Sizzlin' Summer - Noches Milagrosas!

At home in Kilometro Veintiseis, Ecuador When I was growing up back in the 1950s, my father would take me on the bus into Guayaquil for the major horse races and national days of celebration. On the way home, the bus driver would always shout out "Veintiseis" when approaching our town at the junction of Highway 25 and the road to El Triunfo. Our town was named Kilometro Veintiseis because it is 26 kilometers on the main road from Quayaquil. Our house is just up the road, halfway to the town of Milagro. These were happy times, as the house was always filled with laughter. On Sundays, when there was a futbol game on Canal 4, especially if it was between Cuenca and Guayaquil, the whole family would come over. Now, returning home for a short weekend trip, the house seems quite empty and devoid of life. As an adult, the fantasies of childhood are often replaced with the cares of day-to-day life. My father taught me the importance of storytelling and taking time out to sit and talk with friends. My father had many friends, as his ability to weave a tale were renown and his job as a barber brought many men into the theater of his small shop. I remember the hot summer days when school was closed and I would spend time in my father's company at his barbershop. Besides being a barber, my father ran a thriving parimutuel business from his shop. Many sportsmen came in for a shave and to also place their bets. My mother didn't approve of my father's gambling pursuits, but I don't believe she really appreciated his storytelling skill either. Even back then, I decided to always give storytelling a prominent place in my life, and to keep a secret place for my father's stories in my heart.

A Hub of Activity The days might seem to be quiet and dull but, during the evenings, Veintiseis bustles with activity. At the junction of major highways from the coast to the vast Andean Highlands, the town is a transfer point of comestibles from fincas and small farms, including vegetables and fruits, as well as sugar from Ingenio Valdez, a large refinery in Milagro. Ecuador has three growing seasons due to its location on the Equator, so there is never any shortage of fresh food from the garden. It is also interesting to note that Ecuador is a major exporter of both bananas (Bonita brand) and cassava and has some of the largest Brahma Bull ranches in South America.

Growing up in the Guayas Region was such an adventure. On a class trip to Ingenio Valdez, I learned that sugar cane can be put to a variety of uses. We all know that sugar is one of the basic ingredients found in any kitchen, but I bet you didn't realize that the cane is first made into molasses and then refined into the white crystals. Molasses can be used to coat the dusty dirt roads found all around the Ecuadorian coast, making the "hardtop" glisten in the sun. The rough Bagasse fibers of the sugar cane can also be used to make toilet paper which is biodegradable and compostable. This has cut down on air pollution from the burning of the discarded cane after the refining process.

Babahoyo Nights Some folks think that the city of Guayaquil has the best nightlife, but I'm sure they have never gone up the river, to Babahoyo! There is always a carnival atmosphere in Los Rios Province, with many feasts, fairs and events to attend during the hot equatorial nights. The best way to get there is by boat, and it's always a pleasure to have my good friend, author and raconteur Jaime Huerta, pick me up in his private watercraft. (Read my blog Book Fair On The Equator for background.) Jaime and I go back to more youthful days when we hiked into the Andes and camped out beneath the summit of Mount Chimborazo. Now, it's good to have Jaime along to celebrate the good times of publishing books, writing tales and spinning yarns. Jaime is also an accomplished storyteller and I have to admit that his silver tongue is often much better than mine, even though he doesn't attend storytelling festivals like I do. But, a night with friends brings out the best of my abilities, and the lights of Babahoyo glisten on the evening tide as we enter the harbor. The docks are lined with bars and other amusement areas, but Jaime and I always go to a bar by the name of La Tortuga which is a haven for poets and writers and whose owner, Juan Rojas, offers the coldest beer and a wide selection of whiskey and scotch to loosen our tongues. We won't be drinking the local brand called Trago; tonight we will drink the good booze! Oh, I must tell you one thing: What happens in Babahoyo, stays in Babahoyo. So, good reader, I must say "Adios," see you another day.

