Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki, Weatherhill, New York, 2000.
This small book is a series of talks given by Master Suzuki to his disciples during their zazen practice. He speaks in the manner of the great Buddhist masters with many parables from nature and not always so easy to follow - until you let go of the need for understanding and just let the words fall into your consciousness and then let them go.
This "listening/reading" is not easy for this ISFJ personality. But about 2/3's of the way through the book, I realized that that was exactly what I was doing. Everything seemed to come together in a small aah-ha moment. I remember thinking, "Oh, this is what Jerry meant when I asked for a book."
Nirvana and the Waterfall story, page 92, was the story of the aah-ha. That dipper of water, the lake in front of me, the waterfall of individual drops falling 1340 feet and feeling so good to be part of the river again finally got through my big mind.
Other writings which meant a great deal to me include, page 111, But there is no certain way that exist permanently. There is no way set up for us. Moment after moment we have to find our own way. Some idea of perfection, or some perfect way which is set up by someone else, is not the true way for us.
Page 115, It is not necessary to make an effort to think in a particular way. Your thinking should not be one-sided. We just think with our whole mind, and see things as they are without any effort. Just to see, and be ready to see things with our whole mind, is zazen practice. If we are prepared for thinking, there is no need to make an effort to think. This is called mindfulness. Mindfulness is at the same time wisdom. By wisdom we do not mean some particular faculty or philosophy. It is the readiness of the mind that is wisdom.... Wisdom is not something to be learned. Wisdom is something that will come out of your mindfulness. So the point is to be ready for observing things, and to be ready for thinking. This is called emptiness of your mind. Emptiness is nothing but the practice of zazen.
Page 119, But oneness and variety are the same thing, so oneness should be appreciated in each existence. That is why we emphasize everyday life rather than some particular state of mind. We should find the reality in each moment and in each phenomenon.
Page 128, Actually, good and bad is not the point. Whether or not you make yourself peaceful is the point, and whether or not you stick to it.
Page 138, We must have beginner's mind, free from possessing anything, a mind that knows everything is in flowing change. Nothing exists but momentarily in its present form and color. One thing flows into another and cannot be grasped. Before the rain stops we hear the bird.
Anyone who enjoys Zen will enjoy this book. But Zen is not easy, at least not for this thinking, planning, controlling personality. That is why I sit.
May you find the Peace of the River for all your Drops of Water. Cyn
Monday, October 19, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
The Dance of Hope - Book Review
The Dance of Hope by The Rt. Rev (Retired) William C. Frey, Waterbrook Press, Colorado Springs, CO, 2003.
I bought this book at our church rummage sale; the title caught my eye as this summer has seemed a little hopeless to me. He says in his forward that I am the reason he wrote the book - those who feel less than hopeful in the present world. Bishop Frey is the retired Bishop of Colorado and a former Bishop of Guatemala. He and his wife have served congregations in Colorado, New Mexico, & Guatemala. For him the power of hope comes from reading the Bible. This is something that I have not found particularly helpful in finding hope. But Bishop Frey has some interesting points of view on common Biblical stories and his book held my interest (although not to the exclusion of reading several others at the same time).
Some of the points I marked are ---
page 41, "The saving remnant ceases to have the ability to save when it's constituents become so conscious of their own virtue that they begin to look with disdain on those outside their fellowship. When the gathering becomes the holy huddle of the "saved" and can no longer shed a tear, much less toss out a lifeline to those who are perishing,it fails in it's original purpose." A little later, he says, "I've know many clergy who, only half in jest, have said that there are no problems in their congregations that a few well-chosen funerals wouldn't solve." Cyn speaking, Ah, yes, please help me from becoming one of those funerals!
page 53, "The way back to Eden is barred, and the story can only go forward. We pass this way but once, and our stories have a beginning and an ending. As we saw earlier, it isn't a no-fault universe, and actions have consequences. Life is very real and reality bites." Cyn speaking, everyday is a new opportunity to make amends or do-over or move forward. There is no reverse in life.
