A little collage of printed postcards from the #BCInvasion trip.
Still haven’t really processed, digested, remixed, create-i-fied from this journey but, happenstance offered a moment to print & hang a few of my darlings above the writing desk, pinned to a Bedouin shroud.
Months, so many months since we returned from the #BCInvasion and still, stacks of ephemera, loads of records, so many books, treasures, gifts, treats, and then all of the snapshots in so many formats in so many places… unpatiently waiting for a time when my brain is working and the dishes are washed & the laundry folded to savor and contextualize experience with videos, posts, odes, and proper notes – and of course I want to send “custom thank you cards” to everyone we met along the way.
Realizing this isn’t going to happen and that’s all right but, things will start drifting out, I hope you find a bit of amusement.
The whole whirlwind was such an important trip for me and my darling duo so I want to make sure to express maximum gratitude to all the people who welcomed us, took the time to hang out with us, brought so many treats, hugs, kindness, welcomeness, and general awesomeness.
We arrived home to a bit of a chaos and honestly one conundrum and catastrophe after another but life is grand: the little guy is snoring beside me dreaming of shovel cars and strawberry cake, my incredible wife is more remarkable each day and me well… let’s not even talk about me.
{Well, in brief, I am so full of stories, songs, poems and projects yet I just can’t quite get the required blood and oxygen into my brain to do all the craftiness I’m dreaming of but, I’m living til at least 120 years old so will get there eventually. You’ll buy the book(s) right? Right?}
In the meanwhile, here is one snapshot.
We went to visit great grandma today and I printed her out an assortment of cute photos and kept thinking “oh my goodness, this is the best one ever” and then “no seriously, this one, or this one… I need them all” there’s not enough ink, paper, time to properly contextualize it all.
It was just so much more and yet nowhere near enough. Never will be the same.
So to you, gratefully from a man with an unruly beard, coif of curl, with a seaplane and beloved mysterious yellow pile of sulfur across the inlet I’ve crossed so many times by Seabus and right by Stanley Park which always felt like coming home.
Peace and gratitude to all of you. More to come (if you want it).
Back from seitai with kindly sensei & feeling spun and bit blue / confused or some combo and wearing a dead man’s wonderful brown cotton jimbei, attempting a somewhat useful ramble while a bit scrambled up.
Namechecks and stories about/from:
* Casey Bean of The Beanpod with stickers & personal narrative
* Diego the street sketcher with a Hermes Baby typer letter
* Pam from Pacific Blue days with BC pins (which Ichiro loved!)
* Emma Swift with LP of Bob Dylan songs & mental well-being challenges
* Andrew McLuhan carrying on father Eric & grandfather Marshall’s media message literacy work + punk rock & poetry
* Passports from 1960s UK awaiting remixing like Jason Emde (poet of “little bit die” & Writers Read Their Early Sh*t pod) and others filled with poetry, ephemera, maps & secret compartments
* A side bar about Bob Dylan’s propensity for leaving the stage early (probably because he has some painting or welding to do but maybe he just has some things on his mind that he doesn’t have ability to share with someone who will just listen), then:
* Soviet-era documents sparking a conversation about what constitutes identity and why we carry a little bit of stationary to declare who we are… avoiding the rabbit hole of discussing sovereignty, residency, citizenry and other digressions.
And (another) foreshadowing about the simple task of putting postcards into an album because each is so precious i feel should talk about each one individually so maybe get around to it if you hang out with me.
A bit of the fantastic Newfoundland band “Hey Rosetta!” gently frames the conversation with “sorry this is it, cold and hard and badly lit, but there’s no backing out of it…”
And there’s a birthday greetz for John Biehler via Stanley Park and tea.
And backdrop paintings by John Ferrie (he’s got a sale going on) providing a ‘Eye in the Sky’ panorama of our semi-recent BC invasion.
Really I’m just grateful to have you to hang out with as it’s beneficial for my mental and emotional well-being somehow.
Thumbs up for the “BC invasion” with fresh snips-ups on the heads of me & Ichi-Stan for this affable renegade Barber in a shop that’s quite literally falling apart and where it will always be 1973 with ashtrays in the barber chair arms. But “don’t touch that beard”.
Ichi-Stan got trimmed up to, sitting on his mama’s lap, like a champ, but he won’t stand still for a photo.
