08/11/2025
The universe at work:
As I prepared to go to terrificcon in CT, I thought about my friend Ric Meyers.
35 years ago, after TMNT had a cast and crew screening in NY, Ric interviewed me for Inside Kung Fu magazine, a periodical that I read regularly as a growing martial artist and idolized the subjects covered in its pages. Although seeing each other only every few years, Ric and I have remained close friends of the heart. He was a guiding light and provided mentorship as I wrote my first book.
I forgot exactly where Ric lived, but felt I should reach out and let him know I was going to be in the northeast. For whatever reason or excuse I could make, I did not reach out to Ric, and as I approached the con, I felt a bit of guilt in my soul.
You cannot imagine my surprise or the joy that I felt, when I looked up from my table, and there stood Ric Meyers smiling down upon me.
Ric had no idea that I was at this con but attended every year and turned the corner to find me at a table.
In addition to sharing hugs and pleasant greetings, we spent a long time discussing energy and kung fu concepts.
The whole reason I’m putting this picture here, is because along with Ric’s presence and dialogue this weekend, I picked up on what I felt were other various ways that God, the Tao (or whatever you want to call the unknowable force beyond our earthly comprehension) was giving me messages.  And lately, I have been searching for some answers.
Ric said some interesting things to me regarding martial arts training and kung fu that caused me to ponder deeply (an approach Musashi often notes to do), including “Let me know when you’re ready to stop hurting yourself.”
This I need to think deeply about.
