Systems theory and bits of culture
For reasons rooted about ninety years in the past and transmitted through osmosis, I find the process of packing for a trip a terrible ordeal. I've just finished, except for putting all the bags into the rental car. I can't start on that yet because I haven't yet got the car, but when I do, the bags can't possibly fit. I've done an insane job, as always. Thirty shirts for a maximum of fifteen days, and that's not counting the undershirts. I must be nuts! The rules require it!

Now I'm going to meet Ma Teresa for dinner. Which reminds me: The other morning at the bus stop, she told me a story out of one of her dual diagnosis groups (dual diagnosis means a combination of mental illness and chemical dependency). She said that a sweet young woman, relatively new to the group, asked her whether she had ever taken any drugs, and she answered, "Oh yes! Marijuana, mescaline, LSD..." The client's eyes got really wide at the mention of LSD, and as Ma Teresa described it to me, "It was like they all came back to me on the bench."

For any readers who may not recognize the allusion, she was referring to the Group W bench in Arlo Guthrie's classic song, Alice's Restaurant. Listen to it. Not knowing Alice's Restaurant is like not knowing Little Red Riding Hood.

See you on the thirtieth, Yoko!

And good night, Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are!