I’m headed out to Joshua Tree today. I’ll be attending a ten day silent meditation retreat there. I look forward to the experience.  This morning, however, as I said good bye to Sebastian I began breaking down like a little child. Unlike my little child, who was laughing and tickling me during our good-bye embrace. I’ve never been away from him for this long. I’ve never not talked to him for more than a day or two. This is going to be ten days of no communication with the outside world. Complete silence.

Shit. What was I thinking?

It’s a good thing I’m doing for myself and for the people that I come in contact with on a daily basis.I think. I’m hoping that this will be a great thing for my son and wife who have to endure my shit all the time. I love them and I want to be a source of peace for them, not for a source of shit. I hope I’ll return with more peace and less shit. I can definitely use a little mind fast. Trust me.

I know I’ll emerge from the desert with healed balls. I know they will appreciate ten days of peace. Unless my roommate is a ball busting sadist. But odds are he won’t be a six years old boy.

Anyway, I’ll miss my son, my wife, my phone, and coffee. I’m sure there’s more I’ll miss but I just can’t think of it now. Oh, and I’ll miss my blog post next week.

Namaste-y classy.

—Bad Papa West