Chaos and a dancing star

Donkeys are among the most curious animals I’ve seen, and if you put something strange near them, they will invariably come and check it out, usually by nose. Today I brought my tripod into the pasture and one by one, they each filed by to see what it was. After they do it once, they ignore it.

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 Frederick Nietzsche, who was no stranger to chaos, wrote that “One must have chaos in oneself in order to give birth to a dancing star.” I agree with him.
  At times, I’ve experienced intense chaos in myself, and it can be frightening and painful. It always gives birth to something – writing, photographer, hospice work, another dog. It always gives birth to the dancing stars of my own life, and reminds me that pain, loss and fear are difficult things, but they are mothers and fathers and countless dancing stars.
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 On Saturday, November 15, Izzy, Lenore  – both hospice therapy dogs – and I will be at the Elks Club in Greenwich, N.Y., to benefit the Washington County Hospice and Palliative Care Program, our home hospice group, and the people who invited Izzy to become a hospice volunteer.
  They do amazing work, under difficult circumstances, and on tight budgets, and they need help, because in these times a lot of philanthropic money is drying up. People have some difficult choices to make, and the hospice people know this better than anyone.
 Still if you have had the privilege, as I have had, to see the hospice staff – administrators, doctors, nurses, social workers, volunteers (and two dogs, Izzy and Lenore) in action, you can see the importance of contributing to this amazing organization in difficult times. The evening will include a talk by me, greetings from Izzy and Lenore and dinner. It’s $50 but hopefully some of you can come. For information, call Pat Monahan (518 792-2973) or Mary Kellogg, the poet (her books will be sold at the event as will mine) at (518 642-9551). We have been doing some hospice benefits in different parts of the country and they have been fun, and successful. Come if you can.

  November 5, 2008