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Back The Underminer
Chapters (21)
  1. Cover Page
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Table of Contents
  5. Bright Young Things campus of Clarkwell College, graduation in the town of Clarksville, somewhere upstate, 1990
  6. Cool Days open mike night at Kafka-fe, after band "2 Much" plays, 1991
  7. New on the Scene utside in front of Club Hush, for a film screening party of Kill Fee, 1993 o
  8. Single in the City at a French bistro, 1995
  9. Hangover brunch, the morning after, 1995
  10. Natural Health a chance meeting at Jasper’s Yoga Studio, 1996
  11. The Fat Flush ’90s in the foyer of a friend’s renovated brownstone, 1997
  12. Art Stars at Bonwyck Gallery, 1998
  13. Inner Odyssey the Burning Man festival in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, 1999
  14. Life After Death facedown in the dirt of the desert, next morning, 1999
  15. Loyal Companions catching up at the dog run, 2000 catching up at the dog run, 2000
  16. In the Real World a run-in at the ShopShape magazine launch party sponsored by Senor Strawberry Liqueur, early 2001
  17. Wartime spotted at Kinko's, late 2001
  18. Office Job in the cafeteria of the Conde Nast building, 2003
  19. Settling a yard sale on an obscure block in the outer borough, 2003
  20. Starting Over in a remote village tavern on the farmlands of New Zealand, 2004
  21. Epilogue a gathering of friends

After Nicholas's passing I went on a soul-quest. I traveled for a month with just a backpack and a sheaf of paper, and after trekking through Nepal, I found myself at a beautiful temple in Drakkar—an isolated village in the Simoom valley. The temple was nestled in the side of a white cliff, covered with vines. I walked into the vast central altar area, and I was eerily alone, but there were lit candles and the smell of nag champa wafting through the air. I hadn't really cried until then, and the tears for Nicky flew out of me. I was sobbing and sobbing. Then I felt a hand on my shoulder, and suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of. . . how do I put this in a Western way . . . of joy. Inexpressible joy! I turned around and there behind me was an old, old man smiling down at me with the kindest face. He gently gestured to me to rise off of the ground, out of my pool of tears, and to follow him. And that old man was Sahatma Yoginanda. He is the last living master of an ancient form of Ayurveda. He is 120 years old, and on his last phase of life on this plane of existence. "You know why you are here," he said to me. I said, "Yes, yes I do," because I kind of did know that my life had been leading to that moment. He led me to a chamber of libations, and anointed me one of his disciples. Along with about four others, he had selected me—to learn the special nuances of the Ayurveda. So I began studying with him, and learning this ancient craft of healing and self-knowledge. You can find some of the teachings in the dampened-down forms of Western "New Age" and astrology.

Like for instance . . . you're a Gemini, right? Do you know the rest of your chart? Just tell me your birthday and I will tell you. I have the Ephemeris memorized.

You are a Gemini, with an Aries in VENUS??? AND a Weeshta? Oh my God. That's random. No, it's nothing. But this will be a perfect class for you because Jasper is going to read a series of Rumi poems about the long, long road to finding love, which is a very "Aries in Venus with Weeshta Conjunction" issue. But you probably know that.

Listen. Um, I know this is embarrassing, but if I were you I would have wanted someone to tell me a long time ago. Your breath is kind of stale.