And the eye infection has cleared up… Definitely threw me for a loop & I really appreciate all the kind words over the last while about that conundrum
“I’m trying to get back to everyone yet many small tasks to tend to and it’s critical I shut down to start the trip on the “front foot” so I’m trying my best” and thank you thank you so much for remembering me”
A bouquet of flowers (not the usual Japanese arranging) in the genkon of Tsuchida Cottage for anyone and everyone who needs a little spark.
PS I’m reminding myself that this trip ahead should be fun and it will unfold just the way it supposed to and I’m gonna stop planning now.
Friendly “thank you” to all the kind folks sending me good vibes last couple of weeks with eye infection, marathon of hospital check-ins, and general antsiness & anxiety about turning the BC trip with my darlings into a *Napoleonic campaign* – finally starting to reach baseline.
{it’s really important to me that friends in Vancouver & Victoria who have stuck with me know how much I appreciate them // and want to give each proper respect and time… so reminding myself I am doing my best & must remember my limitations and priorities}
Of course, still many tasks to do to have the house prepared for us being gone as well as preparing us to be gone but most importantly, must remember to rest so I start the trip on the “front foot” so to speak. #MECFS crash mode must be avoided for the benefit of me and my beloved companions. 10 years in, I’m still figuring this out.
I submitted a new creation of postal art collage called “Aerogramme from Pokhara” to this exhibit in Boise Idaho featuring a first day cover from Aug 1 1975 (brother Dan’s 2nd birthday) + much ephemera.
Got it mailed in time (shock!) and even cut into some very unique items and typed a fictional (or is it) letter / will let you know when/if appears in exhibit and then lives in Univ of Idaho’s special collections. maybe
my friend HJC can see it
Call to Artists: Paper + Post – #Kolaj Magazine
Maybe I’m ruining the surprise but really excited to share these sharp commemorative cards by MOO with folks we meet at our upcoming trip
{in the meantime, now you know our postal address so you can send us a postcard} thanks to Cory A, Okamoto Taro and NHK ad yes that’s a Dymo labeler}
PS Vancouver is kind of “frozen in Amber” in 2011 or so for me / feels like last week and definitely not 12 years ago. I started a poem about this but was quite too much to bear all the memories still somehow. Present Moment and all.
Feeling a little bit antsy and in a tizzy about all the plans and options for upcoming “BC Invasion trip [April 11 ~ May 25] to Vancouver & Victoria etc areas. #driBC
So, first I’m very grateful for everyone’s participation & interest and for simply remembering me after i disappeared with illness and other life conundrums.
Next, extending a warm invitation to come meet us at various parks and gardens where we’ll be with a picnic blanket and a thermos of coffee at checkpoints in:
“Main point” of the trip is for my darling wife and adorable son to meet family as well as to reconnect with hugs and gifts with so many of you wonders.
Especially eager to meet kids for Ichiro to hang with at wonderful playground. Also, so grateful for recent friends coming to visit and participating in our life.
My big concern is “crashing” with this illness which puts me out of action for days/weeks. Good news is: doing the best i have in years thanks to some recent treatment protocols and modalities.
PS great article in The Atlantic about #MECFS
I’m doing my best but/and if we can’t meet, no big deal – its complicated and folks have lives/jobs etc, please come to Japan! A safe, efficient, interesting, amusing, and somewhat affordable destination where we will be happy to welcome you with tea and goats.
Very eager to avoid micro-planning on phone robot and dealing with the social media diaspora if you know what i mean. Oh, there’s a GDoc, hit me up if you want access.
Fondly, from Tsuchida Cottage
dvo + ryoko and ichiro
Briefly: Ichiro, Ryoko and Dave are hopping the jetliner to BC from April 11 – May 25 to introduce Ryoko and Ichiro to family, friends and culture and together enjoy slow adventures and *usual life* with you
Locations:
Note to Pals *yes you* – get in where you fit in and please be a part of our activities. As such, there is a GDoc to which you can request access with all the deets cause i/we don’t wanna be monitoring all the social comm-channels via pocket-robot while on the ground.
If, for some reason we aren’t able to get together because, I get it, people have lives, and I’m a bit elusive, consider this an invitation to come to Japan, which is safe, efficient, amusing, endlessly interesting, and surprisingly affordable / we will welcome you with enthusiasm and tea.
We want to:
Memo: we aren’t crossing the USA border for WA, UT, ID, OR etc visits this trip (for various reasons)
Need to figure out (advice welcome):
Dave avoiding MECFS “crash” by pacing activities, limiting transportation and exertion [read more about MECFS], by:
Even More: there is a GDoc to which you can request access with all the deets
