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I
am superstitious. I knock on wood.
I turn over a Tarot card after shuffling the deck seven times and cutting
to the left with my left hand: The Moon. The traditional Western interpretation is “danger,
deception, hidden forces at work.” The moon reflects the light
of the sun—therefore, a card of introspection. The rays of the
moon symbolize my desire—here, to delineate my Selfhood—the
hounds warn me of the peril. But all will be well, I’m told, the
dangers illusory, if I realize my Mind mirrors the Great Perfection.
Good luck! I will need another self to describe the first self and another
self to describe that self ad infinitum to discover myself—figments
and flotsam in an ocean where I’m dissolving like a salt-doll.
I close my eyes. I hold my breath. A door swings open. A Richard steps
out and bows. Richard Denner is a middle-aged
male living in the State of Anxiety, working with a white heat intensity
that keeps him slightly burnt around the edges and most of his connections
shorted. Cowboy, treeplanter, printer, bookseller, he is adjusting to
his role as an elder. Richard Denner—is this the same Richard Denner who invented the
clarinet? No, that was Johann Christoph Denner. Known to sound off in
a reedy fashion, Richard was raised in Berkeley and Oakland, California,
but after the fairytale 60s, he lived for many years in Alaska and Washington
state. Proprietor of Four Winds Bookstore and Café in Ellensburg, Washington, he turned
this institution over to his son and then connected with Tara Mandala,
a Tibetan Buddhist Retreat Center in Colorado, until he was called back
to the Bay Area to care for his elderly parents. He publishes chapbooks
under the dPress logo and has an ideal job teaching poetry, collage and Tarot at a Waldorf School within walking
distance of his family home near Sebastopol, California.
Richard Denner was uneducated
in Berkeley, California, during the 60s, self-exiled into the Alaskan
woods, printing on a 1927 Kesey hand press small, smudgy chapbooks, graduating from
University of Alaska, Fairbanks, 1972, continued printing while working
at Queen Anne News in Seattle, moved with family to 800 acre cattle
ranch east of Ellensburg, Washington, to punch cows and write hayseed
verses, finally finding a career as the proprietor of Four Winds Bookstore
& Café, settling down to civic responsibilities,
Masonic Order, alcoholism and a total freak-out after separating from
the most beautiful woman in the world, finding happiness in the teachings
of Buddha, 1989, moving to Tara Mandala Retreat Center in Colorado to
manage another bookstore and do a long retreat until called back to
California in 1998 to care for his elderly parents, staying on after
his father’s death to write and publish D Press chapbooks. Richard has completed training to be a California Poet in the Schools, and he has been ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist monk. HOMES 1941 Born, Santa Clara County Hospital, California—adopted
by Mr. & Mrs. S. G. Denner—1941-42 Colgate Street, Berkeley,
California—his dad was appointed Assistant State Director of State
Farm Insurance, and the regional office was in Berkeley—1942-44
Catalina Street, Berkeley—because his dad was of draft age, parents
moved closer to a day care in case his mom had to work—1944-48
Arlington Avenue, Kensington, California—his sister, Lynda, adopted;
moved because his parents needed a house with three bedrooms—1948-57
Robinson Drive, Oakland, California—his dad appointed State Director,
bigger house with horse stables—1957-59 Rubin Drive, Oakland—custom-built
house, smaller house since kids were leaving for college—1959
Montgomery Street, Albany, California—his first apartment, but
he promises his dad he will live in student housing the following semester—1960
Gilman Hall, Haste Street, Berkeley—new dormitory, he shares a
room on the 4th floor—1960-61 LeRoy Street, Berkeley—sleeping
over with Pat, who becomes his first wife—1961 McGee Street, Berkeley—his
and Pat’s apartment after their marriage in High Street Presbyterian
