Day 147 - The Book of Mormon

I have never seen The Book of Mormon. For those that are unfamiliar, The Book of Mormon is a Broadway musical written by the creators of South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone. For a bit of background, The Book of Mormon took the musical scene by storm several years ago, snagged more awards than anyone could have expected, and remains one of the most popular Broadway shows around the country. While I didn’t have plans to visit New York and watch The Book of Mormon on the actual Broadway, I knew I wanted to see a performance of the musical when I learned Broadway across America was running The Book of Mormon in Chicago. As a result, I contacted the funniest person I know and one of my lifelong best friends, Ryan, to see if he wanted to make the trip down to attend The Book of Mormon with me on the show’s closing night. As someone that has been trying to see the show in Minneapolis for some time, Ryan was happy to take me up on the offer, which set into motion today’s “I have never...” event.

You're lookin' good, Chicago

Let me start by stating Ryan and I are not connoisseurs of musicals or Broadway by any means. Although my musical background makes me more open to the idea of watching musicals, it isn’t something I actively seek out in my life. As for Ryan, I’m quite certain this is the only musical he has ever wanted to see in his life; a fact which will probably remain that way for quite a long time. However, Ryan and I knew The Book of Mormon would be a laugh riot based on the musical’s origins alone. As two guys that grew up with South Park, Ryan and I have come to know the brand of humor behind Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s work very well. Sure, we didn’t have any knowledge of The Book of Mormon’s plot beyond the basic premise, but we knew anything that was written by Trey and Matt was sure to produce an unforgettable experience, if only for the profane human alone.

Ready!

As a result, Ryan and I eagerly anticipated today’s experience with The Book of Mormon as we made the trip down to Chicago this morning. With several hours between Madison and the city, we talked about what to expect between the unrelenting stream of our own jokes we cracked on the drive south. Although both of our faces were already numb from laughter by the time we arrived at the theatre, we were certainly ready for more humor. In turn, we parked our car, stuffed a quick bite to eat in our faces, and made our way to the theatre as soon as we arrived to downtown Chicago.

Excited is an understatement

Now, I won’t spend time talking about the plot and progression of The Book of Mormon. Instead, I will simply say this is, by far, the funniest live performance of anything I have ever seen. Although the show is not for the easily offended, it offers a near non-stop stream of hilarity that inspires gut-busting laughter throughout the performance. As is common in Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s work, the musical also carries messages, appearing as equally subdued and overt, that point out the ridiculousness and sometimes backwards nature of human beings. I will be the first to admit some of the musical’s parts are what some people would call “over the top”, but the quality of the music, the fullness of the story, and the underlying messages of the work speak for themselves. The Book of Mormon is just a good show, and anyone who says otherwise clearly missed the message. That stated, good luck finding anybody who attending a showing of The Book of Mormon and didn’t walk away entertained...

By the time the show reached its conclusion, Ryan and I could only recap some of the funniest moments of The Book of Mormon as we headed for the exits and found our way back to my car. Although I went into today’s “I have never...” experience expecting a funny show, a part of me feared that Trey Parker and Matt Stone would tame their usually controversial style of humor for a Broadway show. I was happy to see they did not. Let’s put it this way, a Broadway show now has a scene where Jonnie Cochran, Ghegis Khan, Jeffery Dahmer, Hitler, and Satan dance, sing, and momentarily perform profane acts with demons in a Mormon’s nightmare. That’s a thing… and it is in a Broadway musical. There is no other way describe this show as hilarious. Anyone with sense of humor should see it as soon as possible. It is that funny, and it is that good.

My only photo of the stage...
photography during the performance was prohibited

After today’s experience I don’t think I will ever view Broadway musicals the same, and I mean that in the best way possible. The Book of Mormon has fundamentally shifted any preconceived notion I had about the intersection of humor and Broadway forever. Not only can I now say I would be more likely to go to a Broadway comedy, I can honestly say I would go to another showing of The Book of Mormon in a heartbeat. While the humor was enough to carry the show, the music, choreography, and performers were the real deal in every sense. Needless to say, I think The Book of Mormon is worth every penny for the ticket price, and I’m very happy I made a trip to see this show a part of my “I have never...” year. Of course, having a good friend like Ryan come along made it all the more enjoyable, but this one would have been worth it even if I had to make the six hour round trip by myself. What else can I say? This show is amazing. Go see it!

Day 146 - The Capital Brewery

I have never been to the Capital Brewery. This is one of these rare “I have never...” events I’m ashamed to admit. As someone that has lived in the city of Madison for quite a few years, the fact that I have never made the short trip to experience one of the most famous microbreweries from this part of the state is a ridiculous fact, in my opinion. With award winning beer aplenty, inexpensive brewery tours, and a massive bier garden available to the public, it is clear a visit to the Capital Brewery should have happened a long time ago. As a result, I shifted some plans around and set aside time to visit the Capital Brewery today while my good friend, Ryan, was in town for tomorrow’s “I have never...” event. After making his way down to Madison from Luck, Wisconsin, Ryan promptly proposed we get to the experience, which set in motion a local event to remember.

