[Oe List ...] "Twilight edition"

[Participation Works]

David et al, This is Milan Hamilton.  I have been reading the messages
regarding both Vance and Terry, but have not been quite able to put words
together to reply until now.  I am thinking back to 1967-8 in Lincoln,
Nebraska.  Vance along with Bob Fishel was one of my main mentors in my
movement of the spirit journey days, and Terry was likely my best friend in
those days as well.  I remember one weekend course where I believe Terry and
I and Vance and Bob had adjourned to a local bar after the first or second
day of a weekend course, for an in-depth conversation about "vocation".  Not
long after that Terry and family moved to Chicago.

Terry and I took on the formulation of what was then known as the "Kansas
City Region" traveling around to recruit training courses, meeting with
clergy, getting up for daily office (worship) at 5 a.m., dragging our kids
along with us, holding endless "pedagogy" sessions to prepare to teach those
weekend courses, organizing regional meetings, etc. etc.  It was an
emotional sendoff when Terry and Karen and their young children left.  We
did not keep close touch through the years, but did re-connect when we were
involved in the FOOD FOR ALL project.  

I was just preparing to send a check for Terry's latest offering of poems,
with the comment I was going to send along that I thought this was his best
collection yet.  I found myself connecting with several, especially the
poems on "death and dying", which reminded my of my own impending
destination, and not so far off anymore at that, when I received the news of
Terry going into the Hospice.  David, perhaps when you see Terry next, you
can convey this to him.

"Terry, old friend, I was reading the poem called Down Payment, and recalled
some of the times in our friendship, especially the time of our first
parting in Lincoln so many years ago.  You were always the one who went
farther and deeper into the spirit of things.  I sensed the pain of
separation but was more the Stoic, which was my conditioned response to
relationships.  Your one line: "One knows real friendship when it hurts, and
it always hurts" brought me back to those times with you.  So, old friend, I
bid you a safe and fulfilling journey as you pave the way for me again into
the "real unknown, the unknown unknown" as D.H Lawrence put it.

With love, honor, and gratitude, your friend, Milan

Participation Works
Linda and Milan Hamilton
80 North Center Street
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone/Fax: (909) 793-4482
E-mail: participationworks at dslextreme.com