Church, Kirsten Erica is born at Alta Bates Hospital—1962-63 Sea
Cliff Drive, Aptos, California—beach house belonging to his parents,
he attends Cabrillo College, then in Watsonville—1963 Island Park,
New York—separated from Pat, he flees to New York and stays with
Jon Springer—1963-64 Long Beach, New York—he moves with
Pat, pregnant with Gina, and Kirsten to the East Coast—1964 52nd
Street, Oakland, California—after their return from New York,
Regina Gabriella is born at Kaiser Hospital—1964 College Avenue,
Oakland, California—he separates from Pat and stays with Ardi
Davaran—1964 Santa Cruz Avenue, Santa Cruz, California—he
returns to Santa Cruz and stays with Steve Desmond—1964 Derby
Street, Berkeley—he reunites with Pat and they put together a
new pad—1964 Bancroft Way, Berkeley—he moves out and takes
a room in a boarding house—1964 Haste Street, Berkeley—house
sitting while Notes from the Underground are on tour—1964 Blake
Street, Berkeley—he lives in a converted coal bin—1964 Napa
State Mental Institution, Imola, California—three months observation
on D Ward—1964 Oak Tree Drive, Santa Rosa, California—trying
to get grounded, he runs his finger down a lists of schools and stops
at Cal Poly—1964-65 Lemon Street, San Luis Obispo, California—he
takes a room in a boarding house—1965 Law Apartments, San Luis
Obispo—sharing a cabin with Buddy Collins—1965 Channing
Way, Berkeley—sharing a carriage house with Pat Gord—1965
College Avenue, Berkeley—he stays with Luis Garcia—1966
New York Hotel, Ketchikan, Alaska—first trip to Alaska, where
he meets Cheri Bader—1966 Channing Way, Berkeley—they share
an apartment with Wesley Tanner—1966-67 Ward Street, Berkeley—they
share an apartment with Jim Whelage and Alice—1968 South Tongass
Avenue, Ketchikan, Alaska—they stay with Cheri’s folks until
he finds work—1968 Park Avenue, Ketchikan—Theodore Dylan
is born at Saint Mary’s Hospital—1968-1970 Rollog Cabin,
Deep Bay, Alaska—mid-winter they move to a cabin twenty-five miles
from Ketchikan by boat—1970 up the Al-Can to Fairbanks by VW Bus—they
spend the summer in the VW—1970-72 University of Alaska, College,
Alaska—student housing, Cheri works as receptionist at the SUB—1972-73
311PLSE & SE85PL, Preston, Washington—they move into a mill
house along Raging River next to Cheri’s parents—1973-75
4th Parallel Road, Badger Pocket, Washington—he hires on as the
foreman of an 800 acre cattle ranch—1975 Manila Street, Oakland,
California—living in the Red Light District, he sets type on The
Scorpion at
Aríf Press—1976-78 Pfenning Road, Ellensburg, Washington—while
Cheri visits Sweden with her parents, he rents a ramshackle house next
to a graveyard—1978-79 North Anderson, Ellensburg—they buy
a Farm Home, built in the 1920s—1980 East Fourth
Street, Ellensburg—he and Cheri separate, he crashing at
the Four Winds Bookstore—1980-81 South Pearl Street, Ellensburg—fixing
up a garage at Jan Mejer’s house—1981-83 North Pearl Street,
Ellensburg—he moves in with Alia, Lucienne Dorrance delivered
in their bedroom with the help of Roberto Freeman—1983-84 South
Anderson, Ellensburg—they buy and remodel a Farm Home house—1984-85
East Fifth Street, Ellensburg—he separates from Alia and finds
a bungalow—1985-87 Seattle Street, Ellensburg—he moves in
with Beryl and her two kids—1988 South Pine Street, Ellensburg—he
and Beryl separate, and he finds an old hobo house—1989-1996 East
Capitol, Ellensburg—he buys and remodels a Farm Home house—1996
Cook Canyon, Archeluta County, Colorado—he camps out on Tara Mandala’s
land—1996-1997 Apache & Oxford Streets, Archeluta County—he
lives in a bunkhouse on a small horse ranch—1997-98 Fifth Avenue,
Pagosa Springs, Colorado—care-taking Doug Erikson’s house
while he is in Viet Nam—1998 to present—Oak Tree Drive,
Santa Rosa, California—returns to the Bay Area to assist his elderly
parents SCHOOLS 1946 Thousand Oaks Day School, Berkeley, California—1946-49 Kensington
Elementary School, Kensington, California—1949-1954 Sequoia Elementary
School, Oakland, California—1954-56 Bret Harte Junior High School,
