Summer of 1975
Summer of 1975, Austin Park Fieldhouse, Morton Grove, Illinois
It was a bright and sunny day in June 1975. The silence is what struck me as I walked out of the lockers. A room full of cackling little kids went silent. Completely silent. They weren't sure what to make of me nor I of them. Even the few mothers seated at back of the room went quiet. They had never seen a real live black belt before and neither had I. In the mirror anyway.
Circa June 1975
At back of the room, seeming alone while just feet away from the mothers, was a young, raven-haired Asian girl. My view of her face was obscured. First she was there and then she was gone, disorienting me. Was she an illusion?
Focus. I needed to focus and brought the room to order.
This was the very first time I ever envisioned my daughter. First of many. First she was there again and then she was gone again. Bewildering.
Dawning on me for the first time in my life as I stood there was this: For my first eighteen years the immortal spirits of those who came before me, alive and passed on, were poured into me by my own parents, teachers and mentors. A thousand generations of accumulated souls were poured into me. Much of it overflowed and was lost. Some retained. Suddenly I understood. It now became my duty, my life's purpose and imperative, to pour out all that I could into these young souls. In this context, teach them self defense. Prepare them to preserve their very lives.
But there was more to it. More to what my heart and soul told me I needed to do, than simply teach these kids to kick, punch and block. By some kharmic magic I felt connected to the young Asian girl, all those years ago. Somehow I was attracted to Asian martial arts which ultimately drew me to the raven haired Chinese girl.
There is an old Chinese belief known as the Red Thread of Fate. According to Wikipedia it may be applied to the spiritual connection between both spouses and children. There is Jewish mythology as well which is remarkably similar, see history below.
I needed more than anything to be a father. To pour out all of it, not part of it. I needed to be the raven-haired girl's father. I knew it then, some 45 years ago and I still know it now.
Regardless.
FROM CHINESE LEGEND
The Red Thread of Fate (simplified Chinese: 姻缘红线; traditional Chinese: 姻緣紅線; pinyin: Yīnyuán hóngxiàn), also referred to as the Red Thread of Marriage, and other variants, is an East Asian belief originating from Chinese mythology. It is commonly thought of as an invisible red cord around the finger of those that are destined to meet one another in a certain situation as they are "their true love". According to Chinese legend, the deity in charge of "the red thread" is believed to be Yuè Xià Lǎorén (月下老人), often abbreviated to Yuè Lǎo (月老), the old lunar matchmaker god, who is in charge of marriages. In the original Chinese myth, it's tied around both parties' ankles, while in Japanese it's bound from a male's thumb to a female's little finger, and in Korean culture, the red thread is thought to be tied around the little finger of both parties.
FROM JEWISH THEOLOGICAL REFERENCES
A scarlet thread, tied about the wrist, is mentioned in Genesis 38. Tamar becomes pregnant by her father-in-law, Judah, and gives birth to twin boys. The following verses about this event are taken from the King James Bible:
Genesis, chapter 38:
27 - And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.
28 - And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first.
29 - And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, How hast thou broken forth? this breach be upon thee: therefore his name was called Perez.
30 - And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.
I visualized this image in 1975 and
shot the actual photograph around 2006
shot the actual photograph around 2006
Focus. I needed to focus and brought the room to order.
This was the very first time I ever envisioned my daughter. First of many. First she was there again and then she was gone again. Bewildering.
Dawning on me for the first time in my life as I stood there was this: For my first eighteen years the immortal spirits of those who came before me, alive and passed on, were poured into me by my own parents, teachers and mentors. A thousand generations of accumulated souls were poured into me. Much of it overflowed and was lost. Some retained. Suddenly I understood. It now became my duty, my life's purpose and imperative, to pour out all that I could into these young souls. In this context, teach them self defense. Prepare them to preserve their very lives.
But there was more to it. More to what my heart and soul told me I needed to do, than simply teach these kids to kick, punch and block. By some kharmic magic I felt connected to the young Asian girl, all those years ago. Somehow I was attracted to Asian martial arts which ultimately drew me to the raven haired Chinese girl.
There is an old Chinese belief known as the Red Thread of Fate. According to Wikipedia it may be applied to the spiritual connection between both spouses and children. There is Jewish mythology as well which is remarkably similar, see history below.
I needed more than anything to be a father. To pour out all of it, not part of it. I needed to be the raven-haired girl's father. I knew it then, some 45 years ago and I still know it now.
Regardless.
THE RED THREAD OF FATE
FROM CHINESE LEGEND
The Red Thread of Fate (simplified Chinese: 姻缘红线; traditional Chinese: 姻緣紅線; pinyin: Yīnyuán hóngxiàn), also referred to as the Red Thread of Marriage, and other variants, is an East Asian belief originating from Chinese mythology. It is commonly thought of as an invisible red cord around the finger of those that are destined to meet one another in a certain situation as they are "their true love". According to Chinese legend, the deity in charge of "the red thread" is believed to be Yuè Xià Lǎorén (月下老人), often abbreviated to Yuè Lǎo (月老), the old lunar matchmaker god, who is in charge of marriages. In the original Chinese myth, it's tied around both parties' ankles, while in Japanese it's bound from a male's thumb to a female's little finger, and in Korean culture, the red thread is thought to be tied around the little finger of both parties.
FROM JEWISH THEOLOGICAL REFERENCES
A scarlet thread, tied about the wrist, is mentioned in Genesis 38. Tamar becomes pregnant by her father-in-law, Judah, and gives birth to twin boys. The following verses about this event are taken from the King James Bible:
Genesis, chapter 38:
27 - And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.
28 - And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first.
29 - And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, How hast thou broken forth? this breach be upon thee: therefore his name was called Perez.
30 - And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.
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