HOW TO HATCH A HERO

A fierce wind raged through our campground----collapsing, tearing, breaking one fellow's tent.  He's gathering the pieces for the dumpster.  I know it's his only home and he's faced with sleeping in his car.  I have an impulse to rescue-----BUT THEN----A 2000 yr old story flashed in my head----and I get a better Idea.  I'll tell you the story---it's a true one---and you won't forget it: 

In 415  BC, an army and a fleet from Athens laid seige to the city of Syracuse (Sicily) and was on the brink of overrunning it.  Syracuse, in desperation, asked mighty Sparta for help----and expected phalanxes of gleaming Spartan helmets to come to their rescue.  Instead, only one Spartan soldier was sent----smuggled into the city---carrying a note for its rulers----it said:  THIS IS GYLIPPUS---OUR BEST GENERAL----HE IS ALL YOU NEED!!  They were stunned---and demoralized---but desperate.  So they gave him command.  Under cover of darkness, he assembled the rag tag defenders and told them they were terrific soldiers---that they would shatter the Athenians so completely that few, if any would escape the Island.  He then directed emergency wall mending---utilized feints, ploys, flanking maneuvers, concentrations of forces-----and in short order had the Athenians on the run. He trapped their entire force and almost none escaped.  For the Athenians it was the disasterous turning point in the Peloponnesian wars.

The message I take away is obvious:  WHAT WE MOST NEED IS NOT RESCUE---BUT INSPIRATION. 

So--- Gylippus-like, I move into his life and tell him that anything can be fixed--for about $5 and some imagination.  He shows me the rips and the broken part. I go with him to Ace Hardware and tell him that somewhere in this store is a functional replacement----and I amble around the aisles with him---as he looks at plastic fittings and other stuff.  Suddenly in the conduit aisle he finds a 45 degree fitting of the right diameter.  He's delighted---we return--it works.  I lend him needle and thread and he stitches the rips.  He's in business again---AND DELIGHTED WITH HIMSELF.

You're looking at a victorious soldier----who has saved his home from destruction.  And new ideas came rushing out of him---why not secure his tent inside this shelter.  

And he did!!  And lived happily ever after.   Ah sweet people---I can tell you:  It's Waaaay more fun to inspire than rescue----and waaay more fun to hatch a hero than be one

THE PEOPLE "OVER THERE"

"ENJOY THE LAND BUT OWN IT NOT"  (THOREAU)---THE DREADFUL DREADFUL COST OF POSSESSION---(AND THE GLORIOUS ALTERNATIVE)

 Over there!!!---is a high priced land development.   People  paid big bucks---200 to 500 thoiusand  to enjoy a lakefront view from their home.

The same view that I enjoy from the window of my rig for about two dollars---yes--just two dollars. 

And these wonderful trails are just one mile away.

And the sunsets thrill me as much as the "People over there."

And here is the sad part----The "people over there" ---feel the need to close themselves off---from the rest of the world.  Here's the locked gate.  Frost's poem: Mending Wall came to mind.

"Something there is that doesn't love a wall,

That wants it down.

....Before I built a wall, I'd ask to know what I was walling in or walling out.

And to whom I was like to give offense."

Naturally, I want to go there to see what this Shangralai can teach me.  And I managed to do so----rumbling 6 miles down a washboard road to a party at the community center.  I noticed many places for sale and chatted with some property owners.  I got the impression they feel trapped---by an ill considered vision of the good life. One told me that he had sunk so much money into his lot and house that he couldn't afford to escape the bitter winters. 

RANDY PHILOSOPHIZES:

  AAAhh dear readers---Which side of the lake do you choose?  Want to possess and be possessed by a house and land over there?  Want to pay the price and live in a gated community over there?--- Or  mingle with the masses over here?  The land over there serves  2 hundred---this land serves 2 thousand ---in a weekend.

A curious incident at the party is instructive:  As the music played, a spunky lady and I got up and danced.  The crowd broke into applause as we whirled---seemingly delighted at our boldness.   I asked myself if secluded communities breed timidity.  

WHAT DOES A WHOLE HUMAN BEING LOOK LIKE?