page 105, "The last chapter ended with the question. Yes, but how?" In a few sentences Bishop Frey suggests the question should be, 'Yes but where?' "Any authentic recovery of hope will take place in community with other people." Cyn speaking, this community this summer, the ones which have sustained me are a small group of church friends, a group of quilters, and most strongly my yoga & meditation practice as taught by my Yogis & Buddhist friends.
page 108, "A baptized person is a sign of promise for all people. The Eucharist is a promise for every meal. The church is a promise for all human society." A preview of coming attractions. Cyn speaking, not so sure why I marked this one except that I like the way the sentences build on each other.
page 141, "Benjamin Franklin said that the most important thing he had ever learned was that he was accountable to God. While that might sound like a frightening discovery, it's really good news. To be accountable for anything, first of all, means that you count, that you have dignity and are valued by someone, that you are important in the infinite scheme of things. That is a truly awesome thought. To believe in a God who doesn't hold us accountable would be to believe in a God who doesn't care." Cyn speaking, this holds true in life with real people, to be accountable in your work place, worship place, etc, means that you do count!
page 150, "Donde huelgan las palabras, comienza la danza-- Where words come to an end, the dance begins!" Cyn speaking, ah, yes, the dance of life. Words must cease and dancing begin or life holds little joy. Stop to smell the roses. Dance the gospel book down the steps and into the congregation. Invite a friend for coffee. Live your life don't wait until tomorrow, or next week, or whenever. Right now, this moment is the right time.
page 194, "...Dag Hammarskjold to write, 'For all that has been--Thanks! For all that shall be--Yes!' Hope is the ability to hear the melody of the future, and faith is the courage to dance to it today." Cyn speaking, Thanks to all of you who have sustained me without knowing it. Yes, I will believe in hope and I will dance it today.
May the DANCE Enliven your feet and Warm your Soul! Cyn
I bought this book at our church rummage sale; the title caught my eye as this summer has seemed a little hopeless to me. He says in his forward that I am the reason he wrote the book - those who feel less than hopeful in the present world. Bishop Frey is the retired Bishop of Colorado and a former Bishop of Guatemala. He and his wife have served congregations in Colorado, New Mexico, & Guatemala. For him the power of hope comes from reading the Bible. This is something that I have not found particularly helpful in finding hope. But Bishop Frey has some interesting points of view on common Biblical stories and his book held my interest (although not to the exclusion of reading several others at the same time).
Some of the points I marked are ---
page 41, "The saving remnant ceases to have the ability to save when it's constituents become so conscious of their own virtue that they begin to look with disdain on those outside their fellowship. When the gathering becomes the holy huddle of the "saved" and can no longer shed a tear, much less toss out a lifeline to those who are perishing,it fails in it's original purpose." A little later, he says, "I've know many clergy who, only half in jest, have said that there are no problems in their congregations that a few well-chosen funerals wouldn't solve." Cyn speaking, Ah, yes, please help me from becoming one of those funerals!
page 53, "The way back to Eden is barred, and the story can only go forward. We pass this way but once, and our stories have a beginning and an ending. As we saw earlier, it isn't a no-fault universe, and actions have consequences. Life is very real and reality bites." Cyn speaking, everyday is a new opportunity to make amends or do-over or move forward. There is no reverse in life.
page 105, "The last chapter ended with the question. Yes, but how?" In a few sentences Bishop Frey suggests the question should be, 'Yes but where?' "Any authentic recovery of hope will take place in community with other people." Cyn speaking, this community this summer, the ones which have sustained me are a small group of church friends, a group of quilters, and most strongly my yoga & meditation practice as taught by my Yogis & Buddhist friends.
page 108, "A baptized person is a sign of promise for all people. The Eucharist is a promise for every meal. The church is a promise for all human society." A preview of coming attractions. Cyn speaking, not so sure why I marked this one except that I like the way the sentences build on each other.