After getting on the road, Ryan and I made the short trip to Middleton, Wisconsin, home of the Capital Brewery. Upon arriving at the complex, we were greeted by two brewery employees who took our nominal entrance fee, handed us a mug and a free drink ticket, and invited us into the bier garden. With a crowd gathering and a live band performing, it quickly became apparent we were attending a special event, which prompted the two of us to investigate a little bit further... at the bar, of course.

As we approached the outdoor bar, signs and decorations making reference to the Capital Brewery’s Autumnal Fire lit up the area around us. Eventually, we uncovered the fact that the brewery event was specifically designated to the release of said beer, which prompted Ryan and I to spend our free drink tickets on a pour of Autumnal Fire. As a beer I had not tried before, I was happy to gain another new experience for the day and even happier to be out enjoying the beautiful autumn weather. Together, Ryan and I sipped on our drinks, cracked jokes about the cover band doing their best impression of a classic rock radio station playlist, and took in the experience.  With some good beer and good company, everything seemed in order to have a full, but relaxing “I have never...” experience. The only thing left to do was to take the brewery tour.

ROCK.

After finishing our first mugs of beer, Ryan and I headed inside to investigate the possibility of taking a brewery tour. After talking to an employee in the brewery, we learned the ongoing Autumnal Fire release party meant no tour was available during our visit. Although I put in a half-hearted effort to convince to employee to make an exception, Ryan and I ultimately decided the quality of the experience didn’t hinge on the tour. So, we headed back toward the exit, making a pit stop in the few open parts of the brewery facility on the way. While we didn’t get to see much of the brewery in our exploration, we took in what we could before deciding it was time for another beer and some cover band jokes out in the bier garden.

So much beer....

...and one tattered banner.

With another round of beers safely in our mugs, Ryan and I took back to the tents just off the stage where the cover band was playing. We chatted and worked on our second drinks for a few minutes as we watched gathering clouds building over the stage before us. Within minutes the clouds burst into a sudden torrential rain that  stopped the band dead in its tracks (pun intended) and sent the bulk of the crowd running for the few roofed overhangs around the exterior of the brewery. Unaffected, Ryan and I held steady underneath the canopy of the bier garden tent, even as the force of the rain began creating a fine mist through the tent’s woven fabric. Eventually, we found ourselves sitting alone in the bier garden serving as the topic of discussion for the herds of people huddled in plots a few square feet wide. Although I knew they were likely pointing us out as foolish for getting wetter with each passing minute, it was better than being wet and cramped into a pile of strangers. Plus, Ryan and I didn’t really mind what we knew would likely be one of the last warm rains of the year.

An empty bier garden makes for a sad Caleb

Several minutes later the rain finally stopped, sending some people home and others back into the bier garden. As the cover band prepared to take back to the stage, Ryan and I chatted with some of the other attendees and plotted the rest of our day. Realizing we had been at the brewery for several hours, we decided we would drink the last of our beers, rock out on the empty dance floor for a song, and hit the road. In turn, we did all three, leaving our mugs empty, solidifying any idea of our foolishness among the crowd, and leaving plenty of time for further shenanigans around Madison this evening.

Rain can't stop the party... Well, part of it anyway

Today’s experience at the Capital Brewery wasn’t exactly what I had hoped for, but the Autumnal Release party more than made up for anything I may have missed taking the brewery tour. The reality is the Capital Brewery Bier Garden is a fun place to be and it is staffed with some pretty awesome people. With the added bonus of award winning beer at every tap, it was hard not to have a good time at such a unique place. Now that I have taken the time to visit the Capital Brewery, I know I will make it a routine stop when I’m looking for something to break out of the ordinary. While the concept of “ordinary” likely won’t return to my life until the end of my “I have never...” year, it is safe to say I a return visit to the Capital Brewery is in order. After all, I still need to take that brewery tour...

Day 145 - Visiting the Wisconsin Historical Museum

I have never been to the Wisconsin State Historical Museum. As someone that has lived in this state for my entire life, this is probably something that should have happened earlier. While I can say I know some of my home state’s history, the reality is I have very little depth of knowledge regarding the origins of Wisconsin and the stories that make up its history. As a result, visiting the Wisconsin State Historical Museum was an early entry on my “I have never...” list. Unfortunately, the museum’s narrow range of opening hours each week made it nearly impossible to make a trip to the location up to this point in my “I have never...” year. As a result, when Rachael made me aware of the museum’s extended hours during the 25th annual Gallery Night in Madison, I knew I needed to make the time to visit the Wisconsin State Historical Museum for the first time.

The museum

With Gallery Night upon us, Rachael and I made the short trip downtown this evening for our first visit to the Wisconsin State Historical Museum. Upon arriving, I was happy to learn all of the museum’s exhibits were open for viewing, which meant Rachael and I had the opportunity to take in the Gallery Night special event and spend a few hours wandering through the multiple levels in the museum complex.

