“The Zen of Elvis”

“The Zen of Elvis”

You have to draw the line somewhere.

That’s a common saying where I come from.

Maybe you too.

I wonder if it’s true?

Many things 

Accepted as fact in this world,

Are not.

And believing does not always make it so.

(Although it certainly helps.)

Elvis Presley believed it.

You can do anything you want, he sang,

But baby,

Don’t step on my blue suede shoes.

Elvis drew the line

At stepping upon his shoes.

Or maybe at stepping upon

A particular pair of shoes.

I’m not sure.

Who cares?

My zen doesn’t give a crap about such things!

Sorry Elvis.

Yet my zen wouldn’t tread upon your shoes,

Or harm you in any way,

Or hinder you or otherwise impede your life,

(Or, in your case, your death)

Unless it was ultimately, cosmically, good for you.

Of that I am certain.

You or me or Elvis or anybody.

Our essences will travel through time

Unharmed by the vicissitudes that may befall,

Because they are immortal.

That’s a reassuring thought.

So go ahead!

Draw a few lines if you must.

If it makes you feel any better.

But please remember that ultimately

You are wasting your time.

Because sooner or later,

Things will change,

Giving the line you drew 

No meaning whatsoever.

Oh.

And Elvis,

If you’re reading this,

Say hi to everybody for me.

See you,

In the cosmic scheme of things, 

Very soon.

“My Zen Loves a Laugh, Part 2”

My zen’s got a great sense of humor.

It loves a laugh!

I’m glad of that,

Because after all, who enjoys 

Being around a sourpuss?

Yes, my zen loves a laugh.

Especially at my expense.

But I don’t mind,

I can afford it

Because, apart from a little humility,

It doesn’t cost me a thing.

My zen is laughing at me all the time.

Laughing at me to remind me

How senseless it is

In this crazy world

To take things too seriously!

Ha! Ha! Ha!

So go ahead!

Why don’t you 

And your zen

Join me and my zen

In a good belly-laugh?

Ha! Ha! Ha!

Ha! Ha!

Yes! Let’s all laugh together!

To remind ourselves that 

Life is ridiculous! 

Ha! Ha! Ha!

Ha! Ha!

Ha! Ha! Ha!

Have you ever noticed 

How contagious 

Laughter is?

Ha! Ha! Ha!

Ha! Ha!

And how difficult 

It is to stop laughing,

Once you’ve begun?

Ha! Ha! Ha!

Ha! Ha!

Oh boy! Woo! 

Ha Ha Ha!

Ha! Ha! Ha! 

Uh-oh.

I think I just peed myself.

Never Get Off The Merry-Go-Round! (Pt 4)

What our friends didn’t understand was that Suzie and I felt we had nothing to lose. 

After all, everything we owned fitted into just three suitcases! 

Suzie’s eyes sparkled with excitement at the idea of America. She liked to travel and see new things. That’s why she became a travel agent. That, and to earn enough money to eat as I’ve explained. She had tremendous curiosity about the world and was remarkably free of emotional tethers to places and things. 

Suzie was a wanderer. A true free spirit. A rock-and-roll angel.

“We’re not waiting for our ship to come in, Nicky,” she’d said a few weeks before, when we told Nick and his wife of our decision to leave New Zealand. “We’re going to swim out to it!” 

We talked it over with them. That’s when I first saw the look from our friends. The look that said you’re crazy to go and try animation in America! Making cartoons? You’re barely eking out a living now, how will you survive the mean streets of New York City? 

In his youth Nick had done some O.E. (Overseas Experience) in the States, so he understood its allure. He and Suzie had worked together for years in the travel business too, so he understood her pretty well. He even understood me to some extent. 

Nick was good with people. 

It was animation that he couldn’t understand. He’d watched me work at it obsessively over the years and never seem to get ahead. Which was true, we weren’t very far ahead, as far as money and things of that nature. But we’d seen the world a bit and done a few things, Suzie and I, so I wasn't concerned about how far ahead or behind we were.

It helps tremendously in life to be young and stupid, sometimes. 

Nick turned from me and embraced Suzie. They were special friends, he and her, she having worked for him from the beginning and helped to grow his travel agency in downtown Onehunga.* 

“Keep the home fires burning, sweetie!” laughed Suzie in he musical voice. “Shame. We’ll be back before you know it.” 

She kissed Nick’s cheek, leaving a smear of lipstick, before adding, “I just want to look at America and take in the sights. It ought to be fun!” 

“Keep in touch, Suzie,” said Nick. “The place won’t be the same without you.”

I could easily believe that. 

Suzie laughed again and Nick couldn’t help but join her. 

Suzie’s laughter was like champagne, bubbly and bright and hard to resist.

I tugged her arm.

“C’mon!” I said and we began to run for gate seven.

*Pronounced "Oh-knee-hun-gah."