Visited by Rastas X

Ben went on to say that Jack didn't think that all 13 Rastas would leave the compound at one time. Brother I.V., who to say the least, led the group, very rarely left the compound and was not likely to ever leave Jamaica. Nor would he allow many of the others to be gone for anything like two weeks. To continue apace, the life and work of the place depended on the presence of most, if not all of the brothers, most if not all of the time. So, by the time the proposal was presented to Brother I.V., it had been scaled back a bit: Two of the thirteen Rastas residing at the compound would travel to San francisco and would return in two weeks or less. Even this plan though, did not meet with his approval. In the end, he agreed to send one Brother from the compound  (Matthew,probably his wisest source of counsel) and one Brother whose residence and business was in Kingston (James, an attorney who served the Rastas as  liaison with the outside world). Brother I.V. thought one week would be enough but left Jim and Matt to decide when they would return. One of my most sinifigant attempted detractors used to say of me "If it were possible for Gideon to have a religion, it would be Marijuana". And while I'd just as soon you didn't call it that, I would agree. Not only do I love cannabis, those whom I meet that use it, grow it, traffic in it, study it or use it as sacrament I usually wind up liking...a lot. The more Ben told me about the Rastas, the more I liked them. I was beginning to think that at least a  half-dozen of my friends had known of the Rastas' visit for some weeks before I did and kept it to themselves in order to present me with a delightful surprise. (Or it might just have been that no one thought to mention it...perhaps thinking I already knew) Whatever the case, I was delighted and thankful to be associated with the individuals who had chosen to be a part of GoE. Ben was part of it long before it became Gates of Eden. Even before we called it Muf'n.  From our first meeting, he was always there for us, whether it was with news of free materials he had discovered while operating his business or volunteering to do plumbing or electrical or whatever help we might need. Even some of the folks who lived and worked at GoE had come to us thru him. He was older and wiser than I and would freely share his positions and opinions in such a way that you might think they were your own.So he was obviously a great friend. He and Amelia walked back to our place with us that afternoon and spent another hour or two there before driving Jim and Matt to Laurie May's where they would be staying nights. Money was not an issue, but it was decided that they would be more comfortable at her house, which was spacious and luxurious and only she and her two kids lived there. After one night though, Laurie  May moved them from the main house to the pool house, so they could do their night chanting without keeping everyone up. During the rest of their visit (it turned out to be nine days and ten nights) we saw the Rastas only once more. On the last day of their trip they stopped at our place with Amelia and Laurie May and we had another round of splifs and a couple hours of talking and chanting. As they prepared to leave, Brother Matthew told me that Brother I.V. had asked him to invite me (and one other from Gates of Eden) to visit them at the compound on Blue Mountain. Some surprised that Brother I.V. must have known of my existence before Jim and Matt started their trip, I was flattered and told them I'd be honored to visit them and would let them know my itinerary as soon as I had one.