It was a lovely fall weekend.

Lisa came down from Napa and brought vegetables, lettuce, fall leaves, sun flowers, and bread and cheese.  I made soup and me talked!  Wonderfully nourishing all around. 

On Sunday, Robert and I walked the shoreline where the dog park is and enjoyed watching hundreds of  dogs romp (we don't have one, though.)  A little shopping, and then home to cook dinner for Paula and Gralen who came over from San Francisco.  She told us about the real estate market (she's one of the best agents and has been doing it for a long time.) Robert grilled chicken, and we had the rest of the lettuce from Saturday, grilled figs, green beans, and fruit and ice cream for dessert.

 We had a chance to talk politics and what we all want to be doing in the future.  (No conclusions!)

Ever since I got back from Japan, I've been seeing old friends and talking!  Last see, I had dinner with my writer friend Bruce Gelfand, and we had a stimulating conversation  about writing, about the concept of talent and how much it affects outcome.  About determingin when to keep going on something and when to just let it go, release it.  How does one handle the emotional difference between letting go and the resentful or regretful act of "giving up."

Fall brings out the reflective in me.

It's a rainy autumn Thursday night.  I arrived home from Japan on Monday, and was awake for 31 hours straight, as I stayed up Monday night until 12 midnight.  Robert had found that our friend Rosemary Ellen Guiley was speaking on the radio on Coast to Coast about  her new book, Magic and Alchemy.  I wanted to hear her!

My trip went very well. Fumiko and I presented numerology seminars levels 1, 2, 3, and an advanced one for professional coaches and other resource people. I was part of the 90th year celebration for the publisher, Shufuontomo.  The Japanese version of my book Find Your Purpose, Change Your Life was released during my tour.  It's already being reprinted!

I also saw old and new friends, ate great Japanese food, visited Fukuoka in Kyushu, and was blessed by warm fall weather and blue skies.

One of the many joys of visiting Japan is watching someone wrap a purchase--particularly if they are wrapping a gift.  I so enjoy the care and subtly that goes into the wrapping of an object in Japan. 

A new idea came to me while working there.  It suddenly occurred to me that I would like to form a loose association of healers and therapists in Japan.  I discussed the idea with some friends, who were very enthusiastic.  In my private consultations, I have continued to fee; a strong need to be able to refer clients to others for more long-term counseling after our session.  Therefore, my new intention is to co- create a referral network of healers.

Walked with Robert this morning.  The spiders are still under the fruit trees. 

I tried out my new digital camera on a spider picture.  Looks really big in the picture!

I'm packing for Japan, and tying up loose ends.

I'll be back by Halloween. 

Monday.  Robert and I walked the neigborhood.  Small treats.

Food samples at Trader Joes (a grocery store with interesting, inexpensive, international, usually organic foods where we stop on our early morning walks)

Tasting a piece of cheesy sourdough toast

and a tiny cup of coffee

Testing TJ's  hand lotion, very smooth.

Passing a man who was smiling the smile of someone who is receiving a new bed for his home. 

Noticing two fat pink dahlias.

Spotting six silent spiders sitting on their webs--all in one front yard. 

Under a plum tree. 

It must be the fruit flies.

Talking about how spiders hear through their legs (the vibrations of the web.)

Does that mean that spiders wear their earrings on their legs? 

Sunday.   Robert and I walked about 4 miles along the San Francisco Bay Trail (near the dog park here in El Cerrito.)  The trail signs gave a little history about the many tribes who lived in this coastal region 2500 years ago!  A lovely thought.  The signs told us not to disturb the birds, as they needed to nest and rest.  Sudden flurries made them use up precious fat reserves.  There was a salty, moist, reedy smell in the air as we looked out over the silvery bay.

In the evening, we had a little family party to celebrate Fumiko's 38th birthday!  Robert gave her durian-flavored wafers (we almost gave her the real durian fruit--one of the most foul-smelling foods on earth, I guess.  We saw all about it on the Travel channel!  Auggie really liked the wafers!  He likes blue cheese, too.  Rather wild for a 2 year old.

Went for a 3.5 miles walk with Robert this morning.  Returned my book on tape and got another one (to use during walking--another mystery.)

I want to get a lot of writing done today, so I can play tomorrow!  My friend, Denis, is having a little celebration upon getting his Ph.D. (his thesis was on road-side memorials.  He's an English dancing fiend, and one of the smartest people I've every met--knows a lot about esoteric subjects.).  I've mentioned him before in this blog.

Went into San Francisco yesterday with Robert to see the new Westfield mall in downtown--and meet Karla for coffee.  Nice place--the "grocery store" is exquisitely stocked--every green bean looks hand placed.  Pricey.  They preserved the old classical dome from the old Emporium store that was there.  I still remember shopping in that store in the sixties or seventies.  I could still tell you where the white gloves and hats were stocked.  I know were the men's department was, and the information booth at the front on Market street.  It's been closed for how many years?  Ten?  more? 

I'm trying to keep up with the times. 

Last night online I placed an order for my first digital camera (my friend Zenobia loves her Panasonic Lumix, so I got the same one.  I'm planning to ask her to show me how to work it!)  I guess I'm joining the rest of the world.

 Just finished Love's Executioner by Dr. Irvin Yalom--a psychiatrist talking about the process of therapy.  It's fascinating to see how he struggles to know how to work with people, and shares his thoughts so personally. I loved the one segment where he shows how we can never really know what another person is thinking--even when we feel we know them well. Robert and I talked about it.  He said that's one of the laws in linguistics.  You can't read other people's minds.  You can never be really sure what others are hearing when you say something.  I forget what the other law was that he mentioned.

