"Ray Gatchalian, a Vietnam veteran, peace activist, retired Oakland firefighter and documentary filmmaker who brought unwavering optimism to some of the world's most despairing places, died Sunday in a car accident in Chile. He had just celebrated his 57th birthday."  ~San Francisco Chronicle, May 2003

Below is a poem Ray was famous for reciting.  I've been reading it a lot throughout the process of recording these songs.  It helps me to let go & just enjoy it...: