Shundo David Haye – Zen Priest

As we passed through the equinox, at the farmers market berries were replaced by grapes and now apples; the sky smelt of smoke for the first time this summer; and, as I rode around the city, I saw the first halloween decorations appearing in people’s front yards. San Francisco is not especially an autumnal city, but the mornings and evenings have just felt a bit cooler – even if the current range of temperatures is actually very limited. Rain carried all the way over from Japan to fall on the northern parts of the state, and woke me up pattering against the window in the night.

I had a weekend of weddings: the first was in Fay Park, a lovely little rose garden between North Beach and Russian Hill that I have used as a meditation spot when we have roamed in the area. It was quite the home-made and family-oriented affair, and very relaxed with it. The second was in the garden of a classy house in the East Bay – the bride had looked after the two little boys who helped with the ceremony. Some of her family had flown up from Argentina to be there; others were joining on Zoom. Both ceremonies were simple, and quite quick, but they are a pinnacle on the life journeys of the couples; I never lose sight of this fact as I get a small glimpse of their lives together.