Wonderful Weekend
Christine and I visited Madison, WI on Saturday (July 19). We weren’t there for very long and didn’t have a chance to look around, but it looked like it might be a pretty cute city. Signs pointed us towards downtown, which we followed in search of something to eat. I don’t know if we had further to go, but the downtown didn’t look like much more than what you’d normally find in your average suburb. There was a lake or river running through the city, and that was nice driving alongside. We didn’t get too far because we were in Madison to hear the Dalai Lama speak, and I didn’t want to get too off the beaten track, as we only had an hour or so to find something to eat and get to the Coliseum.
Very close to the Coliseum was the aptly name Coliseum Bar, where Christine and I decided to stop in hopes of something vegetarian on the menu. They had both a Garden Burger and Veggie Wrap. We both went with the Garden Burger and got an onion ring appetizer. It was your standard, unassuming place (there is a comedy show on Fridays – I think it was). “The Garden Burger has no meat in it,” I believe the waiter told us. “I’m just making sure you know. We get these big, burly guys ordering it thinking it’s a beef burger piled with vegetables.” Christine was entralled with the Wisconsin accent and could’ve listened to the waiter all night. I often wonder what people think of our accent – if they try to guess where we might be from. Christine thought the burger was a little dry, but I thought it was the best Veggie Burger that I’ve ever had. We both agree that the fries and onion rings were great, too (Christine thought the fries may have been the best she ever had). It was great and quick. If you’re ever in Madison, I’d highly suggest checking it out.
Of course, we were in Madison to hear the Dalai Lama. Something Christine and I could check off of our Life’s TO DO List. I think Christine could become a Lama-Head and follow him around the country. It was just an amazing experience to be in the same room with the man (he is just a simple, Buddhist monk). He has a great sense of humour and an infectious laugh. He also proves that he really is just a human being.
For the most part he ended up speaking about suffering and the ways to overcome it, as well as what we can do as a society to promote peace to all. The basic lessons being that we cannot expect countries to be peaceful if we, as individuals, do not have any inner peace. We are so angry as a society that society, in turn, will be angry and violent. One, we need to work on ourselves. Two, we need to show compassion to our kids (something Ethan is not lacking….) in order for them to breed compassion for others. When a tragedy occurs in one life, it has already occurred. You cannot go back in the past and do anything about it, so accept it and move on (and if you can’t accept it, then just blame it on karma).
A couple takeaways that I really enjoyed:
- People seem to have a strange conception of Buddhism and the Buddha and even the Dalai Lama – thinking there is something mystical about the whole thing. In his opening speech, the Dalai Lama makes a point to say he is just a man – nothing more. He has no powers to heal the sick and can perform no magic (incidentally, if anyone knew of a person who could heal people by touch, he’d love to meet them because his pinky was hurt when a Mongolian shook his hand too hard).
- Welcoming to all people, whether they were there out of curiosity as to what he might say, were dragged along, were Buddhists, or for whatever reason…everyone was welcome.
- I loved that he ended his speech with the great Buddhist philosophy of – hopefully something he said was useful to those in attendance; if not, then leave it behind.
- I think the honest side – the true human aspect of the Dalai Lama – came during a question/answer time. Questions had been submitted in advance. A woman was a 39 year old widow and was having troubles coping and wanted to know what to do. The Dalai Lama thought for a second… “Sad. Sad. Sad.” He shook his head. “I don’t know.” I thought this was perfect, you know? He is just a man. He is listening to your questions. He isn’t just gonna give out some bullshit, canned answer like “Just have faith in God and everything will be all right” or some shit like that. He did end up talking about tragedy again and needing to accept, but I really loved the genuine answer and not just spouting the party line.
As much as I loved hearing the speech of the Dalai Lama, I equally (if not more so) loved that Christine and I were able to do this. On the road from Cleveland to Chicago. Chicago to Madison. Madison to Chicago. Chicago to Cleveland. Christine and I were able to just talk and have great conversation with each other, which I think is always really important in a relationship. With everyday life being what it is (and Ethan being such a focus of it), it can be easy to not talk as much as you should with your loved one(s). Too busy cleaning, making dinner, buying groceries, working, whatever. Not that we were having any issues, but this gave Christine and I to continue our connection and have a great time together. Obviously, we both love Ethan a lot and enjoy hanging out with him, but we need that time for ourselves as well – cut the cord. And that was wonderful. Aside from that, Ethan was able to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa Chicago – the first time they’ve been alone together. And, they had a great time, as my dad became the pawn in Ethan’s attempt to get whatever he wanted (taking my dad’s hand and directing him to whatever his fancy was and even getting a 30 to 45 minute walk out of him). Never knowing what he’s going to be like, I was afraid that we would be tooooo shy, but he adapted well, and everything worked out, and I think that was the thing I loved most about the weekend, that he was able to connect with his grandparents from Chicago (of course, Christine and I return, and Ethan is all about us, but they had their time together…).
We also made a stop on our way to Chicago in Maumee, Ohio to Gino’s Pizza, which is the best pizza you could ever hope to eat. We picked up a pie for my parents as payment for watching Ethan while we were in Madison. Of course, we picked up a pie for ourselves for dinner while driving to Chicago on Friday night. Ethan – poor dairy allergic Ethan – had to settle for plain breadsticks. My parents were excited and surprised by their payment. We also made a stop on our way home (this location is maybe five minutes off the turnpike) for some more fresh pizza, which only lasted two days. You see, I was born in Toledo and still have family there. Gino’s is a big thing with us. It seems like, whenever someone else gets brought into the Gino’s fold, they get hopelessly addicted as well. I wonder if the people of Toledo know how lucky they are…
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