Justin As Coyote

At the November 2010 intensive in Albuquerque, I watched through the window as a slender, dark-haired woman helped a frail old man from a car to a walker. Slowly they negotiated the step up to the sidewalk and crossed the walkway. Leaning on his walker, the man entered our classroom and was guided into a chair. Pam Towne and others welcomed him, and introduced us to Justin. Students approached and thanked him for T’ai Chi Chih. Justin listened but seemed a bit impatient. Finally he asked, “When are they going to move?” On cue, we lined up and did TCC. He watched us intently. Where had that frail old man with the walker gone?

After he said goodbye and we returned to our class, I noticed out the window that Justin was in a rather animated conversation with Carmen, the woman who had brought him. I could see the force of Justin’s intention and the uselessness of her resistance. Unexpectedly, Justin came back into the classroom, an impish grin replacing his walker. Carmen followed, apologizing and trying to explain, as Justin trotted across the room waving to us and headed towards the bathroom. A few minutes later, he ambled back through the class, smiling and waving. It seemed he was thoroughly enjoying the interruption.

Justin in that moment was the Southwestern truckster character, Coyote, in broad daylight. In the gravity of awe and reverence surrounding Justin, here was the mischief-maker who brought TCC to a Western culture too impatient for 108 other T’ai Chi movements. He offered the gift of TCC and when asked “Why?” he answered by holding up his hand and saying, “Why do I have 5 fingers?”