Tag Archives: friends

Agape for Agape / a few post-wedding notes #DRO420

Grateful for Love

Heart so incredibly filled with love as I piece together for the last 10 days of a pure whirlwind roller coaster of excitement, joy, friendship, community, and love love love!

Just so fcking happy (“way to go” i wanna say to self 5 years ago)

I have so very much to say about all of this including replying to each and every photo, comment, post, video etc… as well as sharing thanks with all those who brought such lovely and surprising gift (many/most of which we’ve yet to open).

With my body as it is, i’m in “recovery mode“ and frankly barely functioning but my head and heart are so tremendously happy.

Note: My incredible wife just walked in the door for a lunch break in her dirty work clothes and a giant smile. She is so beyond adorable!

I am so thrilled that this is now my regular ”life” – Indeed I never thought this happiness would be possible for me and yet, I’ve fallen into the most luxurious dream.

Today’s task is tidying all the artifacts from the wedding celebrations (yes, there were 3) to savor, document, and archive as needed.

Next up is a special tea ceremony in the garden for 藤田良子’s birthday on Sunday to kick off Golden Week during which I look forward to spending time with my new parents, writing thank you cards, watching the Emperor change, barbecue with the relatives, and preparing for our Japan honeymoon ramble on slow trains to visit old friends, remote hot springs, forgotten museums, scenic trains, and local markets.

An extra special thanks to the majestic crew of renegades who made long journeys to celebrate with us and lend their creative spirit into putting everything together, and to the local Japanese friends and relatives who welcomed them so sincerely and fondly.

Plus the food and beverage providers, musicians and MCs who made the Sunday shindig such a success, and the Shinto shrine and associated people who made Saturdays so incredibly special.

Cascadia + Setouchi friendship society ahoy!

In brief: Please note that each one of your kind gestures is well noted (hence the #DRO420 tags). Everything & everybody’s regards is/are gracefully appreciated and will be acknowledged and reciprocated forthwith.

Still, daveo, Tsuchida, Okayama

PS thanks for reminding me i deserve *all of this* – been through a lot the last few years and definitely shook my confidence and at times thought i’d never find happy again and then one day…

Wedding Tribute from Owls / Dave + Ryoko 4-20 Kekkon-shiki

> Pardon me while i laugh and cry all over <

My pals from Hootsuite – which obv was a such a big part of my life and something i never go to “say goodbye” to – made the most remarkably kind dispatch.

The intrepid Cameron Uganec nonchalantly dropped a note that he and Ryan Holmes had a wrangled a little something and sent me this link which features the sweetest words a fellow ever deserves to hear from colleagues > friends > family spread around the world.

This is rather personal to say the least and my first instinct is to keep it this way but i also know that many other people will truly be edified by watching/hearing this outpouring of agape. As such, no holding back.

PS I would do that thing where you tag all appropriate people but lots of “cool kids” aren’t hanging out here and this is a bit too sensitive to the schoolyard fo Twitter and def not Snapchattable so just going to send it out as-is, with all the hugs.

I will however include a reply to the participants who extended such a gracious effort to this drifting poet who is no longer drifting, ergo:

Dear Lovelies,

I am so wonderfully filled with all the emotions and so incredibly grateful to each of you for your words and vibes. I explained to Ryoko (who loved seeing all of you and was answering back to your charming Japanese) who each of you are, and how we came into each other’s world, and also how i never go to say “goodbye” … i didn’t want to leave, one day my body/life/world changed and was never able to return – this was *so* hard and as i collapsed and drifted for so long. So many times, just when i needed it most, one of you wonderful beings would appear with a helping hand, a kind word, a check in, a rescue I’ve forgotten a lot of things but not those #realtalk.

Now this wonderful video creates something far better than “closure”, rather helps me open this wonderful new reinvention of life. Truly thrilled and so completely surprised to see face after beautiful face (my goodness you are all so fabulously good looking!) – hearing your sincere words is something i will treasure this week and forever. This goes in the vault and in my heart.

Please accept my fondest thanks for letting me part of your lives and i hope to be a worthy friend until we are all olden and grey. Oh also, was so cool to see everyone spread all over the world on various career (is that what you call them?) and adventures. Of course, please make sure i have current postal address so i can send you random cards and treats and make sure i introduce myself to your kiddos (where applicable).

