Remembering John with gratitude (and laughter)

I was unable to attend the Memorial for John; however, I attended the recording of it.

Listening to Esther reference John's sense of humour, I'm sharing a memory that still makes me laugh when I think about it, and I imagine it may have the same effect for those who were in John's 2006 Right Brain Practical class in North Carolina (and even for those who heard about it afterwards).

Esther if you're reading this, I remember meeting you for the first time at an IBA Conference and someone referenced me as the person who played the room key joke on John, and you congratulated me!

It was a trial event where three or four different BodyTalk classes were being taught simultaneously at a hotel in NC. Four days with John; I was on the second row in his class and hanging on to every word.

Some of you reading this will remember how John would sometimes single out a person or two in his classes and make remarks; not always appropriate.

Well I happened to be that person in that class; probably more of a target because I easily flush in the face.

Each day, there would be 'something' John would target me with, including a few mornings making comments about me having his room key and could I return it.

WELL - the last day of class I realised it was April's Fools Day, and I thought wow, I have an opportunity to maybe dish a little something back.

I went down early to the hotel reception desk and asked to borrow a stack of keycards, promising to return them.

Everyone was early to class because we all knew John didn't like people to be late.

I gave every person a room keycard and had the plan that when John came in, he'd probably make another remark about me giving him back his room key; only I'd surprise him by getting up and actually handing him a room key and figuring we'd get a chuckle from him. The cue for everyone else was when I returned to my chair, all the ladies in the class were to get up and do the same, handing John back a keycard, and then as soon as all the women were finished, all the guys would then get and do the same, saying ...."oh John, remember these too"....sort of thing.

It all unfolded more perfectly than we could have imagined, because John was 15 minutes LATE for class that morning!

When he came into the room, John was carrying a cup of coffee, rubbing his face and flustered that he had overslept, talking about how he couldn't believe HE was late for his own class.

I used that opportunity as my cue to get up and say, "well, you know John, it WAS quite a night", and I handed him a room key.

As anticipated, John chuckled and accepted the key; not expecting it when ALL the ladies in the class got up and also started handing him room keys, saying "oh John"....

Everyone was laughing at this point, and things were about to settle down when all the GUYS then got up and did the same thing, all lining up to hand John a room key.

OMG, John started laughing so hard, the whole class wound up ROARING with laughter and we couldn't stop.

We were all laughing so loudly and long enough that Janet Galipo left the class she was teaching, to see what in the world was happening in John's class.

And then we laughed even more.

Laughter is Healing, so in honour of John Veltheim I share this story with you and hope you're laughing too.

Thank you, John, for the legacy of BodyTalk. You are with us forever.

Thank you for all you taught me; (and my sons as they grew up hearing your voice on many recordings)!

With love and gratitude, Katherine Stinson