Considering the array of options to start our experience, Rachael and I briefly talked about our plan to take in the museum as we looked over the Maps and Meanings exhibit near the museum lobby. Although we were periodically distracted by the variety of colorful maps and displays, we eventually decided we would start our exploration of the museum with the featured Gallery Night artist display on the second floor before continuing upward to the remaining exhibits. With our plan set, Rachael and I took in a few more of the Maps and Meanings displays before making our way to the second floor for the Gallery Night exhibit.

Maps and Meanings

The second floor of the museum was a flurry of activity when we stepped off of the elevator. Around us dozens of people milled about beautiful displays of artisan beadwork clothing and paintings interspersed with exhibits highlighting Native American history in the State of Wisconsin. As a lover of both, the mixture of art and history was a welcomed sight to me, but it posed some challenge in deciding where to begin in viewing the displays. After taking in some of the immediately accessible displays, Rachael and I decided we would begin on one end of the building and cycle through the exhibits until we met the opposite side of the building.

Europeans meet Native Americans in modern Wisconsin

As we walked, we nibbled on some of the food offered for Gallery Night guests and marveled at the art and relics scattered throughout the museum’s second floor. At first, the displays showed the discovered history of the Native American people in what is now the State of Wisconsin, putting together the pieces Archeologists have uncovered in their research throughout the state. As we progressed, the displays slowly transitioned to the history that came from the era of the first European settlers in the State of Wisconsin. As we moved down the displays, I took note of the underlying story that came with the historic facts surrounding Native Americans in the State of Wisconsin. Although unstated, a theme of occupation, oppression, and forced acclamation to European customs was obvious from the point the first European settlers came to the land that is now Wisconsin to today. The experience evoked an odd mixture of feelings that ranged from curiosity to a degree of somberness that followed our movement through the displays. This continued for some time as we took in the exhibits, until an employee of the museum announced the Gallery Night artists’ presentation was ready to start.

Relics from a bygone era

Rachael and I knew the opportunity to listen to the Gallery Night artists speak would add a unique event to our overall experience at the museum. So, we promptly made our way back to the Native American exhibit entrance. There we listened as one of the artists, Karen Ann Hoffman, invited her husband before the group to provide a blessing in the Oneida language. Although we didn’t understand the extent of the prayer, the depth and meaning of the blessing was apparent as the man spoke. There is no other way to describe the moment other than gripping. With the artists yet to speak, I was engaged and my attention was focused solely on what they had to say.

The main display for the Gallery Night exhibit

Following the prayer each of the artists discuss their work and their sources of inspiration. One of the two artists, Geri Schrab, told of the influences behind her painting, which began with a trip to see Native American Petroglyphs in the Western United States. She took time to explain she was so moved by her experience that she felt the need to take up painting for the first time to capture her experience. Continuing, she explained this effort resulted in many more trips to Native American historic sites across the United States and eventually broke into a career as a watercolor artist devoted to recreating the stories hidden in the Petroglyphs left by the Native American people from centuries past.

Keri Ann Hoffman's work

The end of an era

Following her presentation, Keri Ann Hoffman came back before the crowd and provided a brief background on her emergence as a raised Iroquois beadwork artist before breaking into a Native American tale about cooperation and wit. After concluding her story, Keri Ann spoke to the crowd about how such tales serve as the inspiration for her work, guiding her as she sews beaded designs into fabric. Pointing out a nearby display of her work, Keri Ann told the tale that inspired the white glass beaded design cascaded over the fabric. Each of the wispy lines, crisscrossed patterns, and star-like bolts became clear in the design as she told the story of children dancing into the heavens in an effort to become men. The story was beautiful, but it paled in comparison to Keri Ann’s beadwork recreating the story.

THIS.

With the artists’ introductions complete, Rachael and I took a few more minutes to look over the Native American exhibits we had not yet encountered before heading back to the elevators and ascending to the fourth floor. When the elevator doors opened, a surprisingly vacant hallway appeared, with some small indications of exhibits appearing on the far wall. At first confused, we entered the fourth floor and quickly discovered a part of it was under construction. As a result, we continued in our path until we came to a turn near the back wall of the building. After taking the turn we were immediately enveloped by colorful displays of Wisconsin’s immigrant, political, and cultural history after the state’s foundation. With each new display we came upon I learned something new or different about the state, which satisfied my hopes in making the trip. Additionally, near the back of the fourth floor was a display devoted to the role of the tavern in Wisconsin’s state history. The homage put a smile on my face and provided the added benefit of giving me a little more background as to why we Wisconsinites have the most bars per capita on any state in the nation.

