SSHR 2023

June 26, 2023 by albertkaufman

Main Lodge – Photo by James Island (infra red filter)

Summer Solstice Healing Retreat, Breitenbush, 2023

For the past 29 years, I’ve attended the lovely gathering at Breitenbush called the Summer Solstice Healing Retreat (SSHR). It’s a gathering of hundreds of people from babies to elders and everyone in between. We usually arrive on Thursday and leave for home on Sunday afternoon. Over the years I’ve generally taken the back way (via OR Rt. 46) to get there which shaves some time off the trip – but for the past few years that road has been closed due to the wildfires from a couple of years ago. This year that back route was finally reopened over the weekend and some people were the first to drive it home back to Portland or other northern destinations. I’ve been having a little love affair with the town of Silverton and so stopped there on the way to and fro this year. On the way there I got to have a short visit with my friend Greg who relocated there after selling his terrarium store (Roosevelt’s Terrariums) a few years back.

A thought that keeps coming to mind post-event is “Did you get healing” through this retreat? If you’re reading this and attended, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this in the comments below. Feel free to elaborate. There are so many different healing modalities practiced during this event – here are a few:

There’s an area devoted to physical healing arts such as massage: I took a workshop on working on one’s psoas, and working on someone else’s, too. I received some intense work on this muscle and learned more about how big it is and what it does.
Sound healing: there were multiple offerings of sound healing – I think my favorites were one that took place in the North Wing of the lodge (building pictured above). This was put on by Tom Garden and Aiyana Lynnet McKenzie – they had us all lying on the floor and used all sorts of magical music to relax us and send us on our own journeys. The didgeridoo featured prominently! They also offered this to everyone on Saturday evening during our solstice ritual – having everyone lie down on the grass and enjoy the sounds together.
Ecstatic dance: there were many offerings of dance and Zumba during the weekend. Also a lovely DJ’d set by George Beekman on Saturday night. Generally, I’d prefer less recorded music, but I appreciate anything that helps get people moving their bodies.
Workshops devoted to personal growth: there were workshops on the Enneagram (Thanks, David Burdick!); the Love and Destiny card system (by Michael Townsend) and so many more. Part of the joy of this weekend is how many workshops we all offer for one another. Regarding cards, I took a workshop put on by Sandeep (of Austin, TX) which used the Cards for Connection deck. It was the only time all weekend when I was in a group that included some of the younger members of the community.
Music: there were a lot of fun music-related workshops. I led one with Kieran McManus which featured the music of the Grateful Dead. We held it in the River Yurt and sang through about 10 Dead/Jerry Garcia tunes in an hour and talked about why we love the music so much. DyAnne Greentree-Wood led a really lovely Song Circle style group that used songs from Rise Up Singing and had everyone choose their favorite songs for everyone to sing. Karly Loveling was also filling us all with songs so many times in so many ways it’s hard to remember them all. One of the highlights of the weekend for me was her song-weaving at our Saturday night fire in the flood plain down by the Breitenbush River. This was also a chance for many of us to offer songs and the giant choir that rose to sing the songs filled the night sky with song. Karly is a regular song leader at the wonderful local Singing Alive festival which I’ve gotten to attend a number of times.
Food – the food was incredibly nourishing and tasty. I started being a vegan a couple of weeks ago and it was easy to continue on that path at each meal. Breitenbush food is often something very special and this year did not disappoint one bit. Everyone looks forward to the strawberry shortcake on Saturday night – I got to try my first coconut whipped cream – yummy!
Nature. Well, in this regard Breitenbush is pretty magical: views; hot springs; the wet sauna; starry skies – really tops.

Breitenbush River – photo by Umi Kitada

After all of the above, you’d think I’d have a great time! What could go wrong? What’s the matter, Albert? Well, like any 4-day long event, there are ups and downs and so I’ll try to share some of the things that I experienced – cause all of it is part of the healing experience, I expect. I’ve been attending this event for many years – my first time was 1995. That was a long time ago. I’ve watched people come and go. And literally go – like no longer alive – go. Breitenbush has also changed some over the years – that’s what a couple of seasons of intense wildfires and a Covid epidemic which shuttered the place to the public for a while will do to you, I guess.

