New Page 4

I've been on a Shakespeare kick since Thanksgiving. First, I picked up an old copy of Shakespeare in Love and put it in the machine. Then, a few days ago, I load up the 1968 Zeffrelli version of "Romeo and Juliet." What an amazing depiction of the story!

I think maybe this newfound interest in classic "polarity" relationship has to do with our impending connection to the ONESELF. Maybe, as we stand before the "Gate" of our collective transformation, more and more of us are jumping back (as the recent e-mailing declared), so we can process on our soul's evolution in love, all across the ages. And we do keep humming that tune don't we? "A Time for Us?" Maybe it has even more relevance to an entire generation of hungry souls than it did for two star-cross'd lovers.

I've come to the conclusion that the only way to properly appreciate the joy of youth is by growing older. Somehow, the intensity and vividness of the experience, when felt up close, cancels out a good deal of the joy while you're living it. But later, when you've had a chance to get used to your instrument..........and have gained a sense of perspective on the situation.....the youth we once shrugged off takes on a whole new hue. We say to ourselves: "Hey! I wasn't half bad looking. How come I was so down on myself?" Or we look at our friends back then (and enemies, too) and we're able to reason aright who were the idiots and who were the gems.

The lives of Romeo and Juliet were a study in WANTING.........meeting interference at every turn. Their sweet passion felt like SUFFERING most of the time (for them).....but for all of us who look from afar....it's become an eternal garland of roses. Even the thorns have meaning. And I don't buy for a minute that these two are "just fictional characters." We've all known versions of them, all across time. They live! They're real.

When the 1968 movie came out, I saw it in downtown Westwood (by UCLA).........where most all premieres now take place. It was the heart of the 60s........(1968)........the time of Viet Nam, The Doors, and White Rabbit! Such a journey that was. Ummmmmmm hmmmmm............

If you read up on Leonard Whiting, you see a guy who was caught up in a whirlwind............like Leo DiCaprio after "Titanic." The whole world dubbed him "The King of Love." How does a guy come back after that? He was Romeo IN APPEARANCE, and in motion..... but he had other items on his life agenda than accepting a host of ridiculous love roles that were offered to him..

Olivia Hussey seemed to recover from her whirlwind with more grace and ease. Like DiCaprio, she was meant to be an actor. She was more than just Juliet. But she was Juliet, indeed! Olivia just recently won an award for her portrayal of Mother Teresa in film. And she's still beautiful, though in a different way.

Romeo went on to do a few more films, and then became a writer. As he aged, he sort of lost his eternal caricature, but he seemed to live a happy life. The fan sites are still there. And no one will ever be able to let him go entirely into obscurity. Zefferelli was a genius in his art. And these two stand testimony to that.

It's happening now. All over the world. I'm hearing more and more from people who are taking the leap. Stepping off into the great unknown. We are becoming MULTIDIMENSIONAL. But is it really unknown? Is it unseen, unmanned.......or it is simply forgotten? Misplaced?

It is said that the Fourth Dimension is like a corridor with many doors. Behind each door is an alternative "version" of this same Now Moment Space as it appears throughout time. The Fifth Dimension and beyond gives alternative "versions" of that same scenario. It's like an All Night Diner, really. How do you want your eggs cooked? The Multiverse has them exactly that way, somewhere in the archives. ANY way you'd like (and many ways you probably wouldn't like). I'd hate to be the Multiversal chicken who has to lay all those eggs!

It's getting so I don't even wonder any more when my mind goes goofy. So far, it's always come back eventually. And NOW.......I'm even starting to smile when other people get goofy on me, too. You know that heavy, heavy voice inside that stands in line at the bank and says: "This teller is very inefficient! How can she keep me waiting like this??!!!" And you look at the poor girl, and it appears that she has gone into slow motion. She fumbles for things. Drops things. Erases totals, and writes new ones. Suddenly......I think to myself: "God! She's as spacey NOW as I was yesterday!" My heart begins to thaw in a flash of compassion.

We've really got nowhere to go and plenty of time to get there. It only APPEARS that we're rushed. And hey......we must keep up appearances, don't we? After all, if we all act the way we feel, a good deal of the time, the machinery of commerce and doo-dah would just STOP. And wouldn't THAT be a damn shame, anyway? Hoo Hah.

And I love the realization that it's not all LINEAR these days. Just because I'm here, doing this now......that doesn't mean I will be moving on to the next step anytime soon. I mean I WILL, in some universe. But here, in this dance........I may just skip several levels of process and end up WAY OVER THERE..........in a whole different dance. I try and quiet my mind when it asks me: "What happened???" My mind still thinks that understanding is an important thing. Poor guy. What did Werner Earhardt say? "Understanding is the BOOBY PRIZE." If you wait around to understand, the Multiverse has already passed you by.

Damn. All week long I've had brilliant thoughts dancing in my brain. And tonight, I have a moment to write and nothing comes forward. I guess you'll have to go to those alternative universes (and files) and find out what I was thinking. For tonight, it's over and out.