A summary of Wisconsin's political history

The renovation effort on the fourth floor made our visit to the exhibits short, which sent Rachael and I down to the third floor for our final round of exhibits.  When we reached the floor we were greeted by an eerie silence. Faint sounds of audio accompaniment for the exhibits carried through the air left otherwise vacant by the absence of any other people. Although strange, Rachael and I proceeded into third floor exhibits and quickly became wrapped up in the scenery around us. As an area dedicated to the history of Wisconsin natural resources, industry, and progress, the third floor exhibits were full of intricate displays of tools, raw goods, and products crafted within the state’s borders. Although I had some idea of Wisconsin’s economic structure, I was stunned to see the depth of innovation and industrial prowess that helped craft the modern state. As we moved from one display to the next it became clear Wisconsin truly is a land of plenty, and one I feel lucky to call my home.

A walk through history

After walking through the third floor displays, Rachael and I descended back to the first floor of the museum and prepared to leave for home. As we walked out into the damp autumn air I took a moment to look at the capital looming over the Wisconsin State Historical museum building at our back. Lifted by the experience at the museum, I said the first thing that came to my mind. “We live in a pretty cool city, you know?” In response, Rachael gave a brief statement of agreement as we continued across the street and toward the car. My thoughts were something that lingered well after we made the trip home and prepared to call it a night. Overall, my first visit to the Wisconsin State Historical Museum was more than just a good experience; it was a reaffirmation of why this place has remained my home for more than 30 years. If I didn’t know it before today, I can honestly walk away from my first experience at the Wisconsin State Historical Museum knowing Wisconsin’s people are a breed their own. Although our history is speckled with plenty of undesirable events, the overwhelming takeaway from today’s “I have never...” event is that there is something special about this place, and I should do everything in my power to take full advantage of that amazing reality.

Day 144 - Disc Golfing

I have never played Disc Golf. This relatively new sport that blends Frisbees and the basic concepts of golf has intrigued me since I first learned of it some years ago, but my interest was never enough for me to act on learning the sport. This remained the case even when my Brother, Abe, became active in Disc Golf several years ago. It wasn’t that the sport didn’t appeal to me. It was just that I was too lazy, busy, or preoccupied to make time to experience the sport firsthand. As a result, I would satisfy my curiosity about Disc Golf by asking Abe about the game from time to time, which would always result in him discussing how much fun he had on the course before inviting me to play a round with him. Each time I would assure him I would take him up on the offer some time, but I never made good on that promise.

Realizing the only way I would ever make time to play a round of Disc Golf with my brother would be a result of reprioritization and a healthy dose of motivation, I decided I would take time to experience the sport for the first time during my “I have never...” year. While the concept of playing Disc Golf for the first time was a relatively easy experience to obtain, I knew acting on the experience would also help me with my underlying goal of spending more time with my family. As a result, I called Abe last month and asked him if his offer to play a round of Disc Golf was still on the table. He excitedly confirmed that was the case before asking me when I wanted to get together to play a round. Eventually, we narrowed in on a few dates where we could squeeze in 18 “holes” before our independent workdays began, which set into motion plans for me to gain my first experience with Disc Golf during a round this morning.

Bring on the Disc Golf!

I woke early today fearful my planned Disc Golf outing would be canceled by rainy weather. Fortunately, the predicted storms had held off through the night, leaving the tail end of an unseasonably warm weather pattern lingering into the morning. With the rising sun shining brightly through swaths of grey clouds, I left my house early this morning and headed Northwest of Madison to Token Creek Park. There I met Abe as dawn broke free to morning, providing us near perfect conditions to play a round of Disc Golf. Upon arriving, we gave one another a quick greeting before Abe gave me a quick breakdown of the game. I found myself unprepared when Abe told me there was a park fee required to play the course, which caused a brief ATM delay in the progress of the day’s event. However, the convenient location of a nearby gas station solved the problem easily enough, and Abe and I were on our way to playing my first round of Disc Golf.

The first "tee" box...

When we arrived back at the park, I promptly paid my fee before Abe I started onto the course. As we kicked through dew soaked grass toward the first “tee” box, Abe tossed me the Frisbee that would serve as my sole tool for reaching the goal on each leg of the course. I was immediately taken by the density and weight of the disc. Although it was smaller in size than the Frisbees to which I’m accustomed, the disc was substantially thicker that the flimsy toys I remembered from my youth. Additionally, the plastic was noticeably hard, with a texture equivalent to some forms of resin I encountered during my experience racing sailboats some years earlier. Abe was quick to explain the profile, size, and weight of the disc permitted it to fly farther and maintain greater accuracy than the Frisbees I was used to seeing, which led him into a brief primer on throwing technique. He explained there were two basic throwing techniques for distance, the traditional Frisbee toss, albeit much more aggressive, and the overhead “hammer throw” that fell somewhere along the lines of a baseball pitch. Understanding his direction, I nodded my head and let me enthusiasm guide my words, “Alright, let’s do this!”

