. I went to Alaska by myself 2 years ago and had one of the best times ever. Nearly time for another trip, I would say! <3 And I love that you met your husband while hiking in Yosemite. That's so romantic and fun. Where would you love to go next?? Thank you again so so much :)
Grateful to be reading this nearly a year later. I’d love to have you as an interview guest on “Harrowings” - it’s a low fidelity podcast I’m working on - interested?
Hi Jesse: You know what they say: "When in doubt, throw it out." Happy birthday in advance. You share a birthday with a good friend of mine. I don't know what level I'm at--I'm old, I know that!
It has been a while since you wrote this post so I don’t know if you will notice this response, but your message impacted me in a deep way. It left me with that happy/sad/nostalgic feeling that I sometimes feel after a great movie. I guess what I am trying to say is that it touched my soul. In dark days such as we are living through now it is encouraging to remember that there are many many people on the planet who are contributing their positive energy to our collective travels. Namaste.
What a lovely post. I think many of us probably have those things to go through (being very critical about one's achievements....) and it can be really hard to lose out of view the things that we have, what we love, what we have achieved. I have struggled with this for a really long time as my work path isn't straightforward and I started later than others in my field of work. Feel a lot better and relaxed about it now! I'm not even sure how that happened - I think just experience, life, things happening that are more important - over the years it changes your perspective.
I think I might try out the 4 categories sorting of things to keep and not to keep. Good idea!
Ps: I think the ritual you used to have about writing a letter before turning a year older and one just after, that is a great ritual! Might try that next January :-) (that's going to be 40!)
Happy early birthday. I applaud your journey to examine your life. I retired 11 years ago to do just that. I have lists I made and journals I wrote for decades starting when I was 18 about things I wanted to accomplish in my lifetime….degrees I wanted to earn, countries i wanted to visit, books I wanted to write… life took me off my path for a few years, but periodically I would review those plans and add new things, most often those things I then wanted for my children. But I knew all during the journey that I was doing the important things that would sustain me when I could no longer physically do them. It’s lovely to have those memories I had first listed as a young student. Occasionally I still add new trips and I’d like to take: to go to Bhutan or to walk the Camino de Santiago, but, realistically, I know there some dreams that I have to experience from where I am now, through books, videos, on-line tours, those things I found have me joy during the pandemic
Thank you for this post!! Good luck in the immediate efforts of organizing/ moving - sounds like you’ve got a good plan. Ive been trying to sort through - edit, repurpose notebooks and such as I am in a house I moved into when I was 6 . My list will be “When I am 64!!”- I better practice on my clarinet which I still have !!
I think I am more in the category of “grateful to be “ rather than “I’m only” ! I love the positivity in your posts Jesse ! You truly are an inspiration! The past few months have brought challenging health issues , anxiety and disappointment but reading your words is encouraging and more than welcome. I hope level 37 treats you well Jesse ! Sending love and gratitude to you as always. I have my pencil poised to start my list ! 🌻❤️ 🖊️
I am adding to my earlier comment simply because I have had time to process everything and write my lists about my next level:) Chronologically I am older than I feel or want to be but I refuse to let that affect the goals and aspirations I have. I have lived this life in two genders and, in terms of my second life that would make me 12! Now I am not going to take it to that level BUT I will accept that in my present incarnation I feel like 40-something...and that is the mindset I will cultivate as my birthday approaches!
Hello Jesse 🌵
I made it to level 54!
My life like a game of shoots and ladders.
Yesterday I slid down to level 11.
I’ve always had the thought that I could channel any age I’ve been.
I soothe my inner 5. I radiate my 38.
I’m also spring cleaning and spring finding…
things I’ve misplaced. funny how my world works. oddities to add those zesty lessons in life in my life
Birds I n song
morning rise
another day
another shine
I filled many notebooks of rhymes and riddles, poems and ideas and lists of wishes and plans. It was like coins for a piggy bank. I added pages of moment to moment thoughts.
I wish I had saved my notebooks, had a way to scan them to see how my writing has changed the size, the shape of my words where I placed them on the page and the doodles of a messes made.
most of my notebooks I did not begin on the first page and I still don’t. I wonder why that is.
the things we keep
the things that stay
what do they speak
what do they say
01
I wish to play guitar and sing at the same time. I need to get some inspiration I need to tune into songs from the Trail.
Hello Jackson!
I feel inspired to play guitar
to Strum, Strum, Strum,
and La La La
Wishing you a harmonious day 🕊️
My son is turning 37 and he was spring cleaning too. He found a notebook I had written for him. A sort of diary about his milestones and facts about his habits, his relationship with his sister and Dad, and my feelings about being a Mom. He used Artificial Intelligence and somehow was able to turn it into an audio book. It is a cool way to save it.
Wow Jesse, perfect timing as usual. It’s spring cleaning, gathering my thoughts along side others. Enjoyed this. Great idea. Love you enjoyed Michigan air, beauty. I live in an awe inspiring place and realize there are so many others. Our planet is awesome and we need to continue to protect and nurture , especially the Park! Thank you Jesse. You are an inspiration, just a 37.
Level 37 will be amazing! And thank you for this glimpse into your joyful approach to goal setting!
So very resonant ~ Thank you for sharing your wisdom and deep heartfelt reflections.. and optimism.. which I agree with.... as really, all is perfect as it is.. and each of us souls are living our trajectory as we should be.. learning what we need to learn, growing how we need to grow, and loving how we need to love. There is no right and wrong, ultimately. And as Rumi says, "you have to keep breaking your heart until it opens." Not sure if that resonates, but thank you as always.
Thank you for this beautiful post. As you think about ways of preserving/remembering this history, you might also scan the pages in addition to transcription. I sometimes find the movement of the pen on the page, the doodles, and other markings tell a rich story that may not be captured with transcription alone.
At 58, it makes me smile to write, "You're only 58!" But I am grateful for so many things. For my daughter who will begin an MFA in art in the fall at Rutgers, for my wife who grounds me; for my gardens, and for my job teaching such wonderful students, for being in relatively good health, and for my two old cats, Fernando and Finn. And I'm grateful to have a few moments this morning to sit with my coffee and reflect on this post.
Good luck with this new chapter in your live, Jesse, and happy early birthday!