In the spring of 2002, I attended my daughter Julia’s graduation from Smith College in Northampton Mass. Obviously, the best and biggest part of that memorable weekend was about our wonderful Julia – our happiness for and pride in her. Like most of her classmates, Julia was just shy of 22. But there… Continue reading Never Too Late
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Totally Nuts? Really? Who Exactly?
“My mind is like a bad neighborhood. I try not to go in there alone.” I love this quote from Bay Area author Annie Lamott. At first blush, it’s really funny, but for many of us, despite the fact that we really do need to observe our thoughts and actions carefully, so as to take… Continue reading Totally Nuts? Really? Who Exactly?
This Was No Butterfly….
I reckon most of us have heard the famous quote: “When a butterfly flaps its wings in one part of the world it can cause a hurricane in another part of the world.” According to Wikipedia, “the ‘butterfly effect’ as the term was originally called, was the brainchild of MIT meteorologist Edward Lorenz. “In 1961 while working… Continue reading This Was No Butterfly….
Understanding the Rocks
Crossing the street in Saigon and Hanoi (and doubtless many, many other Asian cities) is an act of faith and trust. Intersections with traffic lights are scarce, and so at some point you have to take a deep breath, and insert yourself into the flow of scooters, cars and buses coming at you from all… Continue reading Understanding the Rocks
We Live in Poverty – Not In Misery
Hello dear reader, it’s so good to be back with you. It’s been a month and I’m hoping you will be OK with me sharing my main takeaway from from our amazing trip to Vietnam and Cambodia. Up front though, you need to know that if I don’t seem “fair and balanced” or my “tone”… Continue reading We Live in Poverty – Not In Misery
What you DO is NOT who you are
I love this little story. I think you will too: Keichu, (1640-1701) the great Zen teacher of the Meiji era was the head of Tofuku, an important temple in Kyoto. One day, Kitigaki, the governor of Kyoto decided to visit him, and announced himself by presenting his business card to Keichu’s attendant: KITIGAKI GOVERNOR OF… Continue reading What you DO is NOT who you are
Tiny Teachers
Well, maybe this particular one is not so tiny. I took the photo of this piece, created by artist Louise Bourgeois at the roof garden of SF MOMA. We live on a houseboat, and every morning, I have this ritual: With coffee in one hand and cobweb duster pole in the other, keeping up with… Continue reading Tiny Teachers
We Are Running…
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished” – Lao Tzu We are running running and time is clocking us from the edge like an only daughter. our mothers stream before us, cradling their breasts in their hands. oh pray that what we want is worth this running, pray that what we’re running toward is… Continue reading We Are Running…
Right Action?
“Do you have the patience to wait Until your mud settles and the water is clear?” Back in the day, in my first corporate incarnation, I was fresh out of school, and working at our family owned company. One day I was walking by my uncle’s desk – the very uncle I’ve already posted about… Continue reading Right Action?
Moving To “And” Land
“The Master resides in the center of the circle, while yes OR no pursue each other around the circumference” – Lao Tzu We are, every one of us potentially, (including the two gentlemen from Missouri, seen here disagreeing on Prop C.) – the “master” whom Lao Tzu evokes. I reckon that since that sage offered… Continue reading Moving To “And” Land