Mere minutes after arriving at the course, I was about to dive into my first experience with Disc Golf. Although Abe could tell I was eager to get the game moving, he advised me it would be best to take a few practice throws from the box before I started. He began by demonstrating his toss, which included full body momentum leading into a sweeping arm movement that sent his disc soaring far into the distance. Considering how easy he made it look, I approached the “tee” box and did my best to replicate his movements. With all my might I lunged forward and released the disc in a similar sweeping motion, only to see it climb skyward and immediately hook hard into the neighboring part of the course. In response, I shook off the terrible throw and gave the traditional approach one more attempt, only to see the disc sweep skyward, hook, and slam into nearly the exact location as my first attempt.

Hammer throw!

“Hammer throw it is...” I said as I moved back to the box. Abe retrieved my failed throw for a second time and tossed it back to me with a few encouraging words. With the disc in my hand, I lined up in the far corner once more and rotated the disc in my hand to prepare for the overhead toss. Then, without hesitation I took three huge steps forward and threw the disc with all of my might. Although my release was a little late, the disc took to the sky in an oscillating pattern and carried outward toward the location of the first “hole’s” pin. While it didn’t fly nearly as far as Abe’s first toss, the disc carried farther than I expected, which left me in good position to complete the first “hole” of the course with a par. Although my technique was still shaky, I followed some quick pointers from Abe and ended up doing just that. To my surprise, at the end of the first “hole” Abe and I were tied.

The pin

With my confidence quickly building, I gave Abe a little smack talk as we walked to the second “tee” box on the course. Abe continued pulling shots with distance and accuracy during the length of the “hole”, but I was much less successful with my attempts. After landing in the woods a few times, I finally landed a shot relatively close to the second pin, which helped me wrap up the “hole” two shots behind Abe. Although Abe had a few less than desirable shots himself, this pattern basically continued for the rest of the course. My throws continued to be slightly off target, and Abe produced accurate throws with relative consistency, widening his lead and leaving me completely out of reach of snagging a victory. That stated, I knew it wasn’t likely I would beat an experienced player (and someone we called “the king of backyard games” growing up) during my first experience with the game, and the real idea of the experience was to try something new and spend time with my Brother. The added benefit of our time on the course was that I actually found myself enjoying the game immensely. The challenge, the environment, and the company made me look forward to each new “hole’, even if it meant we would spend some time digging in the weeds after one of my loose armed throws.

Owning it...

Eventually, Abe and I found ourselves half way through the 18 “holes” we intended to play this morning. After a quick check of the clock, I realized my time to play was running short, which made me hesitant to continue through the back nine of the course. “Come on! This is your first experience. You have to play 18 holes!” Abe said in response to the look of concern on my face. Continuing, he gave me some reassurance wrapped in a thick layer of confidence, “We’ll go quick. Two minutes a piece, and we’ll have these last nine finished!” Deferring to his experience, I gave Abe a quick, “Alright” before he guided me to the tenth tee.

It was so familiar it started to feel like home...

RELEASE!

With time of the essence, I knew I needed to be accurate and effective during the second half of play if we were to finish within the confines of my time constraints. Sticking to his form, Abe set a good example for my objective as he continuously made shots that put mine to shame. I watched as he launched his disc two-thirds of the way down fairways and made “putts” from more than 20 feet away without batting an eye. Meanwhile, although I was having more luck staying out of the weeds, my challenges with accuracy left me mulching a lot of tree bark and missing my goal on easy shots. By the time we reached the two “holes” of the course, Abe’s lead had widened to the point we stopped keeping track of our scores, but that fact did nothing to deter the fun we were having on the course.

No better way to start a workday...

As Abe and I brought my first ever experience with Disc Golf to a conclusion I took time to take in our surroundings and gauge my feelings on the sport. Surrounded by the beauty of the Token Creek County Park forest, it was easy to conclude my morning on the Disc Golf course was time well spent. Not only did I get to spend some time outdoors with my Brother, I found a new sport that could very easily become a hobby in the future. The experience was challenging, fun, and relaxing, which made it easy to enjoy. With Abe extending me an open-ended invitation to play another round in the future, I can there is little question I will take him up on his offer, and it is likely that will happen more than once. The sport is just a good time, and if it gives me a reason to enjoy some beautiful weather and spend some time with my Brother, I know it’s something that will make a reappearance after my “I have never...” year. I just have to find a way to fit in all of the cool events I want to make a routine part of my life when this is all said and done...

Day 143 - Meditation

I have never learned how to meditate. Although I learned about the benefits of meditation throughout my life, learning the practice and art of deep concentration and reflection wasn’t a point of interest until recently. Following my trip to a Buddhist temple several months ago, I found myself in awe of the warmth, compassion, and wisdom that emanated from the people of the Buddhist faith. During that visit, the near universal display of understanding by those in attendance was unlike anything I had ever seen. Through their practice they reach a sort of harmony with the world around them, and each of them credited the practice of meditation as a contributing force in reaching that degree of self-actualization. Deeply affected by the experience, I decided taking time to experience meditation for the first time was something I needed to make time for during my “I have never...” year. As a result, I began research on Buddhist meditation classes, and set aside time this fall to follow through with the experience.

