“Have you Done TCC today? Once or Twice?”

It’s been ten years since I’ve written for The Vital Force, but that does not mean T’ai Chi Chih has not been an integral part of my daily life. I am a cradle-to-grave Catholic, but my path includes TCC in a major way. Often when I talked at length with Justin, he would first ask: “Have you done T’ai Chi Chih today?” Always the answer was yes. His next question would be: “Once or twice?” He smiled when I responded “twice,” but if I said “once,” he would give me that look from under his eyebrows as if to simply say okay. That disappointed look stuck with me. Often in the evening instead of sitting in my backyard lounge chair and meditating on the mountain and the city before me, I would hear that little voice: “Have you done TCC today? Once or twice?”

I am now in my seventies and twice a day is not always an option. Sometimes I get up and start, sometimes not so much. Yet Justin’s voice is still there, as are my thoughts as I look over the mountain: the movements, the movement of energy, then no thought, just energy, just the universe. Justin taught me to think that way. He taught me to see the Universe in the movements. Pulling in the Energy, not from some far-off home planet, but from all that is, has been or will be.

Now for the lighter side. I sometimes asked Justin questions because I became frustrated and just needed an answer. He never once refused. The answers often stupefied me, or they would cause a soulful laugh. Having practiced combat martial arts and T’ai Chi Ch’uan, I had never experienced a form that required movement repetition until TCC. So, I asked Justin, Why the repetitions and why nine? He answered, “If you do nine of any of the movements, you may get one right.” I laughed so hard he ended the session and told me to go home.

Thank you all for keeping TCC alive and well since Justin’s passing. I miss him dearly and needed him at times. However, the practice and hearing Justin’s voice have never ended for this teacher. Do the form sisters and brothers. Do it twice and make Justin smile.