Oakland—1956-59 Oakland High School, Oakland—1959-60 University
of California, Berkeley—1962-63 Merritt College, Oakland—1962-63
Cabrillo College, Watsonville, California—1964-65 California Polytechnic
College, San Luis Obispo, California—1970-72 University of Alaska,
College, Alaska—Bachelor of Arts, major in English & minor
in Philosophy—2001 California Poets in the Schools training, Sonoma
County, California JAILS 1955 Oakland Juvenile Hall, Oakland, California—evading arrest and
destruction of city property—suspension of driver’s license
and financial restitution—1956 Oakland Juvenile Hall—theft,
auto—return of stolen hubcaps and one year probation—1960
Berkeley City Jail—disturbing the peace, destruction of state
property—case dismissed—1963 Berkeley City Jail—petty
theft—one year probation—1964 Berkeley City Jail—indecent
exposure and possession of marijuana—1964 Alameda County Jail,
Oakland—held two weeks until judged insane, committed to State
Mental Facility for ninety days—1964 Alameda County Jail—held
until judged sane—1975 Ellensburg City Jail, Ellensburg, Washington—disturbing
the peace—charges dropped RELIGIONS & FELLOWSHIPS 1955 Montclair Methodist, Oakland, California—1957 High Street Presbyterian,
Oakland—baptism into Christian Faith—1957 Oakland De Molay,
Oakland—completed Second Degree—1958 Universal Life Church
Ministry, Deep Bay, Alaska—1985 Free & Accepted Masons, Ellensburg
Lodge #39, Washington—Past Worshipful Master—1990 Tibetan
Buddhism—refuge with Tsultrim Allione—Seabeck, Washington 2005—ordained as a Nyingma monk by Adzom Paylo Rinpoche at Tara
Mandala
Retreat Center, Pagosa Springs, Colorado ASYLUMS & MENTAL WARDS 1964 Herrick Memorial Hospital Mental Ward, Berkeley, California—ten
days observation to receive doctors’ reports—1964 Napa State
Mental Hospital, Imola, California—committed for three months
on a close ward —1966 Mendocino State Mental Hospital, Mendocino,
California—self-commitment for drug re-hab—1967 Herrick
Memorial Hospital—self-commitment, out-patient FIRST DRUG TRIPS 1955 Tobacco, Oakland, California—started with Lucky Strikes, later discovered Gaulosis, but
finally settled on Camel straights—1957 Alcohol, Oakland—started
with straight Scotch, Cutty Sark—had many mellow years
drinking wine, ended his drinking career with gin & tonics—1958
Dexedrine, Oakland—mother’s little helpers—1959 Espresso
coffee at the Mediterranean Café, Berkeley— “Oh, and make that a doppio if you would.”—1963 Marijuana,
Island Park, New York— “I was definitely a pot head, and
I would have sprinkled it on my breakfast food if I could have afforded
it.”—1963 Nutmeg, Aptos, California—1963 Codeine,
Aptos—Robitussin AC—1964 Peyote, Berkeley—patterns within, patterns
without—1964 LSD, Big Sur, California— “Do you have
any more of that ‘Windowpane’?”—1967 Mescaline
mixed into Red Mountain,
Berkeley—1967 Opium, Berkeley—1967 Amyl Nitrate, Ketchikan,
Alaska—1969 STP, Deep Bay, Alaska—1971 Cocaine, College,
Alaska—1972 Psilosybin, Preston, Washington—remembers his
birth—1988 Last acid trip along the Yakima River in Ellensburg,
Washington—1988 stopped drinking alcohol and smoking pot in Ellensburg—1995
stopped drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes in Pagosa Springs, Colorado—2001
still drinks tea, he being especially fond of the smoky flavor of Lapsang
Souchong, which smells a little like boot polish— JOBS 1955-56 Mrs. Graham’s Riding Academy, Oakland, California—stable
boy—1956-57 Skyline Stables, Oakland—stable boy, trainer’s
assistant—1955-59 S-D Ranch, Willits and Red Buff, California—ranch
hand—1961 State Farm Insurance, Berkeley, California—bindery
clerk—1962 Sticky Wicket Restaurant, Aptos, California—waiter
and stage manager—1962 Kirby Vacuum Cleaner Company, Long Beach,
New York—salesman—1963 Seventh Day Adventist Furniture Company,
Aptos—drill press operator—1963 Able I Furniture, Berkeley—delivery
man—1963 Norsco Furniture, Albany, California—shipping clerk—1963
Cinema/Guild Theaters, Berkeley—marquis changer—1964 Del
Monte Cannery, Oakland—relief man—1964 Del Monte Cannery,