With the days passing quickly as of late, my plans to attend a meditation class came upon me faster than I had expected. In fact, I was caught by surprise when I looked at my calendar and realized the event was scheduled for tonight. That stated, the realization was welcomed and actually sparked a healthy amount of anticipation, which guided me through the day quickly. In turn, I made a brief stop home after work this evening before heading downtown to find the location of the meditation session, The Madison Diamond Way Buddhist Center.

 Following the directions listed on the Diamond Way website, I found my way to King Street and began searching for the building that housed the Buddhist center. A passing glance down the block of storefronts, restaurants, taverns, and entertainment venues initially made me question the accuracy of the address I had for the location. I didn’t see anything indicating a Buddhist center was on the block, and the concentration of buildings made it nearly impossible that such a place could be tucked away and obscured among the historic brick and stone buildings. Although confused at first, I decided to walk down the block and review the addresses on the buildings. Eventually, that effort guided me toward the capitol building where on the right side of the street I saw a small red door resting between a bar and a restaurant. A quick check of the number above the door revealed it to be the address I was looking for, but all outward appearances made the door look like an entrance to second story apartments over the street level businesses.

Found it!

I stood before the door briefly, my uncertainty causing me to look over the nearby buildings once more in case I had missed something obvious. Ultimately determining the door before me was the only one with the correct address hanging over it, I gave it one last look before taking a few steps closer. “Well, this must be it,” I said to myself as I reached for the doorknob and gave it a turn. I was almost surprised to find the door was unlocked as I pulled it open and took a tentative step inside. Immediately before me stairs lined with worn grey carpet climbed up to a small platform flanked by two doors. Fearing I was intruding on the living space of some downtown residents, I looked at the walls around me for some sign of a Buddhist center in the building. Eventually, my eyes met a plain black sign at the top of the stairs that listed four businesses in small white lettering followed by unit numbers. Among them was the Diamond Way Buddhist Center followed by the number 302.

Relieved at the sight of something indicating I was in the correct location, I began climbing the stairs until I met unit 302 on the corresponding floor. Recognizing I was somewhat early for the meditation session, I wasn’t surprised to find the unit was locked when I first arrived. Luckily, I only had to wait a few minutes before I heard someone enter the building and climb the stairs beneath me. Moments later, a young woman with long, dark curly hair rounded the steps to the third floor and greeted me with a warm smile. She welcomed me as she moved to unlock the door to the Buddhist center, waving me in as she quickly set down a handful of items and moved about the small three room building lined with Buddhist symbolism, photographs, and literature. Although small, the space was open and nearly free of furniture. In the main room a large red rug, a few shelves, and a bookcase were the only items occupying space off of the walls. It was clear the space was meant to hold larger groups of people than one would expect, and that the floor served as the main gathering space for those visiting the location.

The meditation space

After a few moments of preparing the three rooms of the center, the woman came back to my location in the main room of the unit and formally introduced herself as Madeline. She asked me a few questions about what brought me to the center, which prompted me to explain my journey, my interest in meditation, and my previous experience with Buddhism at the Deer Park Buddhist temple. In response, Madeline took time to explain the differences between the Buddhist philosophies practiced at the Deer Park temple and the Diamond Way center. Her explanation was deep and insightful, which provided a solid foundation for what to expect from my forthcoming experience meditating with her and her group.

As we spoke, more people began trickling into the building, each greeting the two of us with the same degree of warmth and openness I experienced during my visit to the Deer Park temple. Eventually, the room filled to little more than a dozen people, which prompted Madeline to wrap up our conversation and continue with her preparations for the meditation. Understanding, I thanked her for taking the time to give me some background on the center and the meditation experience before striking up some conversation with some of the other people in the room. I chatted with some folks for a few minutes until Madeline returned to the group and announced the meditation was ready to begin.

In response to her words, members of the group immediately began grabbing nearby pads and small round beanbags to use as cushions on the floor. With people sitting down around me, I moved to the closest beanbag cushion positioned near the back of the red rug resting at the center of the room. I promptly took a seat on the cushion and faced the front of the room where a few members of the group prepared for the meditation to begin. At first, a young blonde woman sat before the group and gave some perspective on her interpretation of Buddhist teachings. Through a beautiful Russian accent she spoke about Buddhism in the modern world and the application of Buddhist concepts to find meaning and enlightenment. Thankfully, she acknowledged the varied group of people before her, taking time to explain the concepts in finer detail for me and some of the newer members of the Diamond Way group. To me, her presentation of her perspective on Buddhism was a great way to start the session. It gave insight on the practice and on the purpose of meditation, which provided the perfect transition for the remaining portion of the day’s event.

