Closing and Opening

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.

WF2