In the Valley of Elah

Went with friends to see the movie, In the Valley of Elah this afternoon. A powerful unrelenting sad movie and it seemed so strange to walk out into the sunlight at the end.

The effects of the Irag war continue into the lives of the returning troops, families and communities.

All familiar to me from the Vietnam war era.

After our two rains storms, little bits of green are appearing on the ground and in the bare oak trees.

I recommend this movie.

Sitting in the art gallery all day listening to the koan speaker.

The whole world is medicine so what am I?

Slowing I watched a table size rectangle of sunlight move across the room wilting everything in it's heat. The elephant in the room. People shifted, moved as the light moved closer to their cushion.

And still we stayed, listened. learned.

Robert prepared a luscious lunch, a breeze came up to cool the room.

I have no complaints at all.

My heart goes out to the people of Burma. I am so moved by the monks and nuns leading the non violent demonstrations. Non violent on their side, the government is reacting with violence. I wonder if I would have the courage to demonstrate as they are doing.

Took a morning walk by the waterfront this morning. Cool fog. Opaque rumbled water. Migrating birds. A group of men getting ready to unload the fish from the big boat tied to the dock. Tourists with cameras waiting patiently as the equipment is pulled into place. I hadn't walked here for a week and am glad to be back on the path.

I had lunch with some old social workers today. We had worked together for many years at the local welfare department and now we are retired. Some of us (not me) are in our 80's. I played the role of the mouthy rebellious kid in that office and I seem to continue in that role.

The group meets monthly at quiet restaurants. Their favorite places are golf course restaurants. So we met at the Bayonet golf course grill. We were such a contrast to the vigorous middle aged men golfers. The older social workers used their walkers and canes to get to the table.

Memories of the intense times we had together came up and I was happy to be present. I am not sure I can go every month.

This morning I accidentally burnt the almonds while preparing breakfast. I was out of the kitchen and I smelled the crisp almonds and didn't think anything of it.

Back in the kitchen I saw smoke coming from the pan. I opened the back door and took the pan outside.

The fire alarm started pulsing shrieks. I was surprised it still worked. I figured it would stop as the smoke cleared and I put together my breakfast.

Then I heard the loud family behind me yelling fire. One voice screamed several times the fire alarm is going. The alarm stopped and I closed the door.

I then went to my bedroom chair to eat breakfast and read the paper. Life is good, even the burnt almonds.

I went to the huge Safeways in Carmel this morning after zazen. I needed to pick up a birthday for the girl Katie. She's six now.

This store is so large that I can easily get lost and at 8 in the morning it is mostly empty. I have to side step the demons that lurk in my mind to actually shop there.

I bought a raspberry chocolate cake and left, glad to escape outside. How does it stay in business.

met my friend Patrick in Moss Landing for brunch this morning and then took a leisurely walk around the marina and over the sand bar to the beach.

We talked and walked for hours stopping only to see the migrating bird, the lines of low flying pelicans, sea otters and dolphins.

What a perfect morning. Why don't I do this more often.