Some artwork hanging in the center

Following the presentation, another woman near the front of the group explained she would be guiding us through the meditation. She briefly explained the intent was not praise the Lama that would be referenced in meditation as a form of God, but rather to seek his level of enlightenment through the practice of focus and reflection. With that, she asked everyone to close their eyes, and began speaking softly in detailed visual descriptions of place of light, peace, and tranquility. As she spoke I did my best to concentrate on visualization of each new detail she provided. Eventually, I began to feel that point of concentration began to consume the majority of the space in my mind. While I wasn’t completely free of other thoughts, my mind felt emptier than usual, which permitted me to distance myself from the routine thoughts, concerns, and experiences that occupy my thoughts on any given day.

I remained aware of my physical location and of the happenings on the street below as we continued, but I was sinking into a daydream like state with each passing minute. Even as the group around me moved into periodic chants, my concentration remained unbroken. Eventually, I began feeling like I was somewhere between sleeping and awake. I was present, but the words and chants of those around me fell away. That state carried me through the rest of the meditation where I remained locked in my abstract state until I heard a voice speak. “That brings us to the end of our meditation,” the woman leading the group said in a voice that rang as clear as a bell to me. In response, my eyes snapped open as if I had suddenly been awoken from a deep sleep.

It took me a moment to recalibrate my senses as I came to, which made the immediate impact of my first experience with meditation obviously clear. During that time I was able to carve out a pocket of free thought free from the weight of the routine thoughts I carry from one day to the next. I was able to concentrate solely on being, and in that I found a state of relaxation normally only found in states of unconsciousness. I was more aware yet I was less present. It was strange, but it was an incredible experience. Although I know it was only the tip of the iceberg, the experience gave me a deeper understanding of the harmony Buddhists seem so capable of achieving. There was balance in my first experience with meditation, and that feeling was incredibly meaningful.

Following my first experience with meditation, I can now say I understand why so many people engage in the practice and why so many tout its benefits in health and happiness. Of course, I know I am very far away from understanding the full power of meditation from one experience, and I know I would need a lot of practice to become truly versed in the practice. That stated, I also know my first experience with meditation was a powerful one. The feeling it created was unique and was something I would happy to have more of in my life. While I know the rest of my “I have never...” year will make it challenging to make meditation a routine going forward, I’m hopeful I revisit the experience in the future. There is little doubt making meditation a part of my life would have long lasting benefits and make me a happier person, and with so much good in my life, that piece of the puzzle would fit nicely.

Day 142 - Eating Bone Marrow

I have never eaten bone marrow. With another Tasty Tuesday in my “I have never...” journey upon me, I figured today would be a good opportunity to try another unique food that I would otherwise have foregone completely. Like Durian fruit, scorpions, and beef tongue before it, the idea of eating bone marrow has never appealed to me. While everyone I know that has tried the food states it is delicious, their independent descriptions of eating the food always came with caveats about appearance, texture, and consistency. As someone that considers these features a critical part of finding a food appealing, the descriptions of a rubbery, gritty paste nestled in a bone was enough for me to skip the bone marrow experience during the first 30 years of my life. I figured I would leave the bone marrow to those more adventurous than I, and carry on no worse for wear in my culinary experiences.

That brings us to today, and my ultimate decision to commit to eating bone marrow for the first time. Like many experiences in my “I have never...” journey, the idea of eating bone marrow was something I never intended to do, but in a year of new things I’m bound to face some of the experiences I would avoid in any other context. With that, eating bone marrow became something I knew I would inevitably experience. I just needed to take some time to come to terms with the idea and pinpoint a time to try bone marrow. As a result, I decided I would wait to gain the experience until somewhere around the middle of my “I have never...” year, which happens to be right around now.

Here we go...

Some five months into my year of new experiences, I decided tonight would be the night I would have my first encounter with bone marrow. Although I still didn’t feel mentally prepared for the experience, Rachael and I decided we would go to a local Madison restaurant, Cooper’s Tavern, which was known to serve a quality bone marrow appetizer.  In turn, we made our way downtown after the workday and grabbed some outdoor seats to enjoy the beautiful early autumn weather. Almost immediately upon arriving at the restaurant my eyes began quickly reviewing the menu for the bone marrow selection. After a few seconds of searching, I located the entry tucked between entries in the otherwise standard appetizers section. With the words “roasted bone marrow” staring me in the face, the idea of eating the obscure food suddenly became real. For better or worse, I was about to eat the inside of a beef bone...

When our server arrived at our table, I decided to immediately put in the order for the bone marrow. Acknowledging it meant I couldn’t back out, I looked at Rachael with wary eyes as our server walked away with our appetizer and drink order. “Well, there’s no turning back now,” I said before taking a sip of my water. In response, Rachael shook her head and reassured me it would be fine. I paused for a brief moment before replying, “Sure, it will be fine... Gross, but fine.” Rachael smile and rolled her eyes at my reply before the two of us returned to our menus and chatted about the potential main courses. As we talked, I did my best to play off my continuing hesitation at the thought of eating bone marrow, but I knew it was likely it was still written all over my face. Regardless, it was too late to back out of my commitment, and I knew it was only a matter of time before our server returned with a plate of cut bones and marrow.