Fondly, daveo

Connecting Communities / Dave + Ryoko 4-20 Kekkon-shiki

Indeed, I love connecting communities and so very happy 25 people (!) foreign dignitaries are coming to celebrate the wedding festivities in Okayama, Japan. Especially pleased that various times and places of my life are well represented: bearded renegades from Canada, lifesavers from Indonesia, a catch a beauties from Utah, padawans from the Hoot days from scattered places, hot dog couples and various drifting explorers. Oh, and the legendary mountain man from Nagano via Minnesota and the south Indian Ocean.

My hope/expectation is everyone will go home with new best friends and cultures will be intertwined to form relationships to last additional lifetimes. Yes, all will receive #FreeHugs.
 
PS Also note, we are at the maximum capacity, actually well beyond… for the shrine ceremony and fancy lunch, but the party is at a goat farm in a barn so room for more last-minute add-ons in addition to the 100+ already confirmed. As such, 100 deluxe gift bags are underway but not guaranteed #trying.

“Always Be Kind” / Musings by Dr. Trevor Erikson

My ole pal Dr. Trevor “Trauben” Erikson shared a few musings about healing and kindness on his channel the other day. I am significantly moved by his reflections about my erstwhile wisdom and stashing this  Thanks Trauben.  Thanks so very much. ‘

Was thanked by an aging grandmother yesterday. She looked me in the eyes, hugged me and said she was grateful to me.

I was reminded of a friend’s advice to me, that somehow stands vivid amongst the fog of my adventurist past, travelling the globe in search of the better present moment.

It was either during a hike on some wilderness trail, or while dancing to some groovy tunes in the desert, or sunning on a sandy sub-tropical beach, or during a transatlantic flight from Europe, or perhaps a coffee shop in Amerstadam, or in our tent in the grape fields along the Rhine in Germany, it was certainly much before I knew it being HH the Dali Lama’s declared religion. Now this was probably gleaned from a Grateful dead lyric, I would think, although I knew my friend’s mom was definitely a walking example of this, which would have predated any travelling rock band’s lyric from entering into his head.

Anyways, it was 1992-ish, and Dave Olson looked over at me, in the lovingly charming way that he does, and said, simply, and matter-of-factly, ‘Always be kind’.

Of course. How simple. How profound.

I was reminded of this powerful declaration when this grandmother lovingly embraced me and said thank you.

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My reply:

This mantra is the distillation of all i’ve learned from watching others and living full-on. Realized young that to survive and thrive one must.should build community. To build community requires kindness beyond your own needs.
 
In the past years since my life has changed so much (due to illness) i realize again that if i hadn’t been kind (including always taking high road, always helping the young-up-and-comers with advice over coffee despite the eyerolls from other “bigtimers” who encouraged me to charge consulting hours, the showing up to help, the checking the ego, and avoiding arguments even my my fuse has run out, i would be a very lonely fella. As it goes, i’ve found help, solace and assistance when needed often from people i only foggily recall meeting but (apparently) i was kind to and provide encouragement and support. This theme of kindness is a constant in my poetry (even when my heart and body is broken) and never fails.
 
Also worth noting the importance of kindness when we dropped off a car to an (very large, very aggressive, very angry man) in Dallas, Texas. Obviously two impossibly skinny long hair kids couldn’t defeat with violence if we tried (!) nor would arguing get any far. So we were kind and expressed empathy about his situation (as absurd and illegal as it was!) and ended up going from almost beaten to a pulp to out hard won deposit returned – by cash, not cheque – and a ride to the dodgy Greyhound station (a whole other mess…).
 
Also, thanks for scrapping me off the ground as i’ve worked to patch my life back together Trauben.

Flashback: Notes about Orem (Utah) high school, on occasion of 30th reunion (2018)

A high school i attended for 1-1/2 year-ish in Utah held a 20 anniversary for my graduating class in summer 2018 – while i wasn’t technically a graduate (nor did i attend the event), i added my dispatch for the record. Shared here for the posterity etc.

Via Orem high School Class of 1988 FB page 7 July 2018

A few flashbacks… (PS i was Dave Elliott in those years)

I was a sorta “walk-on character” in the Orem High sitcom – arriving from Canada for the last couple months of 10th grade and then dropping out 2 weeks into 12th grade but dang,… made 11th grade count.