page 141, "Benjamin Franklin said that the most important thing he had ever learned was that he was accountable to God. While that might sound like a frightening discovery, it's really good news. To be accountable for anything, first of all, means that you count, that you have dignity and are valued by someone, that you are important in the infinite scheme of things. That is a truly awesome thought. To believe in a God who doesn't hold us accountable would be to believe in a God who doesn't care." Cyn speaking, this holds true in life with real people, to be accountable in your work place, worship place, etc, means that you do count!
page 150, "Donde huelgan las palabras, comienza la danza-- Where words come to an end, the dance begins!" Cyn speaking, ah, yes, the dance of life. Words must cease and dancing begin or life holds little joy. Stop to smell the roses. Dance the gospel book down the steps and into the congregation. Invite a friend for coffee. Live your life don't wait until tomorrow, or next week, or whenever. Right now, this moment is the right time.
page 194, "...Dag Hammarskjold to write, 'For all that has been--Thanks! For all that shall be--Yes!' Hope is the ability to hear the melody of the future, and faith is the courage to dance to it today." Cyn speaking, Thanks to all of you who have sustained me without knowing it. Yes, I will believe in hope and I will dance it today.
May the DANCE Enliven your feet and Warm your Soul! Cyn
Saturday, August 22, 2009
My Hawaiian Connection
A friend, neighbor from across the street, asked me where my interest in Hawaiian applique quilting came from. The short story is that Wayne & I went to Maui several times (work for him) and I bought the quilt book while there the last time. I needed a project and the book jumped off the shelf at me. I have a sister-in-love, Carna, who spent many years of her early adulthood in Hawaii, and I knew that I could count on her to make use of a pillow if I only made one square or a wall hanging if the square count rose to two or three.
But like all stories I have a longer one, which may really answer the question and pose a few more I'm sure. Our first trip to Hawaii was in 1974 and was just the island of Oahu. It was charming and touristy and a lovely vacation that Cargill paid for. Wayne had won the trip on a sales contest.
It was many years before we went back again; I think 1998 and this time to Maui and the Kapalua Bay Resort. Business again for Wayne, but pure vacation for me! Our room was on the second or even third floor with a perfect line of sight out to the ocean. With the binoculars I could watch the whales breach and splash from the comfort of my own porch. We did a couple whale watching tours. Matt commented that my picture of a whale could just as easily be a log floating in the ocean. OK, I don't have the money invested in a camera that he has much less say anything of the talent that he has.
The second trip, oh, my, I had such big plans. The whales had been such a spiritual experience for me. I planned to watch and watch and journal and journal. But like most experiences, you can't go home again. Our room faced the large open space that had been quite beautiful in it's own right last time, but this time was being developed into... you guess it - condos. The room was on ground level and I had a less than lovely view of the construction fence. I must say that along the ridge line and in my sight was a row of "pine?" trees, which did grant me some journal entries on my meditations of them.
After the pine trees gave way to boredom, I found the gift shop and the paperback book rack. They had several books on Hawaiian royalty and at $3.99, I could afford to go wild. So I bought and read four of them. It was fun. What history major doesn't enjoy biographies? They introduced me to the native spirituality of Huna but nothing of any real meat.
A couple years later, I was at Matt & Andrea's for a couple weeks. Wayne had given me a gift certificate to Borders, and Matt & I went out on a Border's run. I had several books in my arms (can't buy just one!) when I noticed I had a book called "Huna Code in Religions." I didn't want to buy that. I tried to put the book back on the shelf, but honestly - it kept on jumping out at me. So I decided that there must be a reason for me to read it. I bought the book and my life hasn't been quite the same since. It is written by a man with an interesting name, Max Freedom Long. As I frequently do, I began to read other books written by Mr. Long.