Sometime later, Rachael and I sat at our table continuing to wait for some sign of our server’s return. I did my best to focus on our conversation as we waited, but I felt myself growing anxious about the forthcoming experience with each passing minute. With my mind transitioning from resistance to a desire to complete my first experience with bone marrow as quickly as possible, I just wanted some sign as to when it would occur. Eventually, our server returned and advised us the bone marrow would take some time to arrive as a result of how long it takes for the food to cook through. Understanding, I folded my hands on the table and did my best to shift my mind back into my conversation with Rachael. That simple act proved challenging as I continued trying to force myself to terms with the idea of eating bone marrow. It was still overwhelmingly unappealing, but more than 20 minutes after placing the order I was ready to take on the experience; if only to get it over with.

After another moderate wait, our server returned to our table with a long, rectangular white plate held at shoulder level. The positioning obscured the view of the plate’s contents until she quickly set it in the center of our table and walked away. The sight of a narrow brown line of marrow running down two pieces of thick with bone split lengthwise initially sent me leaning back in my chair. To the right of the bone, three triangular pieces of bread sat next to some greens and a small metal spoon. I hesitated briefly before leaning forward and breaking the silence. “So, how does this work?” I asked looking up at Rachael with a hint of disgust on my face. “I’m not really sure,” she replied as she examined the contents of the plate. “I think you just scoop it out with the spoon and put it on the bread,” Rachael said gesturing toward the spoon resting at the edge of the display. Following her assumption, I grabbed the spoon and took one last look at the bone. “Well, alright. Here we go,” I said as I tipped the spoon downward and angled toward the marrow.

Delicious?

With a swift downward motion I plunged the spoon into the marrow and began wiggling it to separate the food from the bone. The marrow immediately made its rubbery texture known as I continued in my effort. Although it wasn’t failing to come off, brown tendrils of the marrow clung to pieces of the bone as I stretched the substance toward the edge of the plate. The experience was everything I hoped it wouldn’t be, but I can’t say the texture of the marrow surprised me. After a little more effort I pulled a spoonful of the marrow from the bone and looked it over. Its appearance reminded me of gristle after spending hours marinating in a pot roast. Although repelled by the sight, I continued forward with Rachael’s direction, placing the marrow on a piece of bread. Under the weight of the spoon the marrow spread like jam over the crisp brown surface of the bread, which only added to the unpleasant feeling now gripping me. After placing a few leaves of greens on the marrow laden bread I lifted toward my face and gave it one last look. Mere moments from taking my first bite of bone marrow I only felt one thing, incredibly uneasy.

The stare down...

Realizing my continued hesitance was only serving to make things worse, I took a deep breath and bit into marrow coated bread. The taste was a mix of salty, sweet, and fatty flavors blanketed over a backdrop of pumpernickel bread. As I chewed on the marrow for a bit, the gritty, rubbery texture I had heard about in the past came out in full force; however, the resistance of the marrow was minimal at best. After a few chews it turned into a smooth, buttery texture highlighted by bits of salt that had been worked into the marrow. Overall, the marrow wasn’t fantastic, but the experience wasn’t as bad as I had feared. While it became immediately apparent bone marrow wasn’t going to one of my foods of choice going forward, I was glad I tried it and I was more than capable of working through the rest of plate before us.

Taking it on!

Over the next 15 minutes, Rachael and I nibbled away at the bone marrow spread, taking time to talk about our opinions on the food as we sampled more from the plate. I was surprised to find there was actually very little marrow in the bones as we separated more pieces from the bone and spread them on the remaining pieces of pumpernickel. By the time we had removed the last of the marrow we had more than enough bread and greens left on the plate, which left us some palate cleaners before our meals arrived. With the appetizer all but gone, I looked at the hollowed out bones in front of us. “Well, we did it... We ate bone marrow, “I said carrying a degree of disbelief in my voice. “Yeah,” Rachael said in reply, “and it wasn’t too bad.” I nodded my head in a sort of half agreement at her remarks. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t outstanding. That stated, I know the taste of bone marrow is something I will never forget.

Finished!

With night falling quickly, Rachael and I worked through our meals and made the short trek home. While our main courses were decent, the standout from tonight’s meal at Cooper’s Tavern was the bone marrow. Now, that isn’t necessarily because it was more delicious than anything else we ate tonight. Instead, the unique nature of a food that many people may consider off limits is something that will leave an imprint in my mind. Before today’s experience I never would have given bone marrow a try, but now that I have I’m glad I gained the experience. Considering the degree of hesitation and uncertainty I had about the event, following through on today’s experience gave me another opportunity to face a kind of fear head on and come out better for it. Sure, eating bone marrow is something relatively simple, but it is yet another reason to believe this journey is helping me learn to live without fear. With so much life to live out there, that’s a lesson I’m happy I’m learning from this crazy little adventure.