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Huston Smith - Tales of Wonder and 90th Birthday Celebration
By Lance Trumbull | May 17, 2009
Phil Novak, Huston Smith, Lance Trumbull
It was a relatively quick flight from Portland to San Francisco - I was very much looking forward to getting back to the Bay Area, to briefly see my parents and to see my former professors from UC Berkeley Huston Smith and Phil Novak.
Huge book publishing firm Harper Collins (Harper One Division) was having a small private celebration for Huston Smith celebrating his just released autobiography “Tales of Wonder” - a gripping overview of his rich and wondrous life. The event was also to honor his 90th birthday.
The event was held in the library room of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco - one of the most impressive and moving Cathedrals in the United States. It was wonderful seeing my old professors. In attendance were world famous scholars, authors, filmmakers, old friends, and former students such as myself.
During part of the ceremony congratulation letters from all over the world were read; I was honored to be able to be called to say a few words about Huston in front of the audience:
“…It was 13 years ago and I remember as if it was yesterday. There I was in my Religion 90A Class at UC Berkeley and I was in utter awe of the man before me - not so much because of his amazing mind or his incredible breadth of work, but because at the moment he was in the middle of the class doing a perfect Yoga headstand! I remember thinking that (at the time) I was 28 and I could never dream of doing that and here is this “scholar” who was 50 years my senior standing on his head on the cement floor! - Amazing!
I was always impressed with Huston as a teacher, as a scholar, and eventually as a friend. It turned out that several months later Huston and Kendra moved just a few houses down from where I was living in North Berkeley. Although Huston had mastered the knowledge of all the numerous gods and goddesses of the various faith traditions of the world - he had still yet to master the realm of the computer gods! - And so I became his personal computer helper and later his personal book dealer. It was a pleasure and honor doing both and I look back with great fondness of all my encounters and time spent with Huston…”
It was a very nice event - and Huston who is now almost 90 years young, still is able to move people with his elegant words and friendly and smiling presence. As always he was gracious, humble and engaging. I feel honored knowing him.
…After the party I had a great time hanging out with my former professor and friend Phil Novak. We went to downtown San Francisco to a nice Italian restaurant and had some traditional Italian pizza; surrounding us were bars, scantily clad women, and strip clubs… our night cap was getting ice cream in Marin! Yes, I am getting old…!
Topics: Everest Peace Project |
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