Chris Landon

Fourteen Sunrises And A Pink Moment

I am quite cognizant of the fact that I am not immortal. If I forget, my “life partner” Dusty is quick to resolve any questions I have in that particular arena. Ever since reading “Economics For A Small Planet” at the urging of my friends Peter and Ann Sykes, I have tried to aim my life working life toward the Buddhist Middle Way – work with others, learn new things, and lead a comfortable existence. Since I “retired” in 2017, I try and pay attention to whatever AARP tells me will slow my journey to whatever is next. I work two days a week with children, try and bring wisdom, hope , and experience to building and maintaining pediatric services, don’t have a dog but walk myself or with my good friend Bill Starr, and the rest is laid out in these stories.

Through happenstance Bill and I have been involved in cleft lip and palate repair in the Honduras for three and a half decades. I try and bring organizational skills, teach appropriate care of children, and maximize the use of whatever technology is available. I would need another book to explain my first wife, Michele, and her early passing to join her parents and all the children with mortal diseases she cared for. So the work continued to Peru, Ecuador, and now El Salvador. Thailand came into the mix through The Rhythmic Arts Project with Eddie Tuduri. It was through a Zoom planning meeting that I met Dusty. She laughed so hard and easily I fell in love.

I have been participating in one of my prescribed life extension efforts by participating in National November writing month for five years. Each year I have made it a little further toward the goal of 45,000 words. But what to say? There is no uncertain discipline to writing 1500 words a day starting at 5 am. The process of producing a talk show, small films, movie festivals, music, and cartoons I learned story boarding. Keeping an eye on the prize and making certain there were prizes along the way. From my friend Joel Gotler my efforts were generally rewarded with “stay in your lane, Doc” but he continuously extolled the inclusion of twist on twist on twist.