Illuminares

My friend Lisa and I rode our bikes to the lluminares Lantern Procession at Trout Lake Park here in Vancouver last night. I loved it. Thousands of people create lanterns - from freakish to fantastical - and walk this loop around the park with their glowing creations. It's a beautiful excercise of creativity, community, and hope.

This event has contributed to something that is growing larger inside of me: a surge of joy is expanding and giving me a strong feeling of home. I feel like I've been looking for this for 10 years. Who knows how long it will last, but today it's warm and the noices of the city around me are my song.

Peace to you friends and family,

Bobbi

Lessons from My Little Brother

My brother Adam was out to visit last weekend and I am sure of one thing – I love that guy. It is fun spending some extended time with him. He is one of the people closest to me, and still he is someone I continue to get to know better. Most of his growing up took place after I left home and we haven’t lived in the same place since. Or maybe it’s that most of my growing up took place after I had left home and . . . anyway.

For me, spending time with family is like spending time in front of a full length mirror. On this viewing of myself I see that I am far too eager to please others. Adam, however, doesn’t feel the need to impress people; I think he sleeps better being unimpressive*. Adam just is – like it, love it, or go batty because of it. I’m still not sure what I should learn from this difference of character, but I think I’ll just sit with it and let it soak into the places that need it. Maybe there’s a time to impress others, but maybe today I’ll relax and just be a bit more like my little brother.

* I borrowed this line from the movie “Garden State.”

California rest in peace

Rest and play is good for the soul - San Francisco Bay Area vacation July 3-10, 2006.