A Conversaton with Elizabeth
1998
Mandala Workshop

From:          larry.m.mixson@bvs.com
Date:          Mon, 23 Feb 1998 10:43:43 -0800
To:            Elizabeth
Subject:       Re[2]: mandala workshop
 
Good morning. I had a good but busy weekend mostly running errands. The wife and I did go to the annual Flower and Garden show at the Washington Convention Center. It is always enjoyable to see beautiful landscaped gardens and flowers in the middle of February, all inside.
 
I would agree that let's not make discussion of the past main reason for our discussions but to discuss it when it comes up. I don't remember taking the plate out from under you but it does seem like something I would have done at the time. Yes, the past is part of us and the path we have taken to where we now are and reexamining it can be useful but also scary.
 
I am not familiar with mandalas so I did a quick search on the web and read some about them. I understand them to be drawings, often geometrical, used in meditation. An eastern concept which I found interesting. I believe I have seen them around before but never attached a name to them. I have always found the eastern religion and philosophy interesting. For me it started with the rejection of my Southern Baptist upbringing when I started at UF. Remember the Krishna followers in the pink robes? I spent many an hour sitting on the lawn in the plaza listen to them. Over the years I have continued to explore eastern religions a philosophies. Last year my wife and I took a three day Insight Mediation retreat which was quite interesting. Three days of not speaking with 12 hours of sitting and walking mediation a day.It's whole concept is to live in the "moment". I found the concept interesting and useful at times but not practical to live by on a continual basis for the life style I choose to live. I tend to take a little of this and a little of that philosophy and religion and blending them together for my own philosophy.
 
I also have been somewhat preoccupied with our conversation. All weekend I found myself thinking about what we said to each other and about what we may discuss this week. I think is good to question and examine the responsibility of our new "relationship". I also had such thoughts. I debated whether to tell my wife about our contact for the first couple of days. Over the years I have told her some about our past and she has read the journals I wrote during those years. With her training and the way she is, she questions and analyzes such relationships intently. Being responsible I knew I could not not tell her about our contact so Friday evening I told her and gave her a brief recap. She asked what I was going to do with the contact and I replied that I was not sure but I intended to correspond with you to see where it would go. She has some concern because she has counseled several couples that have had crisis in their marriage because one of them established some sort of on-line relationship. I also have a cousin who's wife of 12 years left him for someone she met on-line. Yes, I can see how an email relationship can become intense and intimate.
 
As for us, I enjoy our conversation, look forward to reestablish a friendship and hope to resolve some issues from the past.
Larry

Break