AND HOW TO BECOME ONE! ---- I wandered away for a few days to Santa Fe for a movie "fix": (Cowboys and Aliens--2 and a half stars---Rise of the Planet of the Apes---4 stars---Captain America --2 stars) --Began reflecting on the above questions----decided to pursue the answers by returning to Tierra Amarilla, NM to chat again with Paul Namkung---A living example. The landscape enroute is a joy to pass through--will show more of it later. It is Georgia Okeefe (famous artist) country--where she lived and worked. That's Ghost Ranch ahead on the right.

Down there is the little village I'm header for.

It made National news once as the focus of land grant fights---google Reies Lopez Tijerina for the full story. (still alive--and returned recently for a visit)

It's Saturday and again musicians work their magic.

Afterwards, some impromptu fun ---Lovely lady does the hoop--with amazing skill.

Then a second lady joins in with new tricks.

I gave it a shot----aaahhh wellll!

But here's what I came for----Paul sits down for another session---what I want to know is more about his "personality path"----what choices or experiences help nudge a person up the scale of being. About one person in a hundred becomes SELF ACTUALIZED---exhibits the quality of creative aliveness. (Want to know more?----scroll down---I have condensed Maslow's study of "whole" people---see how you stack up against the best that humanity has to offer---you may be higher than you think. I will also point to some role models. )

Paul is a delight to chat with---tells great stories----He is the eldest child---was a lifelong maverick, lover of music, fun and creative challenges. His interest were so broad that he neglected for a long time settling down to a career. Eventually became a social worker, couselor, program initiator. Along the way he built a house in the forest, raised pigs, chickens and rabbits, invented, manufactured, sold his drums and then settled here and started this coffeehouse. Says he's learned to enjoy the processes of life rather than end products.

RANDY PHILOSOPHIZES: As open and responsive as he was, I still come away not understanding why some people climb high on the ladder of being and most don't. I don't want to believe that it's genes but maybe it is. I speculate that a long series of tiny choices---small moments of curiosity/ creativity /courage build on each other---opening door after door of new experience / insight----making subsequent moments of them easier and more fun----activating a feedback loop--a self-enhancing spiral--- upwards---like evolution-- that may last a lifetime and giving to the world a polished, exciting, contributing personality. But I'm guessing! Perhaps my readers have a theory that explains advanced personalities.

Here are a few personalities, fictional and real that I think illustrate self actualization:

Zorba the Greek (movie)

Gus McCrae--(movie--Lonesome Dove)

Benjamin Franklin
Voltaire
Warren Buffet (see what he said today in the NY Times)

Below, I have summarized Abraham Maslow's study of "whole" people.

CHARACTERISTICS OF SELF-ACTUALIZED PEOPLE

1. HAVE MORE EFFICIENT PERCEPTION
Unusual ability to detect the spurious, the fake, dishonesty in personality
In general, to judge people correctly and efficiently.
They can see reality more clearly.

2. ARE NOT FRIGHTENED BY THE UNKNOWN
Tolerate, even enjoy ambiguity

3. ACCEPT THEMSELVES AND OTHERS
Self - A relative lack of overriding guilt, crippling shame and severe anxiety
They accept their own human nature in stoic style, their shortcomings and discrepancies.
Others - They also accept others with their shortcomings and discrepancies.

4. ENJOY THEMSELVES WITHOUT SHAME

5. LACK DEFENSIVENESS AND POSE
Distaste for guile, hypocrisy, front, face

6. EXPRESS SPONTANEITY - SIMPLICITY - NATURALNESS

7. ARE MOTIVATED BY AN URGE TO GROW (Versus deficiency motivation)
Living vs. preparing to live
They don’t strive, they develop
They attempt to grow to perfection - to develop more and more fully their own style.

8. FOCUS ON PROBLEMS OUTSIDE THEMSELVES
They are problem-centered rather than ego-centered.
They usually have some mission in life.

9. HAVE THE QUALITY OF DETACHMENT
They remain unruffled, undisturbed by that which produces turmoil in others.
They find it easy to be aloof, reserved, calm, serene.
They take personal misfortune without reacting violently.
They are more objective and therefore can concentrate better.
They don’t need others in the ordinary sense.
They are self-governing, self-disciplined.
They are the deciding agent rather than a pawn.
They have more free will.

