Jon

Have kissed the sky and tasted the fires of hell. An oeuvre of contradictions. Played violin in Carnegie Hall as a child, cello in cathedrals across Europe as a teenager. Dreamt of becoming an architect or veterinarian. Chose to be a teacher of children -- the classroom was my stage for eleven years! Began doctoral studies at the University of Chicago. Traveled the world as a private tutor (and felt the trembling heartbeat of the Amazon!). Depression. Confusion. Prison.

Spent the first four decades of my life as a compassionate calvinist, but now find Carl Sagan more compelling ("Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors"). Barbara Kingsolver inspires me to be a better man ("Prodigal Summer"). Also Ursula Le Guin, Philip Pullman, Charlotte Bronte.

Never married: my gut and my religion pulled me toward antipodal 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 "The Other Wind") or Ellie Arroway (Sagan's "Contact") or Adah (Kingsolver's "Poisonwood Bible").

In the meanwhile trying to emulate heroes like Charles Darwin, Greg Mortenson, Janusz Korczak. Adore our fragile planet. Don't care much for the status quo. Repulsed by violence and loathe injustice! Never plan to retire, just keel over as a caretaker at some animal preserve in Brazil or maybe France. J'aime rever.

edphilo@earthlink.net