I think this year I had a little early onset grumpiness going on. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out why I was stumbling a bit emotionally. Usually, I find my outlet through playing music with others, but this year there didn’t seem to be as many openings to do that. There was an aspect of this year’s gathering for me that had to do with missing people who I’d gotten used to seeing at the event. As the years roll along some of the regulars have decided not to come back; some have moved; some have died. Some of my favorite people on the planet are people who I’ve grown to know and love at Breitenbush – and a lot of them were not there this year. I think part of what I’m challenged by is just simply aging. Of course, given time we’re all going to watch our friends face challenges which will keep them from attending things we’ve all enjoyed together in the past. This felt like a big year of that for me. My mental response to it seemed to be to try to conjure up images and memories from past events and I relayed some of these to fellow attendees, but I’m not sure that that made a ton of sense, but it became like a game for me. Remember that after-party? Remember that one cuddle pile?

Then there were simple things that I could have done better at preparing for cold night weather. My first night it was probably in the 40s or 50s at night and I woke up with a sore throat which was pretty intense. I forgot to bring throat lozenges and so asked friends (asking for help = key to healing, of course!) for assistance. My accommodation this year was a step up from tenting in the field (for 28 previous events!). But these missing key people – I just couldn’t shake it. All weekend long. There were some other feelings coming up which are pretty typical – feeling jealousy toward those who are partnered. Wondering “When will I find love again”. It’s too hot. It’s too cold. It just led me to feel like a grumpy old man. But as the weekend continued on I was able to connect with a lot of people – many through music and sometimes just through simple conversations over meals or going to and fro. Plus, there were plenty of my good friends there, too.

I realized on my ride home that my mind had gotten into this neat place which I hardly ever feel. Quiet mind. Almost all of the way home I was having this lovely meditative peace that I’m not used to at all. Also, I realized that I’d spent 4+ days not riveted or paying any attention to the news. No Trump. No trying to fix everything all the time. No helping others by answering technical questions. It was quite a nice liberating feeling.

So, did I get healed? I tend to think everything you do in a healing direction is a good thing. That’s why I spend a lot of time doing Co-counseling (RC). It’s useful to me to take little bits of time to scrape off the various places where I’m not thinking clearly. Add in ecstatic dance; making music; being in nature; eating healthy food and being surrounded by others who have the same intention = a healing environment. I noticed others getting a lot out of this weekend’s event. We tend to often say at SSHR “May this be the best Solstice ever!” – They’re all good. Was this the best solstice ever? I don’t know – it was the best one this year 🙂

Special thanks to the Counsel that puts so much time and effort into making this event happen each year. To the Breitenbush staff who host us and cook for us! And to everyone who lifted a finger to get out of their comfort zone and make good things happen. Thank you!

I may add to this, but it’s time to put down the pen and head out to visit with a friend. Onward!

Photo by Kaya Singer

Photo by Kaya Singer

Love, and happy Summer Solstice, Albert

SSHR 2022 Write-up.

Filed Under: Breitenbush Tagged With: annual, Breitenbush, community, longest day of the year, nature, people, river, SSHR

AI

May 26, 2023 by albertkaufman

Create an outline for a soap opera series that teaches people about climate change

ChatGPT Sez:

Title: “Shifting Tides”

Outline:

I. Introduction A. Introduce the setting: A picturesque coastal town called Harmony Bay. B. Present the main characters and their relationships. C. Establish the central themes of the series: Love, betrayal, and the impact of climate change.

II. Love and Rivalries A. Introduce the protagonist, Emma, a passionate environmental activist. B. Emma’s complicated romantic relationships: her ex-boyfriend, Ethan, and her childhood friend, Mia. C. Ethan, torn between his love for Emma and his loyalty to his family’s oil business. D. Mia’s role as a marine biologist and her growing affection for Emma.