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Hope Springs Eternal in the City of Poets, Scholars and Storytellers

A Spring Day in Dublin Landing in Dublin, Ireland, we immediately headed for the CIE Tours counter at the far end of the airport baggage carousel area to get a taxi to take us to the Camden Court Hotel. CIE is a leader in Irish tourism, and we were able to book a very attractive package that let us pay in advance using US Dollars instead of risking the rising valuation of the Euro. The package included transfers to and from the airport, which made the 45 minute trip to our hotel both easy and carefree. Our driver, Patrick, was exceptionally brilliant and gave us a running commentary as we traveled through Dublin. At the hotel, we gave the reception clerk our prepaid voucher and were up in the room within five minutes. To my delight, the hotel didn't require a credit card to be applied to the stay. Also, since our package included an Irish breakfast daily, we didn't spend any money whatsoever at the hotel. It was already 11 o'clock in the morning, so we hit the streets to do as much sightseeing as possible. Immediately outside on the corner is the Bleeding Horse Pub, where I stopped to get a taste of a Dublin-poured glass of Guinness draught. This is one of the oldest pubs in Dublin, and was frequented by many noted literary greats of Ireland, including James Joyce, who occupied a booth in the back of the pub where he wrote about life in Dublin. The first picture we took in Dublin is the one of me in front of a billboard advertising Book Month 2009. Each year, a noted Irish author is featured and this year's book choice is Bram Stoker's Dracula. Stoker, who attended Trinity College, wrote this book without ever visiting Transylvania. Stoker researched all material used in the book from volumes found in libraries.

Viking Dublin Before the invasion of the Vikings, Dublin City was a backwater village. In fact, the Vikings gave Dublin its name, which in Norse means "Black Pool". Dublin was established as a trading center, which even included the exportation of the native Irish peoples as slaves to other areas of Europe. The exhibit "Dublinia," adjacent to Christ Church Cathedral, is very informative in teaching the early history of Dublin. It wasn't until the Norman conquest of Ireland in the 12th century that the Irish peoples first gained a limited self determination. Down through the ages, the people of Ireland have been governed by foreign powers, including the British, who finally handed over control of Ireland in 1922. Indeed, most of the historic sites of Dublin hearken back to British control of Ireland. Trinity College and Saint Patrick's Cathedral are still Anglican. Even the most famous Irish exports, Guinness stout and Jameson whiskey, are owned by British families. The largest monument in Dublin, The Wellington Testimonial, honors the Duke, a native-born Dubliner who, after being honored by the British Crown, is quoted as saying "Just because someone is born in a stable, doesn't make him a horse," in reference to his Irish roots. But, like any true-born Dubliner, after the victory at Waterloo where he defeated Napoleon's army, he ordered kegs of Guinness stout be brought onto the battlefield for the celebration of his troops.

Trinity College and the Book of Kells Since we only had a couple of days to visit Dublin, we concentrated on the most historic and literary venues. Trinity College satisfied both aspects. Throughout the Christian world, the Book of Kells is perhaps the most noted manuscript. Created in Ireland by four Celtic monks during the 9th century, the four gospels were reproduced in Latin and Illuminated on calf vellum before being bound. The Trinity College Library also contains the Brian Boru harp, named after the famed High King of Ireland. It is the oldest surviving wire-strung frame harp in existence and is considered the official symbol of Ireland. The Long Room of the College contains the most famous volumes in the English language, and is a must-see on any visit of Dublin.

Drinking It All In A whole day can be spent touring the exhibits at either the Guinness Storehouse or the Old Jameson Distillery. The Irish take their drinking very seriously, so you can imagine the excitement of touring the factory where Guinness Stout is brewed. It took us about four hours to just walk through the exhibits which cover every aspect of the brewing of beer. Also, the exhibits on the famous Guinness advertisements contain ads from almost every country on the globe. The highlight of the tour is being taken to the observation deck on top, where you can sample a "Perfect Pint of the Black Stuff" while getting a panoramic view of the entire city of Dublin. The serious side of Guinness are the many philanthropic activities of the Guinness family. At one time, every mother in Dublin wished that her daughter married a Guinness employee; such were the benefits of working for the family. At the Old Jameson Distillery, which is no longer the distillery of the famous whiskey, the entire history of Irish whiskey production is displayed in depth. Of course, the highlight of the tour is the whiskey tasting, where Jameson is compared to both Scotch and American products. After a few rounds, you will agree that Jameson is the best whiskey on the planet!

What follows is perhaps the most famous recipe in Dublin. In almost every restaurant in Dublin, there is at least one dish made with Guinness beer. You can't escape a visit to a pub without being offered a pint, so it's quite logical that it will find its way into the Irish Cuisine.

Guinness Corned Beef and Cabbage
4 pounds corned beef brisket
2 heads of cabbage
1 cup brown sugar
1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle Guinness

Directions:
1 Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Rinse the beef completely and pat dry.
2 Place the brisket on rack in a roasting pan or Dutch oven. Rub the brown sugar on the corned beef to coat entire beef, including the bottom. Pour the bottle of Guinness around, and gently over the beef to wet the sugar.
3 Cover, and place in preheated oven. Bake for 2 1/2 hours. Allow to rest 5 minutes before slicing.

