Bella Box's dad, Gene Box, also an accredited T'ai Chi Chih teacher, demonstrates all 19 TCC movements and one pose. Taped in May of 2004.

Dr. Bella: When my father was gone, we all enjoyed singing together. The instant we could hear his car driving home…we scattered.

He tried his hardest to escape from what we now know was PTSD. His dad would randomly tell him to retrieve his belt. He then would beat him with it.

In his effort to find stability after the divorce he practiced a number of healing practices. As an accredited tai chi chih teacher, he was my first teacher. He was a regular for a yoga class at his assisted living center. He discovered painting with watercolors. He was ahead of the curve with a healthy diet. Before he moved from California to Portland to receive our daily care, he rode his bike 20 miles both ways on Pacific Highway. At 89, he was able to temporarily reduce his blood pressure with his ride. He took no medication and declared that he never would. The stroke he suffered while under our care convinced him that blood pressure medication wasn’t giving up his healthy lifestyle.

Dad had a beautiful voice. When he was about 36, he sang in our Catholic Church choir.

He left this earth when he was 92.

Six days a week, Barb and I host a Zoom t’ai chi chih practice The uncontrollable anger with which he terrified his family…he essentially replaced it by becoming a more gentle man.

Sometimes, I can feel his essential self in spirit form when I teach and practice t’ai chi chih.

I am grateful to know why he was so mean and his earnestness to transform himself.