10. HAVE A GREATER NEED FOR PRIVACY

11. ARE MORE INDEPENDENT OF CULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT

12. HAVE A CONTINUED FRESHNESS OF APPRECIATION
They count their blessings.

13. HAVE HAD A MYSTIC EXPERIENCE (a peak experience)
These are experiences, usually brief, of limitless horizons opening up to the vision.
The feeling of being simultaneously more powerful and more helpless than ever.
The feeling of great ecstasy, wonder, awe.
The loss of placing in time and space.
The conviction that something extremely important and valuable has happened so that
One is to some extent transformed and strengthened.

14. HAVE DEEPER FEELINGS OF IDENTIFICATION, SYMPATHY AND AFFECTION.
Despite occasional anger, impatience, disgust.

15. DESIRE TO HELP THE HUMAN RACE.

16. HAVE DEEPER, MORE PROFOUND INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS.
Capable of more fusion, greater love, more perfect identification.
Especially deep ties with fewer people
Circle of friends rather small

17. ARE DEMOCRATIC
Are friendly with anyone with suitable character, regardless of class, education, or race

18. CAN DISCRIMINATE BETWEEN MEANS AND ENDS, GOOD AND EVIL
They are clear in themselves though often their notions of right and wrong are not the
conventional ones.

19. ARE PHILOSOPHICAL

20. HAVE A NON-HOSTILE SENSE OF HUMOR

21. ARE CREATIVE

22. ARE RESISTANT TO ENCULTURATION
They transcend any particular culture.

FOUND: A HERO IN THE HINTERLANDS

HEROIC DEEDS ARE USUALLY ONE-SHOT EVENTS, BUT I CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO AN HEROIC LIFESTYLE; A MAN WITH THE COURAGE TO RESPOND TO HIS FASCINATIONS OVER THE LONG HAUL. Word reached me of such a man---ensconced--in the tiny village of Tierra Amarillo, New Mexico---about a hundred miles northwest of Santa Fe. People are drawn from all over by the charm of his character and the good things to be found at his coffee shop. This crowd is assembled to hear music by an impromptu band---every Saturday 2 to 5.

That's him on the right playing a drum of his invention. Sounds great---like a deep Conga. Here is a youtube video of them playing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFm3LXrYEDA

Then he switches to his trash can base (fiddle?). It sounds exactly like one---with the same range.

The coffee house is named THE THREE RAVENS------and here they are on the porch roof.

His 4000 sq foot building-----Once a derelict scheduled for bulldozing---but he says he loved it when he saw it---bought it for a song---and spent the next nine years renovating it. It cost about $250,000 to bring it to this condition----and he did so without borrowing money. Mostly he paid for it by selling his wonderful drums at Craft fairs. (he charges about $350 apiece)

The heart of the coffee shop---with a range of sandwiches, goodies and coffee.

Of course I want the story---and on this day I caught him out back, unloading wood. Meet Paul Namkung---the personality that has breathed life and purpose into a dying town. He agrees to an interview.

Makes his drums here: fascinating story with almost metaphysical implications: He saw a guy drumming on an orange crate in SanFrancisco---sounded good---wondered if he could improve on the idea----did experiments with wood and sounds---found a special North forest wood with a super good sound, discovered the perfect thickness--sound holes etc---constructed to also be a seat for the drummer. They are a work of art and lots of fun to play on.

He demonstrates for me.

Then settled himself for an extensive Q&A. Here's the story in a nutshell: 72 yrs old, born in Korea---lived in many places the world round----China, Singapore, Indonesia---settled in the Bay Area---had a 30 yr career as a social worker/counselor----invented his drum and began to sell them at Craft fairs---met a lady who showed him the charms of Northern New Mexico---then-While touring one day, saw this building and immediately decided to sink his roots here. Living modestly, using his social skills to blend with the local culture, (not everyone can move into a "alien" community and win the affection of neighbors) he began the 9 yr task of renovating the building. About 2 years ago he conceived the idea for the coffee shop---lots of people were drawn into the enterprise---now it has the feel of a cheerful, bustling restaurant

Paul working in his office--pulling up something to show me. I noticed that members of his "team" flutter around him like friends rather than employees. A lady brought him that cup of coffee unasked. Charismatics are advanced personalities that draw others near and "infect" them with their magic. To hang around one is to become one yourself. (from the bible: And the crowd perceived that they (the desciples) had been with Jesus)

As we chatted, I noted that he interacts with about everyone who walked in---cheerful banter mostly. The world seemingly has beat a path to his door. One casual visitor was the chief justice of NM Supreme court---whom paul teased a bit---then ended up receiving an order for a musical instrument.

