Living

Today, we interviewed Philip Merry, whose PhD is in grounded synchronicity – which means it’s based on personal interviews rather than on library research. The discussion was terrific. One of the things he talked about was how the media keeps tabs on the number of fatalities in the U.S. and in the rest of the world, but no one talks specifically about death. He’s right. I haven’t seen a single anchor talk to any researcher whose specialty is the spirituality of death.

At some point in this pandemic, Philip was tested or the virus. He said during the few days he had to wait for the results, he thought a lot about death – and about what and who are most important to him, how he would like to live the rest of his life. He concluded that he wants to live purposefully. To his relief, his test results were negative.

Since all of us share the experience of death at some point and have a limited time as incarnated humans. One good use of this pandemic and time at home is to take stock of where we are right now in our lives. Even before today’s podcast with Philip, I’ve been thinking about those kinds of questions.

Am I doing what I love?
How do I want to live from here on out?
Am I living purposefully?
What are my goals right now?

In 2012, I think it was, when the world was supposed to melt down because the Mayan calendar was going to end, I came up with a bucket list of countries I wanted to see: Cuba, Greece, Vietnam, return to Chile & Ecuador, return to Scotland, cruise the Rhine River, Brazil… well, the list is long. In those eight years, I got to see Cuba and returned to Colombia. But in Colombia, I got to visit cities and areas that were new to me – and Cartagena, which I’d been to before and love. But still, that’s pathetic on my part. That has to change.

Yet: in this post-pandemic world, what will air travel be like? Temperature checks, virus checks, immunity passports, no middle seats? Four-hour waits? Wearing masks for the duration of the trip? No food, no snacks, not even water to drink?

Okay, what about cruises? I’ve never been a cruise person. I don’t like being confined in a place without at least one window and natural light. Okay, forget cruises.

I could drive to South America through Central America, down the Pan American Highway, except… there’s a spot called the Darien Gap between Central and South America that is impassable – dense forest, marshland, mountainous. You have to fly over it or go by boat. That route might appeal to me 20 years ago, but not now.

What stories do I want to tell? What books do I still want to write?

This question has come up a lot during the pandemic. Only one answer is easy: finish reading through White Crows and get it out. It’s a Tango Key, Mira Morales book, but later in her life. Her daughter, Annie, is 25, a dolphin researcher. She has stifled her ability because it nearly ended her marriage to skeptical Sheppard. And then Tango Key is invaded by people from a future world devastated by climate change. They have terrifying abilities and intend to seize the island. She discovers their leader is her descendant.

Then there’s the non-fiction….

Anyway, these are my primary pandemic thoughts. They roll around and around in my head, helping me to define what’s important here and now.

PS In the 3 weeks since I wrote this post, look where the statistics are now: