We were recently privileged to attend the 40th birthday celebration of Eric Empting (Biodesign ’97). During the joyous event, classmate Ahren Trumble sidled up to me and mentioned that he had lost his “Sasha Mug” and wondered if I possibly had a replacement. I assured him that I would check. He mentioned that the exact … [Read more…]
In an increasingly secular society, it is intriguing to wonder how people respond to Pierre Chardin’s observation: “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” Do they agree or disagree? Are they shocked, offended or inspired? Dr. Albert Schweitzer must have agreed by suggesting that many … [Read more…]
Excerpt: Biodesign Out For A Walk, chap 28, “Amazing Faith.” “His ship survived the storm, and years later he became a priest. He had not forgotten his brush with death and was inspired to write a prayer of thanksgiving, describing his perilous journey. The prayer was actually a poem, which he used as a basis … [Read more…]
In the spring of 1986, the Biodesign class from St. Helena High School traveled to Mendocino, Ca. to explore the world-famous pygmy forest. They had also been invited to participate in a pottery workshop led by Sasha Makovkin, renowned potter, naturalist and philosopher, whose studio was among the dwarf trees. As he transformed amorphous lumps … [Read more…]
Excerpt: Biodesign Out For A Walk: “NO WONDERLAND WOULD be complete without pygmies and giants, and Mendocino did not disappoint. It may be the only place on our planet that features pygmies and giants in both plant and animal kingdoms. There is still at least one remaining sequoia sempervirens that towers over 350 feet tall, … [Read more…]
Hi Dina, You gifted me with a perfect, champagne-bubble-bursting-moment that was more valuable than a Ralph Lauren tie. I don’t know what is more extraordinary; the fact that 35 years have flown since Biodesign ’80 graduated or that many of my memories of your class remain as clear as if they happened yesterday. For example: … [Read more…]