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248 Acknowledgments Any appreciation of those essential to this memoir must begin with Kevin Triplett. In undertaking a film about Blaze, Kevin set in motion the circumstances that would bring this work to life. He gave me generous access to his documentary archives so that I might more fully understand the arc of Blaze’s life and death, and also helped me to assemble many of the photos included here. My debt to him, artistically and emotionally, is practically beyond words. I also want to thank the Abraxas film crew and production staff—Chris Ohlsen, Kai Mantsch, Andy Harthcock, June Burnum, Kathleen Shaw, Joey Trum, and editor Rita Sanders—for their tender care, and especially Mike Nicholson and his wife Melissa Taylor Nicholson for being the romantics they are. Family members Jill Silverman Pekar and Joseph Berson kindly offered necessary financial contributions. My brother, Joshua Rosen, was a champ of affection and assistance, going to bat for me in myriad ways. For concern, comfort, and/or lost memories, Susan Castner, Karen Paul Rosen, Jason Castner , and Eugenie, Julien, and Sarajane Sacks were all wonderfully receptive, as were Jessica, Austin, and Jared Heitmann, my ever-ardent cheerleaders. To my newfound clan—Louise Fuller Hacker; Tom Weldon; Paul, Carlin, and Luke Berry; and Stephanie, James, and Jacob Hardin—I offer my love and gratitude for their willingness to share Mike, and to let me write about them. To Blaze’s sister, Marsha Weldon, goes my deepest appreciation for her generosity , great faith, and boundless friendship. Close friends and neighbors helped me navigate the first months of Depty Dawg’s return: Mary Davin, Marnie Andrews, Amelia Penland Fuller, Katherine Cortez-Adams, Debra Howes, Linda Gluck, Craig Fuller, Jeff Jacobson, Sarah Chodoff, June Stein, Judy Perrenod, Pril Smiley, and Chuck Perrenod. Among old friends and new in Texas and Georgia who shared memories, or lent encouragement, are Dave and Gail Coppock, Lindsey and Kerry Horton, Jane Freer, LaNelle McNamara, Ricky Cardwell, Leland Waddell, Jon Smith Acknowledgments | 249 and Ryan Rader (producers of the Tribute CDs), John and Laurie Hill, Cathy Hubach, George Ensle, Janice and Elliott Rogers, Tom Smith, Robin Carty, Larry Monroe, Leti de la Vega, Johnny McNamara, Geoffrey Outlaw, Tony Scarano, Happy Jack, Gilbert Cardwell, Kay Cardwell, Danny Cummings, Chuck Lamb, Sylvia Benini, Mike Thomas, Julie Gabel, Dawn Raven, Tim Thomas, Wanda Witt, Claire Baker, Rick Pryor, Gordon Chandler, David Moscovitz, Nancy Gaddy, Fred Richards, Bill Eisenhauer, Carol Williams, Steve Voinche, Cathy Balch, Buzz Duffy, Laura Emory, and Joe Nick Patoski. I want to thank Brende Fuller, Lost John Casner, and Mandy Mercier for their helpfulsuggestionsandinsightfulconversationsonjustabouteverything,and especially Gurf Morlix for keeping Dep and The Beaver Valley Boys alive. Appreciation goes to the Austin Historical Society, Susan Ciegler of Northwest Georgia Regional Hospital’s Department of Records, and the staff of the Staples copy center in Carrollton, Georgia, for their patience and meticulousness. So many names float through this story that at times, in an effort not to overwhelm the reader, it was necessary to drop those appearing only briefly. Others asked to be left unnamed. To those who can be named or, in some cases, were only half-named—Jo Giraudo; Leo Sauer; Ben Douglas; Beth Passavant ; Michael Goodman; Dottie Goodman; Peggy Blow; Rabbi Jerome Fox; Eugenie Moskovitz; Myrna Copeland; Roxanne Diehl; Buddy Carroll; Holly Lorrens; Gabi North; Greg Risse; Hughes Holder III; Tricia Berkman; Punk Patrollers Tony Boatwright, Steve Wells, Raymond Cosby, Roger Dukes; Jim Eckert (original tree house architect); Teddi Locke; Freddy and Deborah Manley; Steve Arledge; Keith and Erin Boyle; Frank Campbell; Cynthia Thibideaux ; Jim Duffy; Ira Katz; Scott Nolan; Bill, Martha, Betsey, and Cassie Redhed; Jerry Lee Davidson; David Miller; Terry Hayden; Jackie Brooks; John Kostmayer; Hinda Gerwitz; John Bishop; Greg Land; Ralph Bethay; Floyd “Stony” Woods; Les Smith; Mandy Hanson; Howard Hacker; Shirley, Ethan, and Caleb Milam; and Tom Lewis—I am much obliged to you all for making a cameo. If I’ve inadvertently left anyone out, the fault is mine alone. Nine deep bows go to my teacher, John Daido Loori, Roshi, and Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Sensei, and Konrad Ryushin Marjak, Osho, of Zen Mountain Monastery in Mt. Tremper, New York. Fellow monastery students—Michelle Seigei Spark, Chris Koto Trevalyan, Kirsten Tosei Ainsworth-Vincze, Amy Shoko Brown, Julie Shoju Greenwood, Janice Senju Baker, Vanessa Zuisei Goddard, Shideh Tenkei Lennon, Diana Kosei Hartel, Troy Zuikon Gangle, Bethany Senkyu Saltman, Thayer Kyusan Case, Danica Shoan Ankele, Bear 250 | Living in the Woods in a Tree: Remembering...

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