Back At It

Well, time to give this another try. Haven't done anything on the site since our trip to Mexico/Belize/Guatemala back at the end of April. The purpose of this was to have some fun and get something down on paper, well on line, that will remind me what we have been up to over the year. We do lot's of interesting things but half the time forget them. So, since we are getting ready to head to Punta Cana, time to get back in practice.

Normally, in the last month before vacation I can't sit still, can't keep my mind off the trip. However, this year it is different. My big project, the one that I have been working on for three years, is finally off and rolling. Construction has started,and the push is on to complete designs. So, work right now is keeping me both busy and pre occupied, and as I told Mary Lou, this will be the first time in years that my vacation will seem to go by slower than work. I get in to the office, look up and it's already six o'clock. Guess that's good.

Today, had an interesting experience. Mary Lou has read her way through her own library (I'll never get there, or at least not until I've been retired for a few years), and wanted to get a few things to read for the trip next week. I decided to take her to Seekers Bookstore, a second hand shop located at 509 Bloor Street West, Toronto. This is a really neat spot, where I knew she would find something of interest, and more importantly for her, save quite a bit of money. Been there previously a few times on my own, and have never left empty handed.

The store is arranged a bit like a library, with everything catagorized by subject or author. There books range from new to very old, all in good shape, with a large section of spiritual, new age, meditation, philosophy type books, you know "heart, head and soul" stuff. You will find books on any topic you are seeking, hence the store name I guess, and more than likely would find a specific book you could not find elsewhere.

While Mary Lou was browsing the stacks my eye was drawn to the Buddist section, full of all kinds of things from the Dali Lama and his followers. While standing there, a book fell from somewhere behind the shelf, landing right in front of me. I pulled a few things out of the way and picked up a large paper back book, that must have been there for a long while as it was covered with copius numbers of dust clumps. I spent a minute shaking and brushing them off, before turning the book over and seeing what it was.

The book was titled "Joyful Wisdom: Embracing Change and Finding Freedom" by one Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche. I am at that age where change is being forced upon me, getting older every day, and contemplating how I intend to retire. I recently decided to try meditation, figuring I could best learn how while facing the sun rising over the Caribbean each morning on the beach. Last week I went to see with Mary Lou what I thought would be a chick flick (owed her that for dragging her to see Get Low the week before) Eat, Pray, Love , and was actually deeply affected by the movie, as I am "in my own way" on a journey of self discovery. So, I thought, was this just a book falling, or did this book seek me out. Is it a coincidence, or did that book hang on until it sensed that someone who may have a need for it was there. I don't know for sure, but I bought it, and plan on carrying it with me to Punta Cana. Hey, even if it was just a book falling, can't hurt.