Oases Within the Nightmare

Week Thirty-Two / Day Two

Departure Minus One

Crown Casino Says Farewell

...and, it HAS been a nightmare. This sojourn in Australia has been almost ludicrously painful in so many ways. What comes to mind is one of those low-budget horror films wherein the protagonist, a Psychiatrist perhaps, somehow finds himself trapped inside an Insane Asylum, and no matter what he says to the staff or security guards, all he gets in return are enigmatic smiles and nods, humoring him while not taking him seriously; leaving him baffled and frustrated, unable to have any effect on his situation or environment...

..."of COURSE you're a psychiatrist...now, take your pills..."

The disparity between what was envisioned and what awaited me has been so great that - now that I am departing - it can only be seen as humorous. Well, perhaps there are other perspectives, but none which would serve my own evolution and spiritual growth. I have, as I previously wrote, done some good work, here; making a difference in some deserving and worthwhile contexts. I am very happy with that.

In and among the day-to-day, though; I have found some oases in Melbourne. Oases of sensitivity and creativity, of thoughtfulness and caring, of authenticity and respectfulness. These are places and people, my relationships with which have offered support and affirmation; pouring love and light into my life as I worked through this difficult and challenging time.

So, I took last week to more-or-less Tour the Oases of my experience, here; to document some of the beauty that has helped to make this visit so valuable to me. And, make no mistake: although I have been miserable, here, I come away with nothing but positive results. I have a strong experience of my own worth, of my own excellence at what I do. I sometimes, now, marvel at a defensiveness of my methods, skills, talents and results I now realize I had carried for some time: it has dissipated, here. My tests, here, have given me a context of validation in a vacuum, and I think I no longer challenge the world to recognize my value. I know I'm good, and I embrace that; I don't need anything else.

I also marvel - as will anyone who's known me for more than five years - at how angry I am not. I look around, inside of myself, and can't find the anger; I marvel that I am not even resisting it - it simply isn't there.

Which isn't to say that the process of this experience hasn't taken its toll. I am mentally and physically depleted, and I think it shows a bit in my manner and in my physical presence.

...and in the fact that tears can appear without warning...

Nothing, though, that a few (well, several) weeks of workouts and eating right and being among friends won't regenerate and revivify. I'm sure that even the breaking-through of the chrysalis takes an immediate toll on the butterfly, before he floats into the sky. I'll be fine...

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Anyway. To the Tour!

Vitality. The Chiropractic clinic I was fortunate to have stumbled across that has changed the way I experience such practice and been a true oasis of caring comfort. There were many times when I would arrive quite some time prior to an appointment, just so that I could soak-in the atmosphere of healing that permeates this place.

I said to Sam, my chiropractor, that from the first time I placed my head and neck in his hands, I knew -- I felt it -- that he wanted Kile to heal, that Sam personally wanted to help heal Kile; that energy flowed from his hands, into me, and I felt I would be taken care of, there. I was.

So, this is Emily; the person whom I first encountered upon crossing the threshold one hot, summer afternoon in January. As is everyone in this space, Emily loves her work and loves her path through life. Each person at Vitality is quite different from the others, and they each and all share a commitment to health that radiates from heart and soul.

When I shared the fact that I was leaving Australia, Emily is the woman who wrote me, "When we met, that first day, it was like I was seeing a very dear friend after a long absence..."

Emily

Then, there's Kath; who was hugging me before the hugs were even prescribed. Her smile shines into the street from her desk in the clinic. On the coldest of days, her warmth radiates and wraps itself around one's heart.

Kath

And Dr. Sam Floreani - of the should-be-famous, Hot Floreani Brothers; all from Alice Springs and the core corps of Vitality. Sam is the man who prescribed for me, after months of expert and precise chiropractic work (and much wrestling with the cords of my neck and back), a regimen of hugs to be administered in conjunction with each of my visits and adjustments. He perceived that my needs extended to caring, human contact; beyond the simple chiropractic. He, and every individual working at the clinic, takes "holistic" to the fullest, broadest, most nurturing levels.

Sam

Then, Saturday night was spent in my favorite, Melbourne restaurant, "va bene." Located on a pier that extends deep into the center of the Harbour; this little, family-style Italian place has style, is warm and welcoming, does simple and spectacularly exceptional Italian food and pizza that would rival the best of Italy (and NYC). (They do, though, slice their bread so wafer-thin that it is virtually useless in sopping up the fantastic, hearty sauces they create - they'll get there...)

