Hi,

This week, I wrote a sketch (see below) inspired by my meditation experiences in Danny B's little round house by the creek. The sketch is fiction, as are all characters in it. (and it is copyrighted, fyi). Needless to say, I had some really good meditations in that little house. Thank you Danny B.!!!!

The Round House

At the western edge of North America, the round house perches, quiet, above Murmuring Hot Springs creek. The creek flows rapidly to the nearby Pacific, bubbling, gurgling, sometimes spitting. Always moving, always singing.

it was a truly magic expedition - three weeks surrounded by the glacier, felt connected with the mountains and excouraged by this connection made it to the summit and back... without the long preparation time as I enrolled at the spurr of the moment into this :-) Practiced my meditiation and SNR healing every day getting myself warm (it was up to -40 degrees outside the tent) and strong. Worked with fellow climbers to help them deal with pain, cold and exhaustion.

Today's NYT has an article about lists, those "100 Things to Do Before You Die" things. Enjoy reading others', don't have one.

For me, they obviate the dailiness of life, the appreciation of the small things that give texture and depth: making plum jam, getting a chortle from the newborn next door, the deep realease of truly breathing after a draining week's work. Chop wood, carry water.

Last winter, my yoga teacher showed me photos of the estate in Goa where she planned to take a workshop. With uncharacteristic spontaneity, my friend Joan and I signed on, and plunged into a chaotic, vibrant, life-expanding journey. Not on any list. There are peak events, and there is also the deeply satisfying moment, or hour- or two, like my recent watching of Louis Malle's doc, "God's Country". If you rent it, watch for the last frame: worth the price of admission.

If you have a list, I'm happy to read it!