III. Environmental Challenges A. Develop a subplot involving rising sea levels and coastal erosion. B. Show the devastating effects on the town and its residents. C. Highlight the conflicts between Harmony Bay’s tourism industry and the need to protect the environment. D. Emma’s tireless efforts to rally the community to take action against climate change.

IV. Family Secrets A. Uncover a secret: Emma’s family has been hiding their involvement in harmful industrial practices. B. Emma’s internal struggle as she balances her love for her family and her commitment to the environment. C. Introduce Emma’s estranged cousin, David, who has been working to expose the family’s secrets.

V. Community Unity A. Emma’s journey to unite the townspeople and create a sustainable action plan. B. Explore the conflicts, resistance, and prejudices within the community. C. Highlight the importance of collaboration, education, and compromise in addressing climate change.

VI. Personal Sacrifices A. Ethan’s gradual realization of the consequences of his family’s actions and his decision to support Emma’s cause. B. Emma’s ultimate decision to break free from her family’s legacy, despite the personal sacrifices involved. C. The impact of their choices on their relationships with Mia, friends, and the Harmony Bay community.

VII. Global Perspective A. Introduce an international climate summit that Emma attends to represent Harmony Bay. B. Emma’s interactions with other activists, scientists, and policymakers from around the world. C. Highlight the urgency of the global climate crisis and the interconnectedness of communities worldwide.

VIII. Redemption and Hope A. Emma’s efforts leading to positive changes in Harmony Bay’s environmental policies. B. Show the town’s resilience and adaptability in the face of climate challenges. C. Explore the characters’ personal growth and newfound hope for a sustainable future.

IX. Conclusion A. Resolve the romantic tensions and conflicts between Emma, Ethan, and Mia. B. Demonstrate the ongoing commitment of the characters to environmental protection. C. End with a call to action, encouraging viewers to take steps to address climate change in their own lives.

Note: Throughout the series, intersperse educational segments, such as informative conversations, news updates, or brief documentaries, to provide viewers with scientific knowledge and practical solutions related to climate change.

Title: Breaking the Spell: A Journey from MAGA to Prosperity

Outline for a 10-part MAGA De-programming Television Series:

Episode 1: The Awakening

Introduce characters who were once deeply involved in the MAGA world.
Explore their personal journeys and how they became enamored with the movement.
Present the initial signs of doubts and cracks in their beliefs.

Episode 2: Understanding the MAGA Phenomenon

Dive into the history and rise of the MAGA movement, exploring its appeal to different demographics.
Analyze the psychological and emotional aspects that draw people into this world.

Episode 3: The Power of Media and Echo Chambers

Examine the role of media, social media, and echo chambers in reinforcing MAGA beliefs.
Discuss the importance of critical thinking and media literacy.

Episode 4: Empathy and Listening

Highlight the significance of empathy and listening in understanding those with opposing viewpoints.
Show how engaging in constructive conversations can break down barriers.

Episode 5: Healing from Polarization

Address the negative impact of political polarization on society and relationships.
Present tools and techniques for healing and bridging divides.

Episode 6: Fact-Checking and Critical Analysis

Teach viewers how to fact-check information and recognize misinformation.
Showcase the importance of critical analysis in forming balanced opinions.

Episode 7: Unraveling Conspiracy Theories

Explore common conspiracy theories associated with the MAGA movement.
Provide evidence-based debunking and encourage a rational approach to information.

Episode 8: Finding Common Ground

Follow characters as they engage in constructive dialogues with others of differing beliefs.
Show the power of finding common ground and shared values.

Episode 9: Embracing Positive Change

Highlight success stories of individuals who left the MAGA world and embraced positive change.
Showcase how they found purpose and fulfillment outside the movement.

Episode 10: A Prosperous Future

Depict characters’ journeys toward leading thriving lives full of love and prosperity.
Offer a hopeful vision for a united society where diverse perspectives are respected.

Throughout the series, experts in psychology, sociology, media studies, and political science can provide insights and strategies for de-programming from the MAGA world. Additionally, real-life testimonies from former MAGA supporters who successfully transitioned to a more open-minded worldview can be included to add authenticity and inspiration. The goal of the series is to encourage viewers to question their beliefs, foster empathy, and promote critical thinking, ultimately guiding them towards a more inclusive and prosperous future.

