Shundo David Haye – Zen Priest

The week of the clock change started well: it was bright on Sunday, I had an early start, and taught an extra class for Within in the morning. In the afternoon I took a biggish group down to Mile Rock Beach where the tide was very low. We – most of us at least – sat and watched the waves for an hour, and when I got home, I could feel the sun and wind on my face. The next day I had the usual mix of teaching sessions, and I noticed I was feeling tired in the afternoon, though I still managed to ride over to Noe Valley for the student group – that was where the extra hour of sun really helped – and I felt invigorated by the session and the ride home as well. 

My early start on Tuesday definitely felt too early, and while I was at Mukunda for the meditation, I realised I wasn’t feeling well enough to do the day of work ahead of me. I rode home slowly, discovered my temperature was exactly 100, pretty much crashed out on the bed for the next five hours, then got up and managed to eat a little bit of dinner, my only symptoms being a headache and general body ache. This was my fourth time being sick since Christmas; Ruth had been suffering with a cough and sore throat for several days, so it seemed natural that I had caught it from her.

After even more sleep on Tuesday night, I felt somewhat better on Wednesday, able to do my Within class and attend another online meeting. It was a wet day and I had no desire to leave the house other than walking the dog. I made a decision not to go to work on Thursday, even though I felt I was through the worst; it was a wise move, as I felt much groggier on Thursday and was glad I hadn’t tried to do a full day. 

On Friday I woke with a sore throat, but rested in the morning, and, since the rain didn’t materialise to the extent that the forecast had been suggesting, managed to ride around and complete some errands, including a long-overdue routine doctor’s visit, in the afternoon, without wiping myself out.

Saturday is supposed to be clear – before a little more rain moves through – and I hope I will feel strong enough to lead the roam. I allowed for the possibility of cancelling it, but in the end didn’t feel that was necessary. I was told though, that I had posted it with the wrong start time, so even though I have emailed all the people who have signed up on Meetup, I hope everyone makes it at the usual time.