One bit of history, I had been seeing a spiritual director for several years at this point so had someone that I trusted deeply to talk to about all types of subjects but particularly spiritual ones. I had read a great deal on Buddhism (Tibetan) and Taoism, in addition to the more mainstream Judaism and Muslim writers.
The piece of Huna that has meant the most to me was the idea of the body having three selves - the lower self who controls all the autotomic responses and emotions but not the ability to think only to react. The middle self who controls the thinking rational processes (the one we think we are) and finally, the higher self who actually resides outside of our physical body (somewhat like an aura but not really) and is the connection to the great choir of higher selves who in turn are in contact with God or the Creator of all.
The interesting point that Mr. Long makes is that the lower self is the one who can contact the higher self not the middle self who thinks it runs the show! So to get into contact with your higher self - you, the middle self, must learn to contact and RESPECT the lower self. It was suggested that you name your lower self and that you ask and then listen for the name that the lower self would like to be called. Well, I did and the name "Daisy" came back to me. That was entirely too playful for me so I suggested another name. No, the response said, "My name is Daisy." So Daisy is the name of my lower self, and whenever I need her help in controlling some bodily function from breathing to yes, gas, I call on her and remind her of how much she means to our joint well-being. AND yes, she almost always comes through for me.
The line of contact between the lower self and the higher self is "mana" or "aloha." This line is established by - are you ready for this - breathe. What is the most important guage of life, "are you breathing?" What is the gift given in CPR - breath. Well, mana isn't just any breath but intentional breathing, done with the express intention of extending the line of communication from the physical body of the lower self to the higher self, reinforcing and feeding that higher self to do the more erethial work of communing with other higher selves and the Creator.
How does this fit with my quilting? Perhaps, my middle self is just trying to get into the act of feeding the higher self. For sure, the thinking mind is involved but the ability to do the stitches and remain at it the length of time necessary is, I believe a function of my lower self. This quilt will be a gift of mana or aloha from all of me to the greater world of all higher selves.
May the Peace of the Ocean & all it's Creatures Be With You.
Cyn
But like all stories I have a longer one, which may really answer the question and pose a few more I'm sure. Our first trip to Hawaii was in 1974 and was just the island of Oahu. It was charming and touristy and a lovely vacation that Cargill paid for. Wayne had won the trip on a sales contest.
It was many years before we went back again; I think 1998 and this time to Maui and the Kapalua Bay Resort. Business again for Wayne, but pure vacation for me! Our room was on the second or even third floor with a perfect line of sight out to the ocean. With the binoculars I could watch the whales breach and splash from the comfort of my own porch. We did a couple whale watching tours. Matt commented that my picture of a whale could just as easily be a log floating in the ocean. OK, I don't have the money invested in a camera that he has much less say anything of the talent that he has.
The second trip, oh, my, I had such big plans. The whales had been such a spiritual experience for me. I planned to watch and watch and journal and journal. But like most experiences, you can't go home again. Our room faced the large open space that had been quite beautiful in it's own right last time, but this time was being developed into... you guess it - condos. The room was on ground level and I had a less than lovely view of the construction fence. I must say that along the ridge line and in my sight was a row of "pine?" trees, which did grant me some journal entries on my meditations of them.
After the pine trees gave way to boredom, I found the gift shop and the paperback book rack. They had several books on Hawaiian royalty and at $3.99, I could afford to go wild. So I bought and read four of them. It was fun. What history major doesn't enjoy biographies? They introduced me to the native spirituality of Huna but nothing of any real meat.
A couple years later, I was at Matt & Andrea's for a couple weeks. Wayne had given me a gift certificate to Borders, and Matt & I went out on a Border's run. I had several books in my arms (can't buy just one!) when I noticed I had a book called "Huna Code in Religions." I didn't want to buy that. I tried to put the book back on the shelf, but honestly - it kept on jumping out at me. So I decided that there must be a reason for me to read it. I bought the book and my life hasn't been quite the same since. It is written by a man with an interesting name, Max Freedom Long. As I frequently do, I began to read other books written by Mr. Long.