Filed Under: albertideation

The Three Travelers – Biography

March 19, 2023 by albertkaufman

The Three Travelers – Biography

The Three Travelers, who take their name from one of their favorite songs are a group of young Philadelphia folk singers. They have sung together since 1959, except for a two-year break when they justified their name by world traveling. They all returned to America and Philadelphia in 1963 and continued performing in colleges and coffee houses in the Philadelphia and New York areas. The Three Travelers repertoire although international concentrates mainly on songs of the English-speaking people. Its variety ranges from Elizabethan ballads to sea shanties and from lullabies to gospels. The group got started during their undergraduate days at a party in Brooklyn naturally where they discovered each other and their ability to sing together. Their first concert took place a month later in Brooklyn and they have been singing together ever since.

Bart Singer, a final guitarist as well as a skilled recorder player was born in Philadelphia and graduated with honors from Temple University. A Fulbright fellowship took him to Germany where he spent some time in Hamburg and then traveled throughout Europe. He is currently interning in clinical psychology before returning to school for his Ph.D. His excellent bass-baritone is the cornerstone upon which the group’s songs are built. He is also a keen student of folklore

Sandi Lessin, a strikingly attractive former Penn State Coed is blessed with a full rich voice capable of singing in a wide range and with an ability to improvise varied and intricate harmonies. Sandy spent a year in Rome where she opened a coffee house with another American. She traveled next to Israel where she spent another year working on a kibbutz (collective farm) in Galilee and singing throughout Israel. Sandy currently divides her time between folk music and acting in experimental theater.

Rich Kaufman, the spokesman for The Three Travelers contributes his tenor voice, his mellow guitar, and the wit and satire that are also a part of our folk heritage. He does most of the group’s arranging and occasionally plays his lute, 12-string guitar, or recorder in the songs. Rich is the only married Traveler. He is a chemical engineer by profession having graduated from Drexel institute. His world travels have taken him as far as Baltimore, MD.

The Three Travelers style of folk song presentation is unique in many ways. Each member of the group has come from a different musical heritage. Their individual elements were blended in a period before the hootenannies sound came into vogue and thus their singing has no over-arrangement or imitation in it their harmonies and instrumental accompaniments at times very simple and at times intricate have a freshness and vibrancy that comes from putting the emphasis on the song itself rather than its arrangement.

Hear their sound here.

Filed Under: Folk Music Tagged With: Bart Singer, philadelphia, Rich Kaufman, Santi Lessin, The Three Travelers

Dating Me

November 18, 2022 by albertkaufman

About Me:

I’m a musician who loves gathering friends for evenings of good food, friendship, and singing. I love ecstatic dance and music festivals. I enjoy soaking in a hot spring or skinny-dipping under a waterfall. A good adventure brings me joy, and finding a loving, smart, liberal, adventurous partner would make it all that much better. I’m interested in your passions and all the interesting things that make you tick. Let’s discover all of these things together!

I’m a good person who treats others with kindness, and I look for companions who feel the same. I have a crush on Sarah Cooper. And Sarah Silverman.

I’m 64. I live in Portland, Oregon (for 24 years), like kids, and have never had any of my own. I’m a solopreneur (I run my own business), and I’m seeking someone who feels some resonance with what I’ve written here. Feel free to pass this along to someone you think would be a good fit. Thank you!

Got someone in mind (or are you the person?): Please show them this post – and have them get in touch if they want to meet me via albert@albertideation.com – Thank you!

Our soundtrack:

8.12.24 – I have been on 10 dates (since last Summer) so far via Autum the Matchmaker! Sadly, 2.10.25 – she’s no longer in business.
I just appeared on my friend, Lori Stein’s, new podcast – Dating and the Interesting Man – August 2024

I’m going to add some fun dating articles and links down here.

A story about free dating assistance in Philly. https://archive.is/5FzLz
Pitch a Friend Philly + Their form for participating + some past pitch examples. Their website has more. And why throw a Pitch a Friend Party…

Come and Get Me!