Emeryville, California—quantitative analysis of ketchup—1964
Western One Stops, Emeryville—stock clerk at record warehouse—1965
Idea Research & Development Company, Santa Rosa, California—shipping
clerk, sending out packets for TV Bingo—1965 Berkeley Barb, Berkeley—reporter—1966
Georgia-Pacific Logging Company, Ketchikan, Alaska—choker setter
and water chaser—1966 Ketchikan Cold Storage, Ketchikan—freezer
monkey—1966 Sikura Enterprises, Berkeley—house painter—1966-67
Moe’s Bookstore, Berkeley—clerk/buyer—1967 State of
California—Aid to the Totally Disabled—inertia—1967
Ketchikan Cold Storage, Ketchikan—packing line, ice room, storage,
freezers—1967-68 Ketchikan Daily News, Ketchikan—weekly
columnist and backshop: layout, dark room & web press assistant—1968-70
Living in the deep woods in Tongass National Forest—applying How
To Live in the Woods on $10/Week—1970-72 Polar Star Newspaper,
College, Alaska—backshop foreman—1971 R & M Geology,
Fairbanks, Alaska—sinking test holes in search of bedrock for
Trans-Alaskan Pipeline—1972 University of Alaska Student Activities,
College—physical services—1972-73 Queen Anne News, Seattle,
Washington—backshop: layout and graphic design—1973-1975
Diamond Hanging J I Ranch, Badger Pocket, Washington—caretaker:
irrigation, maintenance, ride the fences, feed the stock in winter—1975 Square Deal Andy’s Garage,
Oakland, California—painting and custodial, assists installing
spare gas tanks—1976-77 Gold Leaf Convalescent Home, Ellensburg,
Washington—maintenance supervisor—1977-1995 Four Winds Bookstore
and Café,
Ellensburg—owner and operator—1977-1986 Eastern Washington
Reforestation, Ellensburg—tree planter—1980 Twin Foods,
Inc., Ellensburg—erection of metal storage building—1987-1991
T.G.T.B.T., Ellensburg—tree planter—1985 Valley Café,
Ellensburg—dishwasher—1988-89 Valley Café, Ellensburg—construction
of Valley Deli with Chris Shambacher—1996-98 Tara Mandala Bookstore,
Pagosa Springs, Colorado—manager, monitor travelling Dakini Store,
develop catalog—1998-00 caretake elderly father, Santa Rosa, California—2000
Summerhill School, Santa Rosa—poetry/collage/Tarot teacher—2000-01
Sprint Copy Shop, Sebastopol, California—consultant— EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES 1949 Juanita Miller, drama coach, Oakland California—plays at Juaquin
Miller Ampitheater—1950-52 Cub Scouts, Oakland—Pack 98,
Wolves—1950-54 Berkeley, California—piano and dance lessons—1954-56
YMCA, Berkeley—Camp Gawalla, Blue Ragger—1955 Law’s
Judo, Oakland—Brown Belt—1955-57 Metropolitan Horseman’s
Association, Oakland—horse shows and equestrian activities—1957-59
Oakland High School, Oakland—track and swimming teams, second
string—1960 SLATE, Berkeley—debates and demonstrations—1968
founding of D Press, Ketchikan, Alaska—how much poem will fit
in a 4 by 6 inch type case using 60 point Bodoni Bold?—1971 University
of Alaska, College Alaska—Married Student Representative to Student
Body Congress, U. of Ak. is the last University Student Body to condemn
U.S. involvement in Viet Nam War—1972 State Democratic Primary
on the University campus, College—students and Indians form coalition
to select George McGovern the presidental candidate—1977-95 Four
Winds Bookstore & Café, Ellensburg, Washington—hosting
art shows, music, readings and workshops—1980-87 Ellensburg Anthology,
Ellensburg—co-editor and editor and publisher—1982 Ellensburg-Nicaragua
United in Friendship ENUF—debates, propaganda and demonstrations—1984-87
Ellensburg Arts & Crafts Festival—coordinator and impresario—1985-88
Community Television, Central Washington University, Ellensburg—collaboration
with Kim Secunda, Dan Herron, James Eisenberg
& Sam Albright on many small videos and one feature-length, The Fertillacrome Cheerleader Massacre—1988
Kittatas County Art Gallery, Ellensburg—retrospective of his collages,
junk assemblages and linoleum block prints—1994 to present, Tara
Mandala, Pagosa Springs, Colorado—taking summer retreats and assisting
in the establishment of Tara Mandala Retreat Center— Off I go. I shed
a skin. I do a quick-change act. I turn into a question mark. |