Shundo David Haye – Zen Priest

I am writing this on one of those warm windless evenings that may be a harbinger of our actual summer in San Francisco. Even as the days are getting shorter, the temperatures have been creeping up. It has not been all sunny by any means: the roam on Saturday went from breezy and foggy at the west end of California to slightly less foggy and a few degrees warmer with patches of blue sky at the downtown end a few hours later. My ride on Sunday morning was entirely under cloud.

In the classic way of life throwing things in the way just when you think you have a measure of control, we have been dealing with a serious health issue in Ruth’s family that has meant her spending a lot of time on calls, meetings and logistics, and me doing my best to be supportive; while our wedding is less than three weeks away now, suddenly we are focusing on something else, and neither of us is finding it easy to concentrate on other things.

The invoices are also all coming due now, and we are juggling money around to make sure that everyone gets paid on time.

I have found my meditations this week somewhat full of calculations and things to remember, or else feeling more tired than usual. I am keeping several running to-do lists: things to do before Ruth has to fly to Florida this weekend to help bring her family member to California; things to do while she is away; things to do before our friends and family start showing up a week from now; things to do before the big day; on the big day; before we drive off for a week-long road trip.

While I was at Alchemy on this Wednesday evening, Sarah was asking me when I would like to offer either meditation or a roam next; October is already full with the usual commitments – including four weddings I am due to officiate. At some point things will get less busy and I can turn to some of the projects I have had to put on hold, which include, for the moment, finishing my rakusu face.