Mike Powell
The second permanent resident I interviewed was a fellow by the name of Mike Powell.
Mike Powell lives on the third floor of the White House Hotel. One of his eyes is always still. The other moves about healthily. He is a man of imposing physique, large and well trained in martial arts. There is a sword hanging from his wall. Mike believes that martial arts influences every action in his life. Even as he walks down the street during a rainstorm, the way in which he angles an umbrella with a slight tilt of the wrist can drastically change the amount of rain that gets on him and those walking around him. He has a deep, loud and genuine laugh, and frequently laughs when it is least expected. He earns his rent money by playing $5 games of chess. He began playing chess because he wanted to make theoretical translations between the game of chess and the game of go. He no longer enjoys chess, and simply sees it as a way to make money. Mike is most passionate about writing. And I do not mean the kind of writing one does to get a book published. Mike considers himself a “Master Writer”. This means that Mike writes letters and fonts with great care. He is what many would term a calligraphist. Mike showed a letter he wrote, the letter “w” took him 2 hours to write, faces were woven into the ornate pattern of the letter. He has pages and pages of letters written in many languages. One of his favorite documents to write is the Declaration of Independence, which begins, “We the People…”
Mike has no alcohol or drug addictions. In many ways, he is in the White House Hotel because he feels largely an outsider in this capitalist society. He does not have a great deal of competitive spirit, and does not harbor any great ambitions. He has said, that if he was not a “horny american” he would move to China, become a monk, accept the vows of chastity, eat rice and meditate for the remainder of his days. To Mike, the true test of a person, is whether or not one can enjoy one’s solititude. If one is not at peace with one’s self, then one is not at peace with God. Mike said that he has never had problems being at peace with himself, but that he seems to have problems being at peace with other people. When asked if he was afraid of death he said that he was not afraid of death, only afraid of pain. And he let out a wonderful booming laugh.
This Saturday, we will follow Mike as he plays chess on bleecker street.