During the last hour, you may put the cabbage in the roasting pan as well, along with new potatoes, onion, carrots, etc. You may feel free to add a pint more of Guinness (for the cook) :-)

Sliante!

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Metaphysics Aboard The 159R Bus

Sanity starts early with NJ Transit When it comes to commuting to work, it's not the norm to find like-minded fellow passengers to engage in conversation. At 6:15 a.m., most folks prefer to sink low in their seat and even take in an extra forty winks before dealing with their work routine. So, to find a group of convivial bus mates taking the early express into NYC at such an early hour is serendipity, to say the least. To start, I'd like to give a "shout out" to my small group of fellow commuters: Mitch, who, like myself, works in the publishing industry; Sheila, a bond market reporter; Rita, a chemist, who, at 60 years, has more vitality and beauty than the average 30-something; Leroy, a purveyor of fine wines and spirits; Paula, an urban archaeologist; Vivian, a nursing administrator; Carolina, who always has such a lovely smile; Debbie, who works for a company that is a leader in the maintenance of outstanding NYC buildings; Dot and Val, who are married and travel together on the bus as far as the Light Rail station at Port Imperial. Dot, a bookkeeper at a food emporium, continues her commute with me on the West Side Avenue train to Jersey City, while Val, an accountant, continues on into the City. Dot has overcome great obstacles in her life, and is a source of inspiration to those she comes in contact with due to her many accomplishments. Each of my bus mates offers something uniquely special at our daily meetings. Also, we are fortunate to have a good-natured bus driver, Fernando, who keeps to the schedule and allows us to arrive on time.

Living in the Moment Many agree that Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. If you consider fellowship as being "the meat that nourishes our soul," then it's fair to say that sharing positive thoughts before the start of the work day is also important. As Eckhart Tolle mentions in his book The Power of Now, it's important to realize that while our use of time has a practical aspect, most people are lost in time, usually dwelling in the past or future, and are only peripherally aware of the present moment, or the "Now". On the 159R bus, however, each one of us is fully engaged in the present, able to share a few minutes of ourself with the rest. Indeed, our daily meeting can be compared to the monastic prayer service of Lauds, as we most definitely are a community of souls beginning the day, in the pre-dawn hours, searching for meaning and harmony in life. We often take turns lifting each other up and lending support to those who need a gentle word of encouragement. Other times, we rejoice in the beauty of life and the great possibilities that each new day brings. Some of my greatest moments of inspiration have come during this daily meeting; and, I believe that many seeds were planted that have already bloomed into miracles!

The Beauty of NOW As the bus continues its route down Gorge Road, the bus driver turns off the overhead lights in the cabin. A gentle darkness enfolds us, as we gaze out the windows to behold a truly lovely scene: the skyline of Manhattan, with many glistening lights, illuminated from behind by the colorful hues of the not-yet-risen sun! I have often compared this vision to the "Amen" at the end of a prayer, and confirmation that we are all given many other such visions during the day which we often overlook. The glistening lights of pre-dawn also remind me that each of us has the power to merge our talents together to become "A Thousand Points of Light". I truly believe that each of us carries this hope with us to our individual workplace; I know that I do!

Variations on a Theme All too soon, our bus arrives at Port Imperial, where I exit to catch the train to Jersey City. I use these moments to contemplate the phrase from the Bhagavad Gita: "Witness the Diversity, but understand the Unity." Each one of us brings our own special talents with us each day. Some of these talents lay dormant, beaten down by the trials of day-to-day living. The truth is often clouded by needless pressures we actually inflict on ourselves. If we understood the truth, we would manifest our talents constantly, which is the true meaning of "Living in the Now". When I began my life in Metaphysics over twenty years ago, one of my first mentors was Marianne Williamson. In her book, A Return to Love, there is a wonderful chapter on "Work". If each one of us envisioned our job, our office and our coworkers, as our "ministry," we could sanctify our workplace and share our talents openly without worry. Why worry? After all, we are all variations on a theme; and this theme is the great At-one-ment. We are all on different paths in life, each one with different spiritual talents. By sharing our talents, we can indeed do miracles. Our smile, our energy and our spirit, empower us and permit us to truly be the light of the world. Each one of us has our unique place, our unique value to the whole. Without each one of us, the light would become much dimmer.

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