One bit of history, I had been seeing a spiritual director for several years at this point so had someone that I trusted deeply to talk to about all types of subjects but particularly spiritual ones. I had read a great deal on Buddhism (Tibetan) and Taoism, in addition to the more mainstream Judaism and Muslim writers.
The piece of Huna that has meant the most to me was the idea of the body having three selves - the lower self who controls all the autotomic responses and emotions but not the ability to think only to react. The middle self who controls the thinking rational processes (the one we think we are) and finally, the higher self who actually resides outside of our physical body (somewhat like an aura but not really) and is the connection to the great choir of higher selves who in turn are in contact with God or the Creator of all.
The interesting point that Mr. Long makes is that the lower self is the one who can contact the higher self not the middle self who thinks it runs the show! So to get into contact with your higher self - you, the middle self, must learn to contact and RESPECT the lower self. It was suggested that you name your lower self and that you ask and then listen for the name that the lower self would like to be called. Well, I did and the name "Daisy" came back to me. That was entirely too playful for me so I suggested another name. No, the response said, "My name is Daisy." So Daisy is the name of my lower self, and whenever I need her help in controlling some bodily function from breathing to yes, gas, I call on her and remind her of how much she means to our joint well-being. AND yes, she almost always comes through for me.
The line of contact between the lower self and the higher self is "mana" or "aloha." This line is established by - are you ready for this - breathe. What is the most important guage of life, "are you breathing?" What is the gift given in CPR - breath. Well, mana isn't just any breath but intentional breathing, done with the express intention of extending the line of communication from the physical body of the lower self to the higher self, reinforcing and feeding that higher self to do the more erethial work of communing with other higher selves and the Creator.
How does this fit with my quilting? Perhaps, my middle self is just trying to get into the act of feeding the higher self. For sure, the thinking mind is involved but the ability to do the stitches and remain at it the length of time necessary is, I believe a function of my lower self. This quilt will be a gift of mana or aloha from all of me to the greater world of all higher selves.
May the Peace of the Ocean & all it's Creatures Be With You.
Cyn
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Journal Entry
I awoke to the sound of rain and wind pounding against the sliding glass door of my bedroom. I knew I had shut the door shortly after going to bed as the wind was rattling the vertical blinds, but I also knew that the window in the living room was open. So I hopped out of bed and walked into the living room to shut the window. Yup, some rain had made it inside. I closed the dining room sliding door and glanced at the thermostat – 60 degrees! I hopped back into bed to warm up. It was only 6:48 am.
At 7:20 I decided to say yes to the “be” question and got out of bed. (See blog on A Book of Hours by Thomas Merton.) A quick trip to the bathroom after slipping on my flannel shirt, then out to the thermostat. Oh, how I hate to turn on the heat in June – but 60 is just a little too cold. Ah, coffee, it smelled so good this morning. The rain continues to pound the living room windows to the north. But there is a clearing in the sky way, way to the north. I can’t see across Polson Bay as the coffee drips, but by the time I bring my cup into the living room to get my daily dose of Merton, I can – a little foggy, but the west shore is visible. Guess it will clear off.
The rain began to let up and was finished by 8:30 but the wind is still blowing, not howling but the trees and bushes are doing their dance thing. Some days like today, I love pine trees the most because it takes a lot of wind to get them moving. They are such sturdy trees. Other days like hot summer ones, I think Aspen are my favorite because their small round leaves will blow in almost any breeze and that makes me feel cooler.
Yesterday afternoon, I cut some lilacs from the bush by the deck. The branches were so hard; I’ll have to get a pair of pruning scissors before cutting any more. Poor kitchen shears just could barely handle it. The buds are beginning to fade on the lilacs but still many pretty ones. I’ll just have a bit of a mess to clean up each day. The white shrub roses are blooming now and the peonies are budded. Well, the white shrub roses were blooming; it looks as if there was a wedding on my front lawn from all the wind and rain.