"in character" as a earnest archeologist, circa 1936, location unknown
“in character” as a earnest archeologist, circa 1936, location unknown

Ergo:

* Running Paul Moody’s “campaign” for Student body president including the “fascist takeover” at the assembly and screening of Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” in lounge for a campaign promotion – and the acknowledgement speech at assembly in which someone temporarily declined to announce the winner because of the number of “refused” ballots

* The (notorious) Martin Luther King day protest including long banners on newspaper roll ends covering the lockers with rather controversial slogans

* Making a “Stop Aids” balloon/flag/kite and running it up the flag pole with Cory DeMille and my brother Bob Olson (now the US military’s 2 finest examples)

* Thought i wasn’t enrolled in Unified Studies, my attendance was almost perfect

* KOHS, possibly the best invention in the history of highschool (until my FCC license was revoked)

* Ace-ing AP US History with a 98% on the test but failing because of the tardy/absence policy (drop a grade each time or something) – it *was* the first class in the morning

* Being amazed at seminary – meaning you could sign up and have basically a period off (before moving to Utah, i had attended early morning seminary (imagine the horror of riding to church house on cold Canadian mornings at 5AM!)

* Swim team – i wasn’t cut out for football, basketball etc so signed up for swim team which basically meant roadtrips to other schools, hanging out in a Speedo waiting to lose to “whichever school we were competing against” – our girl’s team won all the time though

* Having no idea was the heck a Sadie Hawkins dance was until getting invited by a card written in Alpha-bits cereal – was completely baffled (later Napoleon Dynamite made this clear)

school dance (in shorts natch) with Kim who drove a lavender Karman Ghia
school dance (in shorts natch) with Kim who drove a lavender Karman Ghia

* Umm… after growing up in a very multi-cultural part of Vancouver (little Punjab), arriving to a ummm… sorta non-diverse school

* Feeling like a total outsider but quickly making friends by virtue of driving a limo to school – which was later replaced by an even more fun VW bus (Spicoli had nothing on me)

* Wearing shorts every single day of the school year – usually with wool socks and duck boots and flannel shirts – i didn’t exactly invent “grunge style” but do deserve an honourable mention

* Frequently teased for using Canadian spellings / we like to put in extra an “u” and switch around “re” instead of “er” and saying “zed” instead of “zee” #sigh

* Requiring a note to read Catcher in The Rye in 11th grade AP English > also realizing the teacher had absolutely no idea why the book was “banned” in some alien circles

* Amazed that so many girls looked like straight out of a magazine or movie #outofmyleague – i was more accustomed to punk rock girls

practising to be in a John Hughes movie with JPJ
practising to be in a John Hughes movie with JPJ

* Never attending a single football game (now if there was a hockey team…)

* Coming “back” for 12th grade homecoming dance and bringing non-Orem high pals and taking photo with the reggae band (Irie Heights)

crashing homecoming dance and posing with Irie Heights band - game: who's in band, who's attending dance?
crashing homecoming dance and posing with Irie Heights band – game: who’s in band, who’s attending dance?

By the way, when i bailed on Grade 12 (12th Grade), i went to Utah Technical College (later Utah Valley Community College, Utah Valley College, Utah Valley University, Harvard of the West…) and “earned” an Alpine School District Adult High School diploma after rigorous schedule of ceramics, mountaineering, photography and “independent study” – also creative writing (which turned out handy). I did attend class of 88 grad as a spectator.

Later? after a run of a few more higher-ed institutions (University of Utah, University of Guam) i graduated from Evergreen State College, just took me a few decades. Since, travelled 40+ countries, 100 weird jobs (most recently VP at Hootsuite (social media company), gave TEDx talk (not near as popular as Jani Radebaugh‘s) and now live on various remote small islands making poetry, podcasts and paintings (also deal with a weird complex illness #boring).

I have been able to meet up with a few excellent folks from those years (Cory DeMilleMark SwensonJayson LeeKyle BlackhamJennifer Powers-JohnsonJeniffer Johnson GoodmanJennifer Hawkins PixtonNichole Ortega… in the last few years – albeit some only virtually).

