This man is ready to go home. Yo quiero regressar a Mexico. I got back from Portland on Sunday evening. The workshop went well, but it took a lot out of me. I am still a bit out of sorts. Tomorrow I have to get all my things packed along with Richard’s. I feel blessed to have him as my travelling companion in this life. I look forward to returning to Casa Las Ranas and all the dogs and cats and my Mexican family of friends. Oh to be home again…down in Mexico…with my family of friends…. we like to get real silly………

Well, Dear Limited Amount of Readers,
I made it to the States unscathed. I delivered two artifacts from the Chapel in Carmel, CA a week ago Sunday. I have been in the Bay Area now for over a week and I am ready for my return to Mexico. I have to go to Portland this weekend to teach a workshop. I have not been back to Oregon since 1985. I lived in Oregon for close to four years back in the early 80’s. That is a whole other story….maybe later on that one. Richard and I are heading back to Mexico on June 8th. We plan to stop in Santa Fe, NM and Marfa, TX….our scheduled arrival at Casa Las Ranas is June 15. A number of people have been inquiring about the Chapel. They ask for a description. Sadly, I can only speculate on what Jimmy Ray wants….he promises it to be over-the-top..I like that idea.

I am leaving this morning to the States. I am a bit apprehensive due to the fact that I have to drive through some really hot weather. But I have all my talismans and fresh white sage to remind me to forget about my origins in New York taxis. take it easy….ariive in one piece. I should be north of Laredo this evening. I await the adventure

Up at 4am. Met the truck in Los Lopez and we were in Queretaro by 6am…..we had the truck loaded by 7 and were home by 8….due to some miscommunication….the truck arrived at 10ish. All the stuff is unloaded and is in different parts of the house and studio. What a trip! My tendency to go to worst possible scenario proved wrong and all is well. Listening to Cheryl Crow on the way back this am gave me a hit of the groove of movement up north in three days. I am blessed! Gracias, Dios…you to Goddess!!!!

Today Carlos (my assistant and co-conspirator) helped me rent a truck for the retrieval of the artifacts from the Museo in Queretaro. We went to a lot in the nearby Rancho Los Lopez and found a 6 meter covered truck. We have to be at the Museo at 6am on Monday morning…….May Luck shine on us…..but we can get all of the stuff back to Casa Las Ranas in one swoop and should have it all in place by noon. The artifacts will stay here until the completion of the Chapel…oy vey!

Jimmy James Strange is a mysterious poet/provocateur who was part of the downtown poetry world in Manhattan during the 1970’s. He first appeared at a reading held at the Cafe Feenjohn on McDougal Street in the early part of that decade. His poetry was aimed at a small cadre of pseudo-hipsters known as the “Former Teenagers”. There are reports that some of the members were gay and there are rumoured reports that Strange also dallied in the Valley of the Love that Dare Not Speak It’s Name. The last documented sighting of Strange until recently was at the West End Cafe near Columbia University on upper Broadway in Manhhattan around mid to late 1978. It is reported that Strange soon after fled to India in search of himself. This mysterious writing was delivered to me recently and was signed by Strange….Jimmy Ray asked me to post this……so here…. it is not known if Strange indeed found himself.

From Jimmy James Strange

On the turn of a dime
passing through time….
biting through the crease
his tongue off the leash.
Recycling the pearl
of the innermost core…
out of the Darkness
passing through the hole
from frenetic vision
to Beatitude,
super sensuality
increased solitude.
Carrying a banner
that belongs to no saint,
it’s a let-go trip without restraint.
No censors to trip him
or cut out his tongue,
amongst the right rhythm
IT HAS TO BE SUNG.
So sing sing sing it
and pass it on.
Like circles ringing from an inner pond
Like twisters in perpetual motion
in deep devotion
to the light
of the honest vernacular.
Without the whimsical interludes of the day to day
when he paid with his mind.
And the why’s and the how’s and the when’s and the where’s
become ideas that are no longer shared
by just objects hung on a wall….
but in tune with the steady foot falls
through the luminous gates
into the emptiness
of a no-mind state.

Retold by Jimmy James Strange
Upon visiting “Artifacts from the Chapel of Jimmy Ray”
at El Museo de la Ciudad
in Queretero, Mexico
April 18, 2006