If you are ever in Melbourne, I offer that this place is not to be missed. So far, it's a well-kept secret; always full, not yet overflowing. Try it.

So, I spent Saturday evening, there, with the two women who make Jason Coleman's Ministry of Dance operate so professionally and support Jason's creativity so well. We met in the process of creating the experience for the Ronald McDonald House Charity Ball; Ateesha and Kristin.

Kristin and I bonded over my timelines; when she saw that I laid shows out to the quarter-minute, she knew she'd found a Kindred Spirit. The energy that flows from her is so beautiful, powerful and positive; watching these two shepherd and support 100 children, a company of dancers, and Jason, is pretty darn impressive.

When I first encountered Jason and his Hot Blonde's, I had thought to myself that this was going to be a painful exercise in diplomacy and restraint around a bunch of divas and a Divo. I was SO wrong, as you know. The experience of working with Jason and these women was transformative and affirmative. Both Jason and I found a powerful bond in the creative process and -- as with Vitality -- these people Love What They Do...and they want everyone who does it to love it, too.

We did good work, together; and we shall do it again, somewhere on this Big Blue Marble.

Ateesha and Kristin

Then, yesterday, I went to church with Magdy, the math teacher from Egypt whom I have been helping to tutor in English. One can see, from the color of the sky, that even God may have been a tad trepidatious about Kile entering one of her churches...

St. George's Coptic Church of St. Albans

This was a fascinating morning. I had no experience of the Coptic Church; nor, prior to meeting Magdy, had I even heard of it. But this day, from the moment we passed through the gates of the compound, I could have as easily been in a suburb of Cairo as of Melbourne.

The congregation is huge - they have several, successive and concurrent, services throughout the weekend. This morning was the one in the three languages; Coptic, Arabic and English.

From my perspective, the structure and services are similar to Catholic or Greek Orthodoxy. What is particularly fascinating to this Westerner is the fact that (as I could read the Liturgy in English as it was being recited and chanted), the words and structure are virtually the same as what I've seen in Catholic services, since forever; yet it is clearly and fully Middle Eastern, Arabic, in experience.

What is sung in Western Churches is chanted, here; much as one might hear in a mosque or synagogue. Rather than a pipe organ, the accompaniment is by cymbal. Very Arabic, the nuance within the service and the physical structure of the church, itself, incorporated much detail that articulated the culture of that part of the world represented by these people and their culture.

I could not have felt more welcomed, actually.

After the service, Magdy's friends, of which he has many (he is a deacon of the church), came by to introduce themselves; expressing the gracious hospitality of the Arabian culture. We all ate, together, afterward (I mean the entire congregation of both services at that hour); a feast of felafel and a plethora of informal Arabic food.

One gentleman to whom I was introduced - they all knew I was the American who has been helping Magdy with his English - asked to confirm that I am traveling, this week. When I said that I was going home, he gave to me a loaf of Blessed Bread - with iconography baked into the crust - to accompany me, to help me on my way.

Magdy's wife, Amyre, was a music teacher, in Egypt; and their lives continue to be full of music. His kids are wonderful; Abnab plans to be a veterinarian, Danny (3 years) is musically inclined, and I didn't get much out of Elena, his pre-teen daughter...also quite beautiful...

I'm so glad I went to this service, with Magdy. He is deeply appreciative of my working with him, and I keep telling him that it is his gift to me to be able to do this and to help him to achieve his own goal. Being able to experience this family for whom he cares so much, for whom he is responsible - being able to experience his church, culture and extensive family of friends; this was something very special, yesterday.

I shall carry Magdy with me, as I continue onward. His humility, his graciousness, his intelligence and his sense of responsibility are humbling, to me.

Magdy and his family; Abnab, Danny and Amyre, Magdy's wife.

Magdy and Elena

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As I post this, one day remains before my flight. Tonight, the sun shall set on Docklands and on Melbourne and on the powerful, evolutionary and revelatory experience I have been lucky to have had, here.

The next sunset I shall see will be reflecting on the face of someone for whom I care more deeply and profoundly than I can express...

I'm going home.