AC_1965_Web
72 AN T I OC H CO L L E G E C L A S S O F 19 6 5 5 0 t h A N N I V E R S A R Y B O O K A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z H E I L I G ble GS-2 pay-grade, who asked me to prepare an application for a pro- motion. I agreed, while wondering to myself, “What can I write about cleaning toilets that anyone will want to read?”But as with all federal jobs, she had an official job descrip- tion and all the accompanying et cetera. I went to work. About eight months later, I ran into her by the bank.“Hi, Sadie—how’re you doing?” “Oh, Mister Gabriel, I’ve been pro- moted twice—they’re training me on computers.”God bless, I thought; this woman will never have to clean another toilet again. It’s one of my most satisfying moments as a ré- sumé professional. Current projects include assist- ing a behind-the-scenes effort to stem the suicide rate among Special Forces, a rate that’s higher than for regular soldiers and Marines. I’m working on this with a leader of the NewWarriorTrainingAdventure who led a four-day intensive in truth-telling and emotional healing that I helped staff and that we conducted for 30 capital offenders serving life terms at Folsom Prison.A few Special Forces who want to serve as facilitators for their comrades in arms will take part in upcoming events at Folsom. A while back, I took up paint- ing and stone sculpting. I enjoy hav- ing a creative outlet for which I have no ambition whatsoever, other than the pure pleasure of the smell of the paints and my chip-chip-chip at the stone as it seems to melt in front of me. Pure magic. Gary Snyder, poet- scholar-rebel, says that everyone should know at least one form of magic. I’m not quite there yet, but it’s been quite a ride. I’ve come a long way in my re- covery and keep generating busi- ness, social and writing ideas that can keep me occupied for years. I feel like I’m just getting started in making useful trouble. After all, us creative types—we never actually retire. We just take longer naps.
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