The Songs of the musical, “Hair.”

Love the music of “Hair” and recall, fondly, my hippie days when we all smoked funny-looking cigarettes and listened to it. I thought I’d share some of it I found on YouTube: . Aquarius: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhbxI5eVnM4 Manchester, England: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4lvdlP-BhQ I’m Black … Continue reading →

A view from the rim of the great canyon.

It was so splendid and overwhelming, but humbling, too. The countless layers of sediment that had been built up and, through the ages, tilted and jumbled by shifting geology, then cut away again by the relentless river.  It was an inspirational sight, and I thought I … Continue reading →

The Eagles Have Returned to Yukon Harbor.

This gallery contains 2 photos.

By Russell Neyman. There are mornings when I feel especially connected to Old Colby and the morning rituals that date back hundreds — more likely, thousands — of years.  The place simply sings.  I feel like sharing what things are like here this … Continue reading →

The First Street Foursquare: Goin’ Semi-Rural in the Pacific Northwest.

This gallery contains 8 photos.

You can see downtown Seattle from the front porch, but you’d thing you were in the middle of nowhere. Continue reading →

The Local Watering Hole, est 1887.

This gallery contains 3 photos.

  This is the local hangout, where Buster and the boys bend elbows and tell lies. In the late 1880’s it was known as the Willie’s Barber Shop, where the proprietor, William Bohguss, shaved lumbermen when they came to town on Saturday nights … Continue reading →

Sorry to Spoil All the Endings for You, But…

We hate to ruin the surprises that lay in wait for you at the end of these movies, books, and plays (actually, we don’t mind at all) but……REDRUM IS MURDER SPELLED BACKWARDS WILLARD KILLS KURTZ SCARFACE DIES JESUS DIES SPOCK DIES … Continue reading →

The Nine-Cow Woman.

The young chieftan wanted to start his own sub-villiage, so he approached the tribe’s king to get his blessing and advice.  The king liked the young man, adding that several wives would be needed if he were to succeed in the venture. It would be important that he built many huts, a pen to keep livestock, and farm enough grain to support the people and animals.

The warrior knew this, and carefully laid out his plan for a village. He explained that there were other young men who wanted to join him, and he pointed to a site on a nearby hill where he planned to live. The king consented. “When the times comes, may I purchase one of your daughters to start a family?” he asked. The buying of women was the way of that Africian tribes in that place and that time, and cattle was the primary means of barter.

The king had always liked the young man, and was glad about the news. “Absolutely,” the king responded enthusiastically. “Get your villiage built, raise some cattle, then come back to see me. I have many daughters, and I will give you a good value for your money.”

A year passed. The young chieftan arrived at the king’s hut with a small herd of cattle, indicating that he was ready to purchase a wife. “Take your pick; all of my daughters are over there, in that special maiden’s hut.”

After a short while, the younger chief returned, bringing with him a young woman who stood in dirty clothes, bent over, and dirty. “This is the woman I want to purchase, Your Highness,” said the suitor. “I will offer you nine cows for her.”

The king was taken aback. “Are you mad? Of all the daughters I have, this one is the most miserable and disagreeable. She is always frowning and moody; she does not sing nor does she dress well. She is certainly not worth nine cows! Two, three cows at best, but not nine cows.”

“Sire,” said the chieftan, “I know what I am doing. I insist on giving you nine cows for her. She will be my queen.”

Reluctantly, the king accepted the offer, insisting that the younger man deliver the payment in increments of two or three cows at a time. “I do not want anyone to know that I charged you so much for such a miserable bride.” The young man made his payment, and took the woman, unimpressive as she was, back to his village.

He said, “She was
always beautiful; You
saw her as worthless,
and I saw her as a
nine-cow woman.”

Several years passed. As was his custom, the king wandered among the subvillages, to see how things were progressing and to gather knowledge of his people. He happened upon the same young chieftian’s group of huts, and was immediately impressed with all the prosperity and upbeat mood there. He couldn’t help notice a beautiful woman walking head held high through the townspeople, smiling broadly. Her warmth and energy was clearly spreading to those around her. “I see you are doing well, son,” said the king. “And that woman — she’s absolutely beautiful. Who is she? Is that my daughter — the one you paid so much for?”

“I always saw her as worth much more, Sire,” said the younger man. “And when I treated her like she had greater value, she became a queen. She’s my nine-cow wife. She was never anything less, in my eyes.”

Thanks to Jim Cook, my LifeSpring instructor, who passed this story on to me many years ago. –RN. 

Not Having a List is on my “Perfect Partner” List.

Many years ago, I took a LifeSpring Relationships class (a lot like Est) and one of the assignments was to take out a piece of paper and make a list of the traits of a “Perfect Partner.” I quickly dashed … Continue reading →

About the Chief Correspondent.

“Where does one begin to tickle the elephant?” I love that quote, and use it often. It seems particularly appropriate here and now, as I begin this endeavor.

I’m a fifty-something man of far-ranging interests. If life is a canvas, I intend to leave this life having used up lots of paint and a scene that is inspirational and insightful. I have done so many things and witnessed so much; but I haven’t even scratched the surface.

After living in California for virtually all of my adult life, I have decided to relocate to the Pacific Northwest, probably Olympia, Washington. In some respects, I will start life anew. I hope to buy an old house that I can reshape and refreshen my lifestyle, finish a couple of books I have in the works, and make new friends. I’d like to build a small sailboat, too, and there’s always the possibility of finding somebody to rub toes with on a cold winter night.

A few of my passions: My son, woodworking, and baseball. Alex (now 20) is a wonderful person, and I often say that “when I grow up I want to be like him.” I discovered woodworking about 22 years ago and think that there’s nothing more worthwhile than taking a piece of a tree and giving it a new life by turning it into a keepsake box or a bowl; now that’s my idea of a day off! Baseball is a beautiful, poetic dance with a rich tradition; it has been a large piece of my life for nearly four decades, and I am decidedly old-school.

And all of these themes are colored by a life of spirituality, family, and a sincere desire to make a difference. So, how does one connect it all in a blog?

Check back and leave Comments. Lots to be posted.

— Russell Neyman, Chief Correspondent.

Pictured: Alex Neyman, then 12, with father Russell Neyman, and grandfather Robert Neyman. The temporary eyepatch was worn after a mild stroke. This is obviously out of date (taken about 1996) but it’s an interesting photograph and one of our favorites. For an updated photo of Alex, look in the Neyman page.