"Sounds to me like you can't leave your Aikido--you're too involved in it to come back to Boston just now." That's what you said on the phone. Mom asked: "Is it a religion? Is it a mental thing?"

Well you certainly aren't the first people to ask about it that way. So I guess that I'm writing to try and answer your implied question: "What is Aikido?" I'm sure it's crossed your mind that it could be some kind of cult. That's easy to understand. Apart from my enthusiasm, you probably have a half-formed image of me wearing strange clothing and doing a lot of bowing. That isn't too far wrong. But Aikido is Japanese nd the uniforms, bowing and other curtesies are very ordinary in Japan. During practice I borrow some Japanese manners because, in that context, they work. Try to imagine how the Cub Scouts with their funny uniforms and candlelight ceremonies look to the Eskimos.

Fundamentally Aikido is a martial art--an open-ended system which will lead to substantial proficiency in hand-to-hand combat in about five years of serious work. There are levels to the game though. You can train longer and get better, and probably learn some other things too.

I go to regular classes. In general our practice doesn't distinguish between men and women, lightweight and heavyweight, or even, for many things, beginner and advanced. The classes last an hour and there are two each weekday night. The format is "monkey see, monkey do." The teacher demonstrates a particular attack and response combination and we all try to copy it. Partners take turns attacking and throwing. We change partners often so we get to practice with a variety of shapes and sizes and skill levels. There are empty-hand variations and sometimes we practice with sticks and knives and swords. They tell me that all of these things ultimately reduce to a unity. In theory, holding a sword is much like having 5 foot long arms. You could say that I am studying fighting here. It seems equally true to me that I am studying timing and coordination and personal fitness--and "grace under pressure."

I think one of the main reasons I like Aikido when I never was much for sports, is that training in it (at least here in DC) is non-competitive. It has to be since the techniques can easily escalate to causing serious injury. I've had to trust the people I practice with, and I've come to learn that they are trustworthy. The result is that I have some good friends there--people I know well, whom I otherwise wouldn't know at all.

That brings me to my other reason for writing. For the past 20 months you've listened to me expound on Washington and my job and you've heard me damn both with faint praise. I've gotten into the habit of speaking as if I'll leave as soon as I have recouped the cost of moving. I still miss Boston a lot. I know you'd like to have me live closer. But thinking about it after your phone call, I realized that it's not going to happen soon.

There are lots of reasons; none compelling by itself. It's partly because I don't want the hassle of moving my home and job right now. I'm reluctant to leave the people here, just as I'm beginning to really know them. My routines are starting to feel comfortable.

I know that going back to Boston would be easier thatn it was to come to DC, but it still doesn't seem worth it on balance. I might be enticed by the "ideal" job--whatever that is--but we've argued about my career before. Work may not be great here, but nothing on the horizon appeals to me more. And yes, I am decidedly involved in Aikido.

I guess I'll be staying awhile longer.

In the meantime, I miss you. I'll be home for Easter.

All my love.

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