Thanks for letting me share – i won’t be at the reunion (i am far away elsewhere) but carry fond memories.

Would very much like to know what you are up to?

I also love to write letters/postcards so message your address (or fill out form on my website) and one day you’ll receive postal mail from this “walk on character”.

Fondly, dvo, elsewhere

yeah, i is a graduate-d
yeah, i is a graduate-d

Annotations

Jennifer Hawkins Pixton You were ahead of your time! Love that your VW bus is now a sauna.

"Earthship" new incarnation as sauna at Mangy Moose lodge up Big Cottonwood Canyon (near SLC, UT)
“Earthship” new incarnation as sauna at Mangy Moose lodge up Big Cottonwood Canyon (near SLC, UT)

Evidence of Sauna inside Earthship VW bus
Evidence of Sauna inside Earthship VW bus

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Michelle Scofield You and your brother were exactly what the school needed!! Thanks for spicing things up.

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Marianne Paul Jensen You were definitely ahead of your time. And you definitely increased the character of the non-diverse school.
Thanks for sharing these awesome memories!

Dave Olson Marianne Paul Jensen So kind of you to say… I was apprehensive posting this thinking that everyone would wonder “hmm don’t remember that guy, do you?”

Marianne Paul Jensen Dave Olson I totally remember you. I was hesitant commenting because I’m sure you don’t remember me.
But you really had an impact in the time you were at OHS.

Dave Olson Marianne Paul Jensen Making me feel like ¥1 million here. And for sure I remember you.

Dave Olson Funny how in those impressionable days of high school, we get defined, &/or define ourselves… I guess I was a little naïve about the different cliques and hierarchies of high school in the US… I had gone to four different schools in 10th grade and just desperately wanted to find a tribe to hang out with so tried to be friendly to everyone. Of course most people had known each other for years through junior high or the same church groups or whatever but I came in with none of those preconceive notions.

I’m sure I overcompensated for my nervousness with too much chatter and goofballery –

As it goes, no matter how “popular” one was in high school, we all had to go out in the world and find someway to make a living and make ourselves happy. It turns out there’s a little benefit to “peaking early” And being “cool” in high school doesn’t predict a future of life success/happiness.

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Rick Herlevi I was telling my kids the other day about the one and only time in my life that I hiked the Y. I skipped class and went with Kraig Kiggins, I think Cory was there and the two Canadian brothers that drove a limo and hiked they Y. Why would I ever want to do it again after that pinnacle experience.

infamous "Starlite" renegade limousine service with noted customer
infamous “Starlite” renegade limousine service with noted customer

Kelli Robison HerleviKelli and 24 others helped build Orem High School Class of 1988 by sharing it, inviting people or writing posts when the group was new. This convo definitely did take place very recently. It was probably our FHE lesson. I thought Rick was making up the story so he didn’t have to commit to a “Y” hike. But it looks like there’s truth to his story. I won’t make him hike the “Y” again. I can’t compete.

Dave Olson Next time, we will just drive the limo up to the Y with a catered picnic – It’s all true, even the parts that aren’t ?

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Cory DeMille Many great memories in this bus! Remember our Good the Bad and the Ugly video Party and camping in the bus in full cowboy regalia on OHS campus? Now that would be considered a terrorist incident!

"Earthship" VW bus in similar set-up as high school era - changes include a rebuilt interior, additional dings and a dog in the back
“Earthship” VW bus in similar set-up as high school era – changes include a rebuilt interior, additional dings and a dog in the back

Dave Olson Cory DeMille Oh great memory! Just the sound of popping popcorn on the bus’s stove would’ve created phone calls to the police about suspected gunshots

Dave Olson Also remember driving around and shooting Roman candle bottle rockets out the back of the bus, and later water balloons (filled from the bus’s sink) and big gulp cups through the “accidental” sunroof – would soak BYU students and act all nonchalant like “it wasn’t us”… Sometimes when chased, the only reasonable strategy was to drive really slow rather than trying to out run them. Those activities did produce some actual police incidents however

Cory DeMille We were dicks at times!

Dave Olson Cory DeMille Our revolution was not Instagramed (As such, no evidence thankfully)

Post’d: Stick No Bills (Sri Lanka) vol. 2 / maps of sorts

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Postcards: Stick No Bills, maps

Postcards sent Dec. 2017, created by/purchased from Stick No Bills – creators of fine artisan postcards from Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) – Vol. 2 (of 6), feat. historical map art.