So what does today hold in store for me? I have prayer quilt ministry this afternoon. That’s interaction with people and I look forward to that. I really should do a load of laundry. I love mornings – the peace of a cup of coffee and the view of the lake, the quiet of the mountains and gentle (most of the time) dance of the trees. Morning offers a renewal, a freshness, a calm energy, and yes, a hope. This will be a good day to live.
May the Peace of the Mountains be with you.
At 7:20 I decided to say yes to the “be” question and got out of bed. (See blog on A Book of Hours by Thomas Merton.) A quick trip to the bathroom after slipping on my flannel shirt, then out to the thermostat. Oh, how I hate to turn on the heat in June – but 60 is just a little too cold. Ah, coffee, it smelled so good this morning. The rain continues to pound the living room windows to the north. But there is a clearing in the sky way, way to the north. I can’t see across Polson Bay as the coffee drips, but by the time I bring my cup into the living room to get my daily dose of Merton, I can – a little foggy, but the west shore is visible. Guess it will clear off.
The rain began to let up and was finished by 8:30 but the wind is still blowing, not howling but the trees and bushes are doing their dance thing. Some days like today, I love pine trees the most because it takes a lot of wind to get them moving. They are such sturdy trees. Other days like hot summer ones, I think Aspen are my favorite because their small round leaves will blow in almost any breeze and that makes me feel cooler.
Yesterday afternoon, I cut some lilacs from the bush by the deck. The branches were so hard; I’ll have to get a pair of pruning scissors before cutting any more. Poor kitchen shears just could barely handle it. The buds are beginning to fade on the lilacs but still many pretty ones. I’ll just have a bit of a mess to clean up each day. The white shrub roses are blooming now and the peonies are budded. Well, the white shrub roses were blooming; it looks as if there was a wedding on my front lawn from all the wind and rain.
So what does today hold in store for me? I have prayer quilt ministry this afternoon. That’s interaction with people and I look forward to that. I really should do a load of laundry. I love mornings – the peace of a cup of coffee and the view of the lake, the quiet of the mountains and gentle (most of the time) dance of the trees. Morning offers a renewal, a freshness, a calm energy, and yes, a hope. This will be a good day to live.
May the Peace of the Mountains be with you.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Thomas Merton - A Book of Hours, Sunday Dawn
I am using a collection of Thomas Merton's writings in my meditation practice this summer. (I know Summer begins June 20th, but if I'm in Montana then it's summer.) First, an explanation of "Hours" for anyone not use to monastery life. The "Hours" are the services that are prayed usually together in a monastery. The traditional times are dawn (6 am), day (9 am), noon, afternoon (3 pm), evening (6 pm), and night (9pm) - then it's not unheard of to pray at midnight too.
Merton's book has only four "Hours," Dawn, Day, Dusk & Dark. No, I'm not praying all four each day, but I am trying to read Dawn each morning, while I sip my first cup of coffee. I figure once I get that one down I'll move on to include "Dark" or whichever pops to mind. Baby steps stick, at least for me.
Sunday's Dawn talks of birds beginning their day. The first chirps coming before there is any real light. I love this line - "when the Father in perfect silence opens their eyes." OK, he wrote before inclusive language, but he writes so beautifully with such insight that I find I can forgive this large lapse of feminine consciousness. He goes on to say that their condition asks if it is time for them "to be," and God answers "yes." He continues addressing humanity at our awakening. The news is not so good. "There is an unspeakable secret: paradise is all around us and we do not understand."
We are too busy living our lives to wonder at the glory of a new day much less ask if we are "to be." And even if we do take the time to notice the beauty of the new day, do we think to ask the question? Can we give our awakening over to another entity, not our own volition? And if we ask the question, do we live the answer, or do we live out our own agenda?
