wow ... it's been a month since i left American Airlines ... quite the head trip leaving a career i loved to jump into the void of the unknown.... the collective negative energy @ American Airlines & the airline industry in general was a big contributing factor in choosing to retire @ this time ... i wish all those that continue to live "the dream" ... health, happiness and a new contract !!!!
it's been a few weeks since i received my "invitation" to join the Tonga group 74 ... what a roller coaster ... budget cuts had all but eliminated me and then out of the blue i was back in the game ... i look forward to meeting everyone in LA and then onto Tonga ... thank you Steve and Sarah in Tonga ( group 73 ) for all the help and information you have given to me ... the whole process has been a little bit like riding a bull ...

2 days ago i was asked to join in on an North American Indian sweat lodge... to help with the transition to an ever changing life ... absolutely amazzzzzing ... and the whole time in the dark and steam filled shelter i thought of how indigenous American people respected the earth and how it must be that the Tongans turned to the sea with that same kind of respect ... in that darkened space i dreamt about the amazzzzing star filled sky that umbrellas the south pacific

then last night to help close the deal on my transition i went to see Paul Winter play his alto sax, if you are not familiar with Paul ... he brings his music to the outdoors and plays to whales, wolves, elk and other animals ... and he records how they will just naturally join him in song ...
it was Paul's birthday ... an native American Indian medicine man was there to bless us all...
32 years ago i first encountered Paul Winter as i left my career as an air force officer/pilot to live freely on top of a mountain without electricity, running water, or indoor plumbing .... his music put my mind at rest .... and last night 32 years later he appeared from no where once again to put my mind at rest