I gave the drums a shot----Hey---I'm pretty rhythmic. Maybe everyone should have music in their life.

Saw this on the wall of an old building in the area----and suddenly--BINGO---my thoughts came together for this entry: Paul has no such difficulty planning his day----ENJOYING THE WORLD IS HIS WAY OF IMPROVING THE WORLD.

RANDY PHILOSOPHIZES: He is living proof that FINDING OUR OWN HAPPINESS IS THE BEST WAY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE HAPPINESS OF OTHERS. Drums--led to the Lady--led to the tiny village/ big building---to the Coffee Shop---to other artists and musicians (three other craftsmen/artists have since moved in, bought houses. Here is an art-colony-in-the-making. Paul invites all to come feel the village---see if it "speaks" to you. The famous artist, Georgia O'keif settled in just down the road at Abique, NM. For more--click here:

http://www.worlddrums.org/coffeehouse.php

LAST DANCE AT LITO'S BALLROOM

THIS WAS A DAY OF STRANGE EVENTS AND FEELINGS---I've recorded it as best I can with pictures. I show the ending first to suggest how serendippity pulls me where she will. This is Carmalita---I was "destined" to meet her before the day was over--in a very strange place.

I saw this and got it into my head to go to the other side of the mountain where that rainbow ended.

It's not easy to get there---first I drove the length of this valley---I take my rig with me---I'm not coming back.

I cross a 9,800 ft pass.

On the far side I'm attracted down this gravel road--- something immense on the horizon is drawing me.

A home-made sign gives me pause. I think it says LAND OF DEATH Zapata lives. A warning?

There's the immense thing that's drawing me. And a village of some sort at it's base. Now I'm intrigued.

Nary a soul in sight---an old old spanish village.

Still, not a soul. Houses everywhere vacant.

Abandoned---like the folks just walked away.

Then out of the blue---this strange sight---a little old lady just staring into this unusual building. Of course I want to engage her. I turn to get my hat and turn off my engine----and suddenly she's gone. Must have gone through that doorway. I'll go find her!

Can you read it? LITO'S BALLROOM----can you believe it---a ballroom in a tiny village.

I'm surprised to find the door slightly jammed. I pushed it open and picked my way through the entryway.

Whoa! What has happened here? A major collapse. I see no sign of the lady.

A bandstand stage---pieces of an old piano.

Then on the far wall---Carmelita----that's the name I've given her. With no one to tell me what happened here----I shall have to improvise: Once this was a lively, thriving, frontier town of happy people who loved to dance and so they constructed a ballroom. The best dancer in the village was Raul----devlishly handsome---and when he took the floor---all the ladies swooned. Carmelita especially lost her heart to him---but alas, she had no talent for dancing and just sat and yearned as Raul swirled the other girls round the dance floor.

Desperately in love--she turned to the holy mother for help. A nearby grotto captures the moment Carmelita begs for the gift of graceful dancing. And in an instant knew in her heart the request was
granted-----that her feet and body were now infused with the fire and skill and rhythm of the gypsies. She made herself a dancing dress and when next the ballroom filled on a snowy winter night, she boldly moved to its center and while curious eyes marveled--- began to sway in perfect rhythm to the music. Alone on the dance floor--so graceful that Raul was smitten. Moving onto the dance floor like a toreador, he embraced her and together they did the dance of love. The band seized the moment to play flamenco music. The couple began to stamp----first one and then the other---then both together in such wild abandon that the walls and ceiling began to shake---the crowd cheered---the couple stomped faster and faster---Suddenly a loud crack and timbers began to fall. The people all ran away but Raul and Carmelita---continued to dance. That was the last the town ever saw of them. Some say they slipped out the back door and ran away together.

Bodies were never found. But as a tribute to the miracle dance they witnessed that night---the townspeople placed the shoes they were wearing on the spot the couple danced the flamenco so fiercely that the roof caved in. And there they remain to this day. Some say that after a long happy life together both passed on---but on special occasions---Carmelita's spirit returns to this ballroom to give thanks again to the virgin mother for her miracle.

Search as I may, I never found the lady---but I'm thankful she led me to this dramatic site.