Reflecting

The calendar is about to turn another page.

December.  Last month of the year.

A door closing, another one opening.

Momentous year, 2012.  Heart full,  heart heavy. 

Pema

It isn’t what happens to us that causes us to suffer; 

it’s what we say to ourselves about what happens.

 ~Pema Chodron

Ashes to Ashes

Twenty years ago my parents reluctantly accepted that I wanted to move out west.  After my move came visits and their growing fondness and familiarity with Southern California.  Over a half dozen years ago my father asked if his ashes could be buried in my back yard in the desert.  "Oh, Dad, do we really need to discuss this now?"  His request seemed premature, macabre, and slightly odd.  Why the desert, a place he never lived?  But over time I understood his love for the mountains and arid heat, and so when he died in August I never doubted that a portion of his ashes would be scattered in Palm Springs.  This Thanksgiving my family gathered to honor his wishes.  I took them to a favorite trail head, and we scattered his ashes at the base and at a peak over looking a waterfall and canyon.  In life he abhorred heights, but in death I thought he'd want to soar above sea level with the birds.  The sun was setting behind the mountains, and the rising moon was in full view.  With tears we released him into the warm air.  Beautiful, but bittersweet day.  For dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.  Genesis 3:19b

Descanso Gardens

Giving Thanks

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.  

Thornton Wilder

Trust

The reservoir of trust is a very simple, straightforward idea. If we accept a challenge and take certain steps to accomplish something, the process will yield results—either success or failure. When you sow a seed or plant a tree, either the  seed will germinate, the tree will grow, or it will die. Similarly, for the inquisitive  warrior, trust means that we know that our actions will bring a definite response from reality. We know that we will get a message. Failure generally is telling us  that our action has been undisciplined and inaccurate in some way. Therefore, it fails. When our action is fully disciplined, it usually is fulfilled; we have success.   But those responses are not regarded as either punishment or congratulations.

Trust, then, is being willing to take a chance, knowing that what goes up must come down, as they say. When a warrior has that kind of trust in the reflections of the phenomenal world, then he or she can trust his or her individual discovery of goodness. Communication produces results: either success or failure. That is how the fearless warrior relates with the universe, not by remaining alone and insecure, hiding away, but by constantly being exposed to the phenomenal world and constantly being willing to take that chance.

Chögyam Trungpa

It's a Wonderful Life

I am VERY blessed!

Evening

Morning

Why I Wake Early

Hello, sun in my face.

Hello, you who made the morning

and spread it over the fields

and into the faces of the tulips

and the nodding morning glories,

and into the windows of, even, the

miserable and the crotchety –

best preacher that ever was,

dear star, that just happens

to be where you are in the universe

to keep us from ever-darkness,

to ease us with warm touching,

to hold us in the great hands of light –

good morning, good morning, good morning.

Watch, now, how I start the day

in happiness, in kindness.

~ Mary Oliver ~

Weather

Unexpected Visitor

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whomever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond. 

Rumi

Skyfall

Daniel Craig doesn't disappoint, not that I thought he would.

Arrival

My parents are arriving in LA today.

My mother with a smile on her face, my father in a box in her carry on.  Life.

Around the World

I'm in awe of this family of four who committed to leaving their life in LA behind for a year to travel around the world.  They are documenting their adventure with stunning video and photos at A Year To Think.   Their unique spirit and journey are captured in this particularly moving post.


http://vimeo.com/49108433

PS

Brisk autumn day in the desert, perfect napping weather.

The Sign

The iconic Hollywood Sign, located in my neighborhood hills, is getting a major facelift just in time for the new year.  The most extensive refurbishing in nearly 35 years will involve 275 gallons of paint and 110 gallons of primer.  The task should take eight to 10 weeks to complete.

Victory

Barack!

Quote

It doesn’t interest me what you do 

for a living.

I want to know what you ache for,

and if you dream

of meeting your heart’s longing. 

Oriah

Daylight Savings

Cozy evening in bed reading.

Architectural Ghosts

From Kevin Bauman's website, 100 Abandoned Houses, architectural ghosts in Detroit. 

Haunting

Hauntingly beautiful photos of NYC pre and post Sandy captured by Maria Popova.