Dec. 16, 1999
In the sky over Ontario, Canada

3:49pm. Outside the window, the wing is soft pink, fading to gray, above a rippling sea of cotton cloud-- heavenly. The monitor overhead says we will be landing in Toronto, 65 miles away from this location in space at 15,120 feet, in 25 minutes. Traveling at 444mph appeared to be crawling... until another jet passing in the opposite direction whizzed by like a bullet. Aviation amazes me.

4:05pm. The city: a checker board Christmas tree. The highways: red and white rivers of light.

4:13pm Shaking, shifting, touch-down, wing-flaps up, roar, slowing, taxing and bilingual thanks from the captain.

Dec. 17, 1999
Saint John, NB, Canada

Email from Anne:

Good afternoon from a rainy Oslo...

Taking a stand on important personal, social, political or religious matters is one of the biggest steps you can take towards real freedom-- freedom of the mind and soul. By doing that you’re showing yourself (primarily, off course-- you’re the one who’s gonna live with these choices.... ) and others that I am an intellectual and strong being who is brave enough to have my own opinions!

Remember; you chose the road less traveled on... and THAT made all the difference...

Now, drugs and parents are tricky. In most cases, they have your well-being in mind and pure ignorance makes them often think that one reefer is the equivalent to shooting up on stronger drugs, committing drug related crimes, selling your sister and mother and living on the street in shacks. They just don’t know any better-- therefore we have to forgive them. They will very soon see that you’re the same Cory(only a few years older) and that smoking spliffs does NOT in all cases corrupt your soul. On the other hand, if your involvement with drugs has gotten out of control-- It is time for your closest network to act. You are smart and full of insight, MAX-- you would recognize it and stop it before it would grow out of proportion (not that I think that will ever be a problem).

When it comes to the religious issues.... well, take a look at the sorry state the world is in. Most wars started out as religious disagreements (basically a matter of geography...it’s all the f...... same!!).

Sandro bought a new flat, so we are roommates again. It’s been good seeing my dear ones, but I feel incredibly rootless... remember the journey to Ixtlan? I don’t think I can go back, MAX, there is nothing for me in Oslo anymore...It’s time to get off the fence.

Just realized that this sounds pretty bloody serious and that was not my intention. Wanted to send a few lines anyway- read your intro on SAMAX, go for it , you two!!!

Don’t worry, your kayak is still there in the roof (they were all asking very carefully about you and when we said there was a girl in the picture they all smiled and went: AHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!). Chris has got all your stuff (I think he had some trouble keeping the papers dry during the wet season, but everything is still there-- except your fins. We took them out when we were playing around in the duckies and someone either left them on the beach, lost them in the ocean or decided that "these are nice, and mine from now on!" I am really sorry, Max, this guy was really disrespectful(much much more than we thought initially) and behaved in an extremely selfish way. Richard and I talked about it and we would like to replace this rather essential peace of equipment. Let me know how, please?!!

Dec. 19, 1999
Saint John, NB, Canada

7:58pm. "It’s a false plateau, man." Stretch assures me-- sitting on the couch across from him in his basement, although he has been going up there several times a week. We are both there now- via Hydro. "Don’t glorify it, man. I think you are doing the wrong thing."

"Life here is boring," Stretch commented on living at home and working at Sobey’s grocery down the hill. "I don’t have any specific goal. Must find direction."

"Here you go, man," said Reggie, handing his kid-bother a small baggy. "Merry Christmas. You’ll get two descent ones out of it." Reggie says he’s over it.

8:30pm. "I never really got to know your mom. She is always working." Reggie said to me. "George is good shit, man."

8:39pm. "I believe in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit," says Stretch-- having read Mere Christianity by C.S. Louis. "Are you an Atheist? Or, are you just confused?" This is quite a remarkable switch for us. Three years ago, I was trying to convince him that evolution was bunk-- though I knew little about it. Stretch highly recommends I read Mere Christianity.

Reggie goes to church, although his folks rarely do. I don’t remember him ever being the church goin' type. "It makes me feel better about myself," he says frankly. I respect that. He has matured a lot since we hung-out last.

Their father scoffs at those who fill the pew on Sunday, then fire a few on Monday and pollute the planet with the bottom line in mind. For many years he has pondered founding an organization that requests churchgoers slop horse stables and do other menial, disgusting jobs-- in hopes that they might, in the midst of doing so, see the light.