Twelve months ago I separated myself from my family. In that time I have had my 35 year career as an international aid worker come to an emphatic close. I have been and continue bed-surfing and residence hopping as one does when you leaves a marriage suddenly. My 18 year old daughter does not talk to me. Thankfully, my 22 year old son, does (though he did keep to himself for several months). I have found that the age pension with a bit of taxi hacking meets my daily needs quite adequately. I have returned to driving cab for a second time, after spending a year between MA and potential PhD, driving the icy roads of Minneapolis for Blue & White taxis. I have had my license suspended for running too many red-lights and am on enforced leave until July 8. That is fine by me, because in early March, while still tending a broken heart over so much loss and change, I nearly killed myself, two lovely young women passengers and the driver of the car that smashed into my taxi as I did a careless U-turn.
The most significant change I have made over this time, is to embrace the fateful decision to no longer be (just) a weekend blogger, novelist and retro-fitted writer. Rather I am placing that long-echoing call at the centre of my retired life. Beginning a new adventure is what some people call this. I’ve heard it called Fool’s Errand, too.
And in a little less than three weeks I will be heading back to India, the land of my birth and first 18 years on a sort of ritual pilgrimage. I am going so I can feel the wind blow through the ‘cobwebs of my mind’, feel the heat burn the detritus of the professional salary man, and let the sounds, smells and sights of that fabled land wash over me wave upon wave.
Why do I tell you these things?
Though I’ve not met you in the analog sense, some of you have been fellow travelers and kindred spirits. And you have always wished me well. I have not been entirely dedicated to my blogging in the period under review and it is always good to explain oneself. Given where I’ve paused to catch my breath at this point in time and space I am inclined to direct my creative energies towards a memoir. As a way to make sense of some of old, chipped and stained pillars that have held up my world for as long as I can recall: India & my missionary-kid childhood.
I am daunted, excited, confused, compelled and called by, about and to this. I’ve not been to India since 2012 and not been to the places on my itinerary for between 62 and 19 years. So I’m looking forward to whatever awaits.
I may post a bit along the way but look forward to having your good wishes as I depart. As a small gift here is a mixtape of World Fusion which just so happens to be heavily colonised by South Asian sounds.
Missionaries, Mercenaries and Misfits 
Hi Nate, thank you for your last post and a peek behind the curtains. I’m sorry that life has been bumpy for you over the past year, but the adventure ahead sounds both formidable and exciting – not a bad combination.
Wishing you God’s speed, and in parting, a very big thank you for the introduction to such a broad range of incredible music over the years. While we’re at it, it has also been fascinating to gain an insight into Southern Asia and the Middle East through your writing – looking forward to the memoir.
Onya
Hal
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Greetings from New Delhi. Arrived yesterday afternoon to 42 degrees C. Heading out today for the south where I spent the earliest years of my humble life. Thanks so much for your thoughts 🙏 and best wishes, mate. Really means a lot. Take care!
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Thanks Nate – you too!
Wishing you a fulfilling trip.
Safe travels!
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my appreciation & gratitude for both your radical openness and bringing us sling for the journey—forwards, backwards, up, down, and even in between. I’ve learned so much, thought a lot, and the music has been like both an insane bonus and soundtrack beyond my imagination. I eon’t pretend to understand how you’ve gotten where you are, but trust your children will come around and you will find what you are looking for and what you aren’t that will find you. You weave magic into this world and to be on the very most outer edges of that feels a gift. Thank you and I’ll look forward to whatever missives you send from the front lines. It feels hypocritical to echo the “Godspeed” above as a nonbeliever, but it’s a handy catchall; may all the gods and goddesses keep an eye out for you.
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sigh: sling should be along and somewhere in there is another typo as well; my apologies.
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Eric,
as always your comments and feedback are so generous. Thanks! Even your bloody typos, rare as they are.
I will undoubtedly post a few missives along the way. I really hope you are on the road to full and complete recovery and can write another book or so of your own.
until then, happy life, and lots of interesting adventures and good music to you.
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I hear there are 330,000 dieties in India, so hopefully a couple have my itinerary
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Hei, It was so good to see your back sharing some real gems. Thanks a lot for this effort 🙂 I have been slow also, you know age catches on and we tend to slow down, bit def still active. I was quite sad to read the Yo Yo life chakra. Life never stops testing us. I wish you all the best and that you get courage to go over this period. I am sure you will. When the going gets tough, the tough gets going :). All the best Nate, and Tc 🙂
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Hi Ashwin, nice to hear from you. Hope all is good in your world!
Nate
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Thinking you may be arriving or leaving or something about now–you had mentioned three weeks or so–and wishing you all the best and everything you are hoping for and reaming of and desiring. Per Patti, proceed with abandon
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Great to hear you’re there and headed south, as it were.
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