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Postcards: Stick No Bills, maps

Continue reading Post’d: Stick No Bills (Sri Lanka) vol. 2 / maps of sorts

Post’d: Stick No Bills (Sri Lanka) vol. 5 / modes of transportation

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Postcards: Stick No Bills, transportation

Postcards sent Dec. 2017created by/purchased from Stick No Bills – creators of fine artisan postcards from Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) – Vol. 5 (of 6), feat. transportation themed art pieces (ships, trains, motorbikes and the like)

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Postcards: Stick No Bills, transportation

Continue reading Post’d: Stick No Bills (Sri Lanka) vol. 5 / modes of transportation

Post’d:Stick No Bills (Sri Lanka, 2017) vol. 4 / landmarks of note

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Postcards: Stick No Bills, landmarks

Postcards sent Dec. 2017created by/purchased from Stick No Bills – creators of fine artisan postcards from Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) – Vol. 4 (of 6), feat. landmarks, hotels and other tourist-minded commercial art

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Postcards: Stick No Bills, landmarks

Continue reading Post’d:Stick No Bills (Sri Lanka, 2017) vol. 4 / landmarks of note

Post’d: Stick No Bills (Sri Lanka) vol. 6 / faces, people, folk, culture

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Postcards: Stick No Bills, art and culture

Postcards sent Dec. 2017created by/purchased from Stick No Bills – creators of fine artisan postcards from Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) – Vol. 6 (of 6), feat. various faces, people, folk art, and other bits of Sri Lanka cultural sublimity

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Postcards: Stick No Bills, art and culture

Continue reading Post’d: Stick No Bills (Sri Lanka) vol. 6 / faces, people, folk, culture

Post’d: Stick No Bills (Sri Lanka) vol. 3 / cinema promotional art

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Postcards: Stick No Bills, cinema

Postcards sent Dec. 2017created by/purchased from Stick No Bills – creators of fine artisan postcards from Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) – Vol. 3 (of 6), feat. cinema promotional art

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Postcards: Stick No Bills, cinema

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Postcards: Stick No Bills, cinema

As often mentioned, i love postcards – both the writing / sending and the buying / collecting. When i find excellent postcards, i am indeed tempted to keep em stashed in a dossier or shoebox for my own amusement, however such action does not allow the humble postcard to fulfil its apparent destiny. As such, as per usual routine, i gather the finest cards, write sentiments (albeit in semi-legible scrawl) upon the back, squeeze in an address, flourish with inky stamps, complete with requisite postal stamps and send send on their way via the magical wormhole of postboxes. However, before sending on their journey, i take snapshots of the front / arty side for art and documentation purposes (sometimes the backs too for personal audit and memory).

This batch comes via a stay in Galle, Sri Lanka where, in the historical Fort Galle (previously Portuguese, Dutch and British), i bought basically everything Stick No Bills had on offer – postcard-wise that is, they also sell posters which aren’t handy for traveling though i have a mighty stack in a storage locker faraway.

Each card rung up with unique UPC barcode resulting in a receipt approx a metre/yard long with 92 entries. I mentioned this dedications to them and they offered me a poster t say “thanks” but alas i split before taking them up on the kindness.

Most notable about Stick No Bills is:

  • Respect for artists – the art is carefully curated, artists are compensating appropriately and the artwork is reproduced accurately
  • Quality of materials – delicious tactile cardstock with fine silkscreened ink which feels wonderful under pen and finger
  • Eclectic variety – as evidenced in my collection shared over 7 volumes, the assortments includes vintage Air Ceylon and hotel art, cinema art, various folklife, landmarks, maps and transportation themed pieces. (They also offered a line featuring funny/weird/unironic english t-shirts worn by local folks which i didn’t collect as i recall.)

Anyhow, mine are shared here for historical record (and modified with my personal stamps to prevent unauthorized reproductions) and your support/purchases is/are encouraged/recommended either by mailorder or even better, stopping into their lovely shop in Fort Galle, Sri Lanka.Tell em Uncle Weed sent ya (they won’t know what you mean but i’ll be amused).