Filed Under: Dating Tagged With: dating, dating while gray, emotional intelligence, jewish, just right, moving for love, partnership, single

Chess

October 22, 2022 by albertkaufman

My Chess History and Love of Chess

I first started playing chess when I was just a lad. My Dad taught me the moves and I quickly caught up to him. I’ve continued to play over the years and I think this is one of the passions that helped me make it through the pandemic over the last couple of years. I wanted to share some of my thoughts about chess and why it’s such a fantastic game and some of my history with it.

After playing chess as a child, I ended up playing many games with a mentor I had in my early teen years. Lee and I would play games while listening to the latest records he collected – Bruce Springsteen, The Grateful Dead, The Rolling Stones, and lots of our folk heroes of the day. These included David Bromberg, John Hartford, and Steve Goodman – three artists which were also touring a lot in the area during those times. This combination of sitting with a friend and playing chess and listening to great music continues in my life to this day.

I eventually moved to New York City and studied from 1980-1984 at NYU in Greenwich Village. The main park in the Village is Washington Square Park. This park is known for many things – it was a place for music and good times in the 60s and when I got there that vibe continued. Washington Square Park also hosts a wonderful corner with many built-in chess boards and seating for dozens of games. The area also boasted a number of chess stores where one could buy a board and pieces but also rent time at a table and easily find opponents (almost always men) to challenge to a game. This was especially useful during winter months and at night, though I also remember playing chess in the park at night in warmer weather times. Between the park and these shops (one was open 24 hours if I remember correctly), I spent a fair amount of my free time during my college days playing chess. I noticed I didn’t see too many other students on these boards.

The scene in Washington Square Park around the chess boards has always been fun. There’s a lot of kibitzing that goes on and some people play for money, though it’s usually just a dollar or two. I probably got my tuchas handed to me more than I won in those days, but it was a free and fun way to pass the time and keep my mind sharp. I love seeing how many of the videos of people playing trash-talking chess sharks in parks take place in New York City. It’s a great way for me to relive the scenes of my youth and every once in a while I think I see someone I’ve played with. But those guys were mostly older than me and are probably not the ones featured in the videos.

I’m also a musician, so I’m used to challenging my mind with that different language, too. Chess adds one more layer to my active mind. I wish I were better at other languages – I’ve tried learning many and I hardly know enough to order a cup of coffee in most. OK, that’s not completely true – I can do more with German, but in Spanish, my speaking is pretty limited unless I’m in a Spanish-speaking country for a while. Then it picks back up.

Back to chess and current times. About a year before the pandemic hit us I had been playing chess against a friend who beat me most of the time. He started telling me about how he was learning from better players online via videos they would do – playing while annotating their games. I got pretty into this and found myself watching more than I was playing. But I think it was important that I spent this time researching the game and learning some information about opening moves (also known as openings). At this point, I’m still watching these games, but luckily I’ve gone to playing more than watching.

During the pandemic, I signed up with chess.com and have been playing there almost exclusively since. I still play over-the-board games, too, but I have about 11 games going at one time on chess.com – feel free to reach out to me if you’d like to connect with me and play. I’m there under my own name so I’m not hard to find and challenge! Some of my favorite games right now online are with my 2 nephews who are on the East Coast. This has become a way I keep in touch with them and it’s also been interesting to see them develop as players.

When the Queen’s Gambit came out I rushed to watch it and I figured that would lead to a lot more chess playing in the world. That may have happened. It’s a strange universe, the chess world. I enjoy playing the most, but watching people who are advanced in the game is certainly interesting, too.

I encourage you to learn how to play chess. It’s fairly easy to learn and it will help you stay sharp as you age. And who knows, maybe one day we can hang out and play together!

Have a great one, Albert

Filed Under: albertideation Tagged With: board games, challenges, chess, friends, games, mental health, puzzles

Money

October 13, 2022 by albertkaufman

Money!

