I wish I could say that now that the business has been sold we are relaxing with nothing to do and nowhere to be. That day will come soon enough. In the meantime, still purging and organizing some final things for storage and the very time consuming task of transitioning various accounts to the new owner as well as changing contact info on others. Have you ever had your wallet stolen or lost better yet, gotten divorced? Then you have a small idea of what work goes into setting your accounts in order. Most like to think that the online age has allowed us the freedom to supersede human interaction but, in reality, with numerous passwords and accounts it is exponentially more tiresome.
We did take time to have an intimate gathering of our closest people to bid a farewell to 14 Faber Road. You can tell by the picture Rick and I are torn up. Actually, it was a night of laughs and shared memories. Rick took time late in the evening to explain some of the history of the rooms and artwork that has adorned the walls for so many years. Both of us have such fond memories, with Rick spending almost ½ his life there and myself starting when I was a nieve 23 year old. We have grown and transformed into the people that we have become both individually and as a couple. It has not only been a location but an anchor for our spirits to reside and feel safe to express ourselves through movement, meditation, training, and teaching.
PAMA has been the first and only place in NJ to host a long list of incredible instructors, Guro Dan Inosanto, Ajarn Chai Sirisute, Diony Canete, all the Machado brothers, and a list of now deceased masters – Pak Herman Suwanda, Punon Guro Edgar Sulite, Sifu Larry Hartsell, Pendekar Paul DeThouars, to name just a few. These were not just typical seminars but, in every case, involved long hours of private lessons with Rick including lots of sweat, bloody hands from Kali stroking, injured backs & body parts, and so much more. PAMA has not just been about the base level of martial arts but, also, the spiritual philosophical path with several wonderful guides and mentors such as our close friend Khempo Tenzin Darje Rinpoche, and Shamans of Peru as well as Chi Gung instructors.
Ilaria has literally grown up with PAMA as her home, her first trip being when she was a mere 2 weeks old. She knows Uncle Mikey bought PAMA and she has visited the new PAMA but, we are awaiting the visceral response and protests when we lock the doors one last time. Although, maybe, that is just projection of our own fears leaving the building behind. Interesting though, she has grown up understanding non-attachment more then anyone I know. Especially, as a child, she freely gives up clothes and toys that are no longer suited for her age or size. Once when I lost a piece of jewelry I was very attached to she said, “It is OK mommy, things come and things go”. At that point I had to stop grinding my teeth and let it go. NOTE: If you are a parent you must get the book Pete the Cat and his Groovy Buttons.
Living Wherever We Are 