My seventieth birthday – the first day of my eighth decade
A gift to me from me

Mendocino, California
February 18, 2020

The early morning was cold and wet
in the way of coastal Northern California mornings.
I drove down to the river
sat in the car, wrapped in a blanket facing the sun
and welcomed myself into the quiet, familiar place.

Opening my eyes I looked out on the river
the sun higher now above tree covered hills
and quietly chanted Om Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu 108 times
May all beings everywhere be happy and free.

Bundled up in winter layers
I set out walking towards Mendocino Bay where Big River meets the Pacific Ocean.
A large open space where logs of all sizes come to rest and decay over time.

I’m drawn to meditate
pick a log, any log, and sit.

The sun, my only compass through time, warms my face as it moves across the sky.
On this day the only place to be is where I am at any moment.
In this moment, the only thing I want is to sit
to listen to the waves and birds
the honking geese flying by reminding each other they are not alone
the distant sounds of human voices.

 

 

Hours later sitting in a local cafe I strongly feel the presence of Mexico.
Memories flood in, maybe it’s the scent of tortillas in the room.
A late breakfast of burrito con frijoles negros, arroz integral (porque estamos en la Nueva California), pollo, aguacate y salsa – burrito with black beans, brown rice (because we are in New California), chicken, avocado and salsa.
And since now is now, a cafe latte.
When I was a kid my breakfast drink was freshly made jugo de naranja – orange juice,
coffee came years later.
México, siento tu presencia tan llena de vida en mi corazón y alma
Mexico, I feel your presence so alive in my heart and soul 

Drinking my latte
I write and pause.
Listening to the sound of a guitar in the background
Slipping back into the endless moment
of sitting on a log
being held by the sun
waves
wind
and birds

Welcoming myself into being seventy.

 

After breakfast, wandering and pausing around town

 

 

Along the cliff

Where there is a bench, just for me.

A place to sit
and be still
in the afternoon sun

overlooking

 

 

As the sun got lower I headed north to Fort Bragg
to be with the evening rays
as they softly touch the coast.