Much pondering can go into this question. I know I have approached the chirping of birds at 4:30 am with a little more grace since reading this psalm. I am trying to remember that I am not in control of even my waking moment, but my response to every moment is in my control. So what do I need to find the correct response - patience (with myself & the situation), love (again for myself & others in the situation), & the biggest thing, memory (so that I remember to be patient & have a loving heart).
May the peace of the mountains give you peace of mind.
Merton's book has only four "Hours," Dawn, Day, Dusk & Dark. No, I'm not praying all four each day, but I am trying to read Dawn each morning, while I sip my first cup of coffee. I figure once I get that one down I'll move on to include "Dark" or whichever pops to mind. Baby steps stick, at least for me.
Sunday's Dawn talks of birds beginning their day. The first chirps coming before there is any real light. I love this line - "when the Father in perfect silence opens their eyes." OK, he wrote before inclusive language, but he writes so beautifully with such insight that I find I can forgive this large lapse of feminine consciousness. He goes on to say that their condition asks if it is time for them "to be," and God answers "yes." He continues addressing humanity at our awakening. The news is not so good. "There is an unspeakable secret: paradise is all around us and we do not understand."
We are too busy living our lives to wonder at the glory of a new day much less ask if we are "to be." And even if we do take the time to notice the beauty of the new day, do we think to ask the question? Can we give our awakening over to another entity, not our own volition? And if we ask the question, do we live the answer, or do we live out our own agenda?
Much pondering can go into this question. I know I have approached the chirping of birds at 4:30 am with a little more grace since reading this psalm. I am trying to remember that I am not in control of even my waking moment, but my response to every moment is in my control. So what do I need to find the correct response - patience (with myself & the situation), love (again for myself & others in the situation), & the biggest thing, memory (so that I remember to be patient & have a loving heart).
May the peace of the mountains give you peace of mind.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Travel by Shuttle Late at Night
I made arrangements to travel from the airport at Missoula to Polson once the plane landed at 11:30 pm. My very own bed was just too much of a desire to want to spend just a little less money and stay at a hotel and take the bus (8 am anyway). Soon all the old 'voices' popped into my head - woman alone meeting an unknown man and driving away 60 miles in the dead of night. I reminded myself that this would be Montana and that surely it would be safe as it was a business after all. Then the reminder that Thompsons Falls, MT has more sex offenders per capita than any other US town, popped in. Well, we wouldn't be going through Thompsons Falls! Oh, the trials and tribulations.
I met the shuttle driver, who immediately pulled my bags off the conveyor belt and loaded them into the van. What a nice little courtesy after a long flight! We had to take another passenger to his house in south Missoula. But what's another half an hour after a seven hour flight. Both men were delightful company. The passenger had just played violin at a Sufi dance retreat. Now doesn't that just sound right up my alley?? The driver and I talked about life and spirituality all the way to Polson. He carried my bags to the front door and waited with his lights on the door until I was inside with my bags.
The one thing he forgot to do was remind me to take the keys out of the front door lock. Yes, the next morning my neighbor came over with a box I had mailed home and asked me if those were my keys in the front door! Good thing I live in Polson and not Thompsons Falls.
May the peace of the mountains give you peace of mind.
I met the shuttle driver, who immediately pulled my bags off the conveyor belt and loaded them into the van. What a nice little courtesy after a long flight! We had to take another passenger to his house in south Missoula. But what's another half an hour after a seven hour flight. Both men were delightful company. The passenger had just played violin at a Sufi dance retreat. Now doesn't that just sound right up my alley?? The driver and I talked about life and spirituality all the way to Polson. He carried my bags to the front door and waited with his lights on the door until I was inside with my bags.
The one thing he forgot to do was remind me to take the keys out of the front door lock. Yes, the next morning my neighbor came over with a box I had mailed home and asked me if those were my keys in the front door! Good thing I live in Polson and not Thompsons Falls.
May the peace of the mountains give you peace of mind.
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