200-word spiritual biography

I am part of a group that holds conference calls once a month to deepen our Buddhist spiritual practice. One member sent an e-mail to the group outlining the history of his practice in less than 200 words, so I took up the challenge to explain my path is less than 200 words:

I was born in 1948 in Maryland to a scientist and an artist, both of whom were alcoholics. At Marietta College in 1966 learned Zen meditation and fell in love with it. Then I went to Haight-Ashbury in 1968 and fell into the world of “sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll.”

I managed to get through grad school and most of a 30-year career in journalism, while abusing drugs and alcohol. I hit bottom in 1989. I saw my parents in myself and realized I had to stop. My doctor suggested meditation and I remembered my early love for the practice, so I gave up all drugs and alcohol and resumed my meditation practice in 1990.

Then, in 1996 I found The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh. I attended my first retreat with Thich Nhat Hanh in 1997 and knew I had found my teacher. I founded The Cape Sangha that year. With the help of Jack Lawlor, Joanne Friday, and my sangha, I was ordained in 2002 at Stonehill College. In June of 2012 I had the overwhelming joy of attending the 21-day retreat at Plum Village. I have never been so happy.