There is a funny little artist at the Sunday market who just sits and draws. When someone comes by to buy something, he doesn't look up. Last night I was on a quest for a new pair of heavy black pants for home and house shoes. Found both… pants – 170 ($5) and leather slippers 500 ($15). I catch up with Jeannine, see H&H, had an ice green tea, a plate of penne with fresh tomato sauce and mozzarella. The market was the most crowded last and it took me about 7 min to walk a block. One of his funny signs reminded me of Cheryl Arena's description of the walking street…. CHAF on steroids. So his little art piece that said… I buy stuff I don't want, with money I don't have, to impress people I don't like….. Really hit the mark.
To back up the day, I get up later on Sunday. Nothing is scheduled until 6 PM at the Wawee Coffee Shop at the market. So easy time to reflect. At dinner the night before, the other dinner guest was a vegan. I think a convert to anything is zealous but a vegan is into recruiting more than most. The dinner was at a place of Hanna's choosing and I had gone by to see what there was to eat. Many of the items were pork. They don't have a veggie section on the menu and there were only a few items that even hinted at such. A vegan does not want oyster sauce, fish sauce, etc. and then if they are into natural products they don't want soy products since Monsanto is called Montsatano. The second the word Vegan is mentioned, I get a cold sweat and terror and a bad memory pops into my head. I rather zoned out on the conversation and started singing in my head when and "expert" Dr… was mentioned as The Authority. I think I can take the Daniel Plan easier since it is the Vegan way but just not that word. I will have to look at this more carefully.
What was hysterical was the waiter has suggested to her the mushroom soup. She has a plate of plain stir fried veggies and I had the soup which contained more bones and beef than I have seen and was beyond salty….. it was Hanna's birthday.. is all good but it will be my last visit to this restaurant.
To end the evening…I had brought a very small cake… about the size of a saucer and Hanna was masterful in getting four pieces out of a quarter of the cake. It is her cake and her day. However, it was an amazing feat that someone could slice that small a sliver with a cheap dinner knife. I wanted to the Oliver impression… more please but I came home and had some cheese and crackers. It is all good. The lesson here again is… seek your own truth. You cannot do that if your head is full of past history, belief, drama and dogma. You have to be open to see if what is now presented is your truth… how does it set.
Ajahn Sumano Bhikkhu, the Jewish Attorney from Chicago who has been a forest monk for most of his adult life has a new book which I am reading as my carry along book (with me when I wait or drink my coffee). I think I am starting to get closer to how to live in the home world. Much of my life process has to be about gathering information…and now I wonder, for what purpose? I am a stockpile of disconnected ideas and thoughts. Some of the stuff is helpful and useful…my sense of volume (how much will fit in what container.. or how big a space do I need between the cars and the curb to ride a scooter in Thailand). I am grateful to one of my home buddies for writing often to tell me of the latest annoyance at home… they bulldozed the homeless site… but didn't make plans to shelter the folks. There was an international TV show last night about the homeless – millions. In the eastern countries they are passing out blankets and bringing hot soup. In the piece about the US. The folks said…."they don't want a hand out but a hand up" and the piece went on to say that in the US several cities has said that when it gets below 14 degrees, they open temporary shelters… Temporary solutions to a non temporary issue. So what is all of this re my quest…. I can do nothing about it… It is not that I don't want to know about it.. but I don't need to comment or go after more story… I am not indifferent. But not available to give my energy. I see many in my life, friends, family as pretty surface and without much opinion about issues. That is ok for I am going to have much less verbalized opinion about things that I am only available to observe. If I am just information seeking…. Stop. I will end world conflict by ending the conflict inside. This doesn't mean that I will not get into the solution at some point. But for now… it is another beautiful day in paradise ..think…. will I Iet it pass by?
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