What did you see when you first glanced at this photo?
The room was dark when I turned the page in the calendar.
I glanced at the page and thought I saw a woman in black.
THWACK!
(The sound of the Zen Master's rod as it hit the student for falling asleep at the wheel.)
Turn on the lights (I said to myself).
Look again.
It is a cormorant fishing with his tail feathers in the air.
So, I told myself to put my tail feathers in the air and wiggle them.
Tell my Monkey Mind to go sit in the corner.
Stay in the moment.
Enjoy each moment.
Don't look back or forward.
Deal with each day.
***
The room was dark when I turned the page in the calendar.
I glanced at the page and thought I saw a woman in black.
THWACK!
(The sound of the Zen Master's rod as it hit the student for falling asleep at the wheel.)
Turn on the lights (I said to myself).
Look again.
It is a cormorant fishing with his tail feathers in the air.
So, I told myself to put my tail feathers in the air and wiggle them.
Tell my Monkey Mind to go sit in the corner.
Stay in the moment.
Enjoy each moment.
Don't look back or forward.
Deal with each day.
***
Mr. Dragon begins his fight against cancer with chemotherapy and radiation therapy next week. We ask, once again, for your good thoughts, prayers, good vibes, juju as the fight begins. We have been together 28 years and we would like 28 years more. So, we are turning our tail feathers up, wiggling them and going for it!
***
The photo is from the Metropolitan Museum calendar, Utamaro's Egret and Cormorant (from Myriad Birds in a picture book of comic verse, polychrome woodblock print, ink and color on paper).
