I landed my first backflip in the grass yesterday.  I've been working on it at the gym, and I've done a couple hundred of them on the mats there.  It's a lot harder to get over that psychological hurdle when you're outside, though.  I also moved up a level on my flash kick (that's a backflip with a vertical kick in midair).  I'll be trying it on harder ground next week.

And in a couple months, I'll be breaking boards with it for my black belt.

I bent over backwards, I jumped through hoops
My ankles were swollen, there wasn't much that I could do
But backflips and crescent kicks and other stupid human tricks
Wishing all the while I'd miss the ground.

Life on the material plane is excellent.  I've gotten a promotion and two raises, and Josie just started her new career as a nurse (congratulations again, baby).  We've established a long-term financial plan to get ready for all the house-buying and baby-making and business-starting and retiring and vacation-taking we'll be doing with our lives.  We both have a strong course set for the future.  That's more satisfying than anything money can buy.

These trinkets and treasures are superficial pleasures
With their glitter, just a glimpse can catch your eye
and rip it out,
and leave you blind.

I know I have been out of the public eye lately, but I've been very focused in my personal sphere.  I believe that we are having some sort of gathering in the near future... Anna was talking about everyone getting together at Bill Allen?  Josie and I may host a party to celebrate our good fortune as well.  I miss a lot of you dearly, and look forward to seeing you.  I went through another wave of trying to clarify old relationships and put them into context, or even revitalize them.  Some of them worked out, some of them did not.  Blessings to everyone who has walked beside me in the past, regardless if you choose to travel apart from me now.  May you find your own ways.

For now I have my Circle, and together we will walk the Spiral
to illuminate the Hidden Place and face our destiny.
As rebel saints, we're given to this ancient, secret mission
This grand and holy vision that we've all been born to see.
Before it was a myth, a mystery.

But now I know the truth
And the truth has set me free.