Jon

Have touched the sky and felt the fires of hell. Big talents and big faults all wrapped up in one body. Played violin in Carnegie Hall as a child. Played cello in cathedrals across Europe as a teenager. Dreamt of becoming an architect, veterinarian or physician. Chose to be a teacher of children -- the classroom was my stage! Became the king of children, a pied piper. Began doctoral studies at the University of Chicago. Traveled the world as a private tutor (and fell in love with the Amazon!). Depression. Confusion. Prison. Spent the first four decades of my life as a compassionate Calvinist, but now find Carl Sagan more compelling ("Contact" and "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors"). Keep returning to Robert Pirsig. What is it about his books ("Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" and "Lila")? Isaac Asimov tickles my scientific funnybone ("Nightfall"). Stan Sakai's "Usagi Yojimbo" comic books make me want to be a better man. Jean Auel's "Earth's Children" series have played a major role in my healing. Also love the books of Philip Pullman, Chaim Potok, and Joseph Campbell. Never married because my gut and my religion told me to pursue two completely different types of women. Confusing. Paralysis by analysis. Now just go with my gut. Would love to meet someone like Jane Goodall ("In the Shadow of Man") or Tehanu (Le Guin's "Tehanu" and "The Other Wind") or Ellie Arroway (Sagan's "Contact") or Ada (Kingsolver's "Poisonwood Bible"). In the meanwhile trying to emulate heroes like Jane Goodall, Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll), Janusz Korczak, Greg Mortenson, and Leonardo da Vinci. Love our fragile planet. Don't care much for the status quo (or clothes for that matter). Despise injustice! Never plan to retire, just keel over as a caretaker at some animal preserve in Brazil or maybe Ireland. From dust to dust, leaving no footprints. jon_philosopher@yahoo.com