Wednesday, October 28, 2009

In loving memory of my Mom

I took some time before we head west to visit my sister in Gainesville and also a dear gf who is about to embark on a journey through breast cancer while I'm away. The visit with my sister was mainly to be with each other as we passed the one year mark of losing our mom. We had sushi and sake in her honor (she loved the stuff) and when we get back home my sis pulls out this old jewelry box that we gave to mom back in 1975. It's one of those boxes that are also musical so my sister winds it up and we sit silently and listen as it plays one of mom's favorite songs "The Impossible Dream". The song was originally recorded by Robert Goulet. The only thing in the box was a yellowed piece of paper that had been clipped from a newspaper. These were the words on the paper...

Slow me down, Lord. Ease the pounding of my heart by the quieting of my mind.
Steady my hurried pace with a vision of the eternal reach of time.
Give me, amid the confusion of the day, the calmness of the everlasting hills.
Break the tension of my nerves and muscles with the soothing music of the singing streams that live in my memory.
Help me to know the magical, restoring power of sleep. Teach me the art of taking minute vacations - slowing down to look at a flower, to chat with a friend, to pat a dog, to read a few lines from a good book.
Slow me down, Lord, and inspire me to sink my roots deep into the soil of life's enduring values that I may grow toward the stars of my greater destiny.

My thoughts and prayers go out to my girlfriend Debby who gets fitted for a port tomorrow and then chemo on Tuesday as I pack and provision for our journey west.


Thursday, October 15, 2009

Porpoise Play

Early morning surf session with husband, probably around 8:30 am, outgoing tide, northwest wind and small surf conditions. Sky had the autumn look, blue with high clouds, water clarity was excellent, clear with a emerald cast to it, the mullet were running. I notice Robert swimming out to the break underwater with his board floating behind him... very uncharacteristic of him sorta amaturish. I get closer to him and he says go underwater, you can hear the porpoise talking. Just at that time I notice two big porpoise riding the waves toward me. We get outside and are surrounded with three to four large porpoise jumping out of the water. It was one of those times that feel a bit frightening because it has never been part of your experience before and there was this strange feeling of fear because of their size and closeness and giddiness because of the joy of it. We saw them leap up out of the water with mullet in their mouths ten to fifteen feet away from us. I was silly with excitement. What an absolute treat. Full of praise and thanks to God for something so sweet, so unique, so special. What a beautiful, blessed morning. On the trip to Baja side, we are having our awning for Evie resewn at the sail makers shop today. The flooring is completely beautiful, leaks are patched. Only two more classes to teach before I retire from teaching yoga (at least until the new year) and replace the teaching with surfing full time.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Ripening Persimmons

Dear silly Sadie, in her earlier years she was a hermit crab traveler with her artist husband George. They have been settled in a more permanent abode for many years now and live down the street in our quiet little neighborhood we share. She has the most wonderful persimmon tree and every year Sadie bequeaths to me an ample supply. They ripen so quickly so I find myself this evening pushing persimmons thru the foodmill. From the puree I'll make persimmon bread and as if in a ritual dance, I'll take some of the bread down to Sadie and George who show their gratitude by bringing me more persimmons next year. Such a wonderful cycle...


Thursday, October 1, 2009

Golden Rain blooms

So the whole back yard is covered in the tiniest yellow flowers as the Golden Rain blooms. What you can't hear is the low hum that surrounds the tree as the bumblebees swarm all over the blooms.


 The temperature in North Florida right now is cool, the ocean is very clear and we continue our preparations for our Baja sojourn.


 The flooring in our motor home "Evie" was laid out yesterday. Man, that carpet was dirty. A good friend worked on her innards this past weekend and she has a clean bill of health. She got herself some new shoes too.

Marginalized

What do you do or say when people are visibly uncomfortable and fall into silence when told a loved one has passed away? I ...