I think someone gave me Dr. Yalom's book--it seemed to appear on my shelf.  I might look for some more of his books.  I've got another Paul Theroux--Pillers of Hercules--about the Mediterranean travels.  It's so fabulous to escape into a travel book. I'll take it to Japan.

Just finished all the curriculum for the Japanese seminars, and feel great about that.  Now to pack.  All black clothes I think.   

The weather is beautiful.  Yesterday I spent 4 hours putting in succulent cuttings in front my house by the sidewalk--and setting 5 rocks into the ground.  Lots of work, but entirely satisfying.  Being outside gave me the chance to talk to two of my neighbors--one is a young mother who is in school and wondering how to make her schedule work.  She came over to me to say hi, but went away thinking about "what would make her more peaceful."  Jody shared how her car got bashed in on the street the other night.  We talked about her new "on-demand" hot water heat that is like the one I had installed.  I don't think I applied for an energy credit though.  Oh well. I can't think of everything.

Two Japanese friends are arriving tomorrow, so we are planning to take them shopping and up to Napa Valley for some wine tasting.  The Japanese numerology charts are coming along, and Fumiko and Robert and I are working on getting the program to work.  It's very complicated!  Only Robert could figure this all out.  The new Chart Summaries are in place in the English version, and I'm so excited at the way they turned out.  So easy to see elements of life purpose and life lessons now. 

 EK and I will take a hot tub tonight and relax and catch up on our news.

It's interesting to watch the mind each day and see what it is that you're afraid of.   

Yesterday was a beautiful Sunday.  Robert and I went for a walk to follow the San Francisco Bay Trail, and found only a small part of it.  In El Cerrito, there is a Cerritos Creek Restoration project, to reclaim the creek to health.  Behind El Cerrito Plaza, there is a little plaque that shows where the big Spanish land grant, Rancho San Antonio was located (Trader Joe's market sits there now.) It shows where the Indians lived, where the dynamite factory was (in the 1880's) and where the first blacksmith shop was that was the center of El Cerrito (Ace Hardware is there now.)  

A little further down, the Creek was quite dirty and littered behind the Pacific Ranch Market (the Asian food market where we go to get fish, vegetables, Chinese sauces, and dim sum). It was sad and frustrating to see the  mess.  I was thinking maybe I should join the Five Creeks Restoration project, and maybe participate in a cleaning day.

We walked about four miles and went home to work on my new chart Profile Summary (it's finished!  All Primary Life Charts now have this new, succinct profile summary at the beginning of the full chart. I am very excited about this because it makes it easier for people to read.)  

At 4:30 pm we decided to take a break and walk over to the the local street fair, The Solano Stroll.  As we were looking at the booths, I spotted the booth for the Five Creeks Restoration project!  I was so happy to come across them as I had just discovered them in the morning on the walk.  I mentioned the litter on the Creek, and a volunteer in the booth suggested I call the management at the Pacific Ranch Market--it's their litter that blows into the area.  They also had literature about clean up projects.  I think I might do one!  And I should call the Market and see if they have plans to keep that area cleaner.

At the end of the fair, the Emeryville Taiko Dojo (big Japanese drums) was performing.  I was so happy!  It's my favorite thing, the Taiko drumming--I've been a fan since the very first moment I heard them.  I remember the moment about 20 years ago.  It was the very first time I went on a catering job.  I was at the Oakland Museum.  My job?  Opening champagne. On my break, I heard drumming and marched toward the sound like a lemming!  I've followed their progress ever since.  If I had more time (and dedication), I would take up drumming.

All these things I thought of doing with my time on Sunday!

I walked with Rainey this morning.  On the way back home, I saw my neighbor Marge and some of her family, dressed up going to St. Jerome's on the corner.  They must be attending her daughter's memorial service.

I've been writing on the computer all afternoon, and I've been hearing Marge and her family in the back yard.  They started out kind of quiet, and then I heard more laughs and lots of talking.  A few minutes ago they were really laughing and having a good time.  The spirit keeps going with the strong force of life for those of us still left.  I'm glad it's such a beautiful sunny day out there for them.

Robert and I just got back from a 7.8 miles walk according to my pedometer.  It's a beautiful day for the Labor Day holiday.  We plan to have left overs of left overs tonight--chicken in coconut sauce with jalapenos, over rice.

We had such a fun evening on Saturday with all our Japanese friends--and Gunther and Eliza came over for dinner two.  Auggie and Anders were really on their best behavior and they played with Akiko-san and Tomoko-san until late.  

 Yesterday was Sunday, and Robert and I cleaned out and repotted some of the big pots on the back patio.  Very hard on the back, but very satisfying to have everything symmetrical, fresh, and blooming again.  (I'm a terrible gardener, and kill so many plants.) 

We were breaking up the old broken ceramic fountain pot, when my neighbor, Jody, and a man I didn't recognize, rushed over to my back gate to investigate.  She thought the sound of the breaking pot might be robbers breaking in.  I'm so glad to have good neighbors! (I wonder what her plan was if she had found robbers?)

She's a great gardener, so I asked her what to plant in my pots.  On a sadder note, she told me that my next-door neighbor, Marge, in her eighties, lost her daughter two days ago--she was 59 and had cancer.  This is the third family death Marge has had in the past two years.

I  feel so grateful for every day.