Simplicity made a slide show of Lightfoot
that may be viewed HERE

Simplicity sent photos of Lightfoot's INTERNMENT
that may be viewed HERE

There's a scene in the movie
"Once upon a time in America"
where Robert DeNiro is asked the question.
"What have you been doing for the last 25 years?"

His response was a lot less verbose
than I am able to manage.

"Goin to bed early" was his response.
If you ask me that question twenty five years
from now I might have the same answer.
But today it's gonna take
a few more words than that.
Let me see if I can restrain myself
and give you the Reader's Digest version.

I've spent the last 25 years, driving a taxi,
a school bus, a transit bus,
a tractor trailer, selling frozen foods,
cars, wood stoves, yogurt and politicians.
I even ran for public office once upon a time.

I lived in the Ithaca area from 1976 to 1984
when a friend of mine who worked in politics
down on Long Island, made me an offer
I couldn't refuse.

I spent the next 10 years running political campaigns
for the Suffolk County Democratic Party
until I refused to yield on a point of loyalty
and got myself fired.

Then I returned to Ithaca and lived at The Pond
for a couple of years
while I drove a school bus, a transit bus
and a tractor trailer,
not necessarily in that order.

After I left The Pond community,
I moved into town and got very active
in the transit union.
I'd still be there getting under the skin of the Mayor
and other local officials no doubt -
if it weren't for my friend,
you remember my friend from Long Island
who made me an offer I couldn't refuse?

Well, he made me another offer that I couldn't refuse
and I am once again working on Long Island.
I'm doing much less work now than I used to do
and I'm doing it for much more money than I deserve.

Thanks to this same friend,
someday within the next three years
I will be able to retire
and move this deteriorating excuse
for a body to Central America.

Belize is where I plan to paint pretty pictures,
enjoy the beach, the sun and the jungle
and create a space large enough to accomodate
any and all of my remaining friends and family
for as long as they wish to visit.

But no matter where I go or what I do -
I will always be part of "The Yea God Family".

I've fluttered around like a butterfly sniffing
at the edges of Hinduism, Christianity,
Budhism and Pantheism.
I dare say I've considered most
every "ism" there is
and some there ism't.
They've all led me to one unavoidable conclusion -
"All there is - is God".
There just ism't any room for anything more.

Without the "Yea God" experience
we would have had to create a "Yea God" experience.

The "Yea God" experience
is like any other experience in life -
we take from it only that which we are ready for.

I've always known the "Yea God"
experience was a blessing for me.
I've always known that the experience of "The Family"
was the defining experience of this life
and I believe the same is true for everyone
who ever shared that experience with us,
whether they know it or not.

Peace,
Lightfoot

An ode to Charlie from my book (Alias John):
Charlie

Oh, Once there was a pothead and Charlie was his name.
His appetite for reefer was his only claim to fame.
One day the pastor of his church took him aside and said,
what are you going to do my boy after you are dead?
For there ain’t no boo in heaven,
they won’t let it through the gate
and although our lord wore sandals son
believe me he was straight.
The life you lead’s a sinful one as any man can tell
and like the refer in your hand,
your soul will burn in hell.

So out of desperation Charlie went to see a priest
and found that clerics attitude much worse to say the least.
He said, son you’re a sinner and a protestant as well,
so smoke your pot, it matters not, you will wind up in hell.
And there ain’t no boo in heaven, so you will not miss a thing,
excuse me now I’ve got to go and kiss the bishop’s ring.
Take my advise, become a monk, they’ll use ya baking bread
and the only tea is the tea you’ll drink
and it won’t give you a head.

This religious opposition had poor Charlie in a fog,
so he went to see the Rabbi at the local synagogue,
A long black beard adorned his chin,
a cap was on his head
and when Charlie told his story,
this is what the Rabbi said;
Son, there ain’t no boo in heaven,
for the lord won’t let it pass
and the bush God burned for Moses son,
believe me wasn’t grass.
In a way, I’m saying kiddish, come and join me in some wine,
there’s plenty here for both of us, it’ll make you feel fine.

He rambled here, he rambled there but much to his chagrin,
he found the popular consensus is that smoking is a sin
and when a sin’s against the law,
they throw you in the can
for sinning’s mighty difficult for the sinning man.

And if there ain’t no boo in heaven,
then there sure ain’t none in hell,
lament the lonely jailbird in his lonely prison cell.
Oh, what if I should die here?
Oh, what would I do then?
I know I can’t get high here,
I may never smoke again.

Our friend he died in prison, just as he had feared.
He died without his sandals and he died without his beard
but Charlie’s soul to heaven went
and at that golden door,
he had the gall to ask St. Peter
if he knew where he could score

and of course, St. Peter said:

Son, there ain’t no boo in heaven,
though it’s not against the law,
we just don’t allow no fires here,
check your matches at the door.
If you need a flame to light your joint,
there’s plenty down below
but here’s a plate of hashish fudge,
if you want more – let me know.”

Lightfoot 1973

With Jesse Jackson 1988