Corvallis Oak Prairie, Oregon 10.13.22

I don’t think I’ve ever written about money, but since I tend to have thoughts about just about everything, I figured I’d give it a try. I think from my earliest times as a child I knew a thing or two about money. Partly, I knew that it was something that could help you get things you wanted to get. My parents gave me an allowance from a young age and eventually, my allowance was tied to things like mowing the lawn. It’s kind of humorous that now I spend hours during my week trying to figure out how to get rid of lawns, but that’s another story that, if you’re a regular reader, you know all about!

Eventually, I started making money of my own. My Dad, Richard Kaufman, 86 now, and living in Jenkintown, PA with my Mom (81), had a small computer business in the 70s. One of the clients he had was a group of doctors (pediatricians that I went to see as a kid, actually) and they needed help with their computer billing. So, every month my Dad would come home with computer-generated bills which we’d have to rip apart (they were on computer-fed paper which was perforated), and then we’d take them and stuff them into envelopes. We’d get $3/box and also free pizza and soda. This effort needed to be done once a month and he brought my brother and sister into the mix, too. This went on for years. It was dull work, but we did it for the money and I’m sure it helped my Dad out, too. Now that I think back on it, I realize at the time I really was only doing it for the money. But I realize that it was a huge help to my Dad who would have had to pay someone real wages to do this work if we hadn’t done it!

This work led to me selling things I would make – candles – door to door. I also tried selling seeds for Burpee door-to-door, but that didn’t last long. Eventually, I had my first job as a newspaper delivery boy in Junior High. I remember my first morning of waking up at 4:30 am to find a stack of papers on our doorstep and then I went around our suburban Lawrence neighborhood by foot to deliver the papers. I remember throwing up that first morning. I’m not sure why. Then, there was going around from door to door to collect payment for the paper. I think I did that weekly – and that led to some fun tips over the years and also a chance to see into the houses that were around me in my neighborhood. I really could have used a better calculator during those times to make sense of what I was taking in, though doing it the way I did probably helped my math skills.

After that job, I went on to work at Arthur Treacher Fish & Chips. That experience could probably be written up in a small book. My main work was to drop frozen triangles of fish and rounder frozen chicken fillets into a large vat of boiling oil – without getting my hands burned. I also lived nearby and somehow ended up being the one to close up at night. That job led to a sweet gig at Sam Goody’s where I was the guitar/amp/instrument/effects pedals salesperson. This was probably one of the best jobs I’ve ever held. I spent my time tuning decent instruments and learning what the different effects pedals did. Had I played my cards right I’ve always thought I could have been a part of a band that went somewhere – or been a musician who would tour, but of course, life had other ideas for me in mind. I watch people like Jackson Brown or Bruce Springsteen play and I am just 10 years younger than them. I know if I’d focused I probably could at least be backing them up if not leading a band of my own 🙂 But instead…

I went on to have jobs like – working on a kibbutz in the Negev Desert in Israel with milking cows (feeding them, milking them, driving a tractor, etc.)

Working in NYC at a place called Lox, Stock, and Bagels during my freshman year at NYU. I’ve actually worked at 3 different bagel places, but this one was for the longest time. Another short book there – this place was across from Madison Square Garden where I ended up seeing many a Grateful Dead show and a few hockey games!

I’ve had a job for 6 months as a rodman in a surveying crew. Another 6 months after that – this was 1986 – as a data miner (a bit before computers came into fashion – so we were on the phones) at Peterson’s Guides for Graduate Schools. Then there have been years of temping in NYC for the investment banking and perfume worlds. Now that I think of it, I did do a short piece about some of these positions and my thoughts on work. I wonder if other writers have that happen where they find themselves repeating their writing after a while.

Anyway, I love this topic and I’ll probably come back to it again as I’m trying to figure out money now at 61, too. I have enough at the moment, but I also feel limited to moving about the gameboard as I’d like to. I also know that having more money is an attractor to the opposite sex and I am in “wanting to date” mode. So, we’ll see if I take the dive into more money-making efforts. We’ll see!

Squash Blossom, Fall in Portland, Oregon 2022

Filed Under: albertideation Tagged With: early years, jobs, money, part-time work, work, working