Ok, so it's been two years since I posted. I've been . . . you know, busy . . .

. . . aging but growing . . . changing but staying rooted . . . laughing but crying sometimes too . . . smiling but not frowning nearly as much as I used to except for one particular thing (hint: I want to retire as soon as it is financially feasible . . . let's see, it's 9:19 p.m. right now, and I would retire at 9:20 p.m. if I could, but I can't) . . . understanding more (I think) but also accepting that I understand so little! . . . seeking but finding that more seeking is needed (and fun, too) . . . trying to adhere to the thought expressed on a scroll outside the room where I take yoga sessions: it says something like, "In the end, all that really matters is: (1) how well you learned to live, (2) how well you learned to love, and (3) how well you learned to let go" . . . would anyone agree with me that of these three, LETTING GO is the hardest thing for a person to learn? . . . basically, I've been trying to learn and live true mindfulness, and especially, acceptance.

Oh, I also got three tattoos: right forearm -- Chinese characters for "Father/Daughter;" inside left forearm, Chinese characters for "Acceptance" (see, I told you I was serious about it); and left forearm, Navy anchor. I put the "Acceptance" one on my inside left forearm because it's easy to glance it as a handy reminder. Especially, when I'm with certain people. No more tattoos forthcoming, I think . . . but Boz the great tattoo artist near me always says, "Oh, you'll be back."

l'll end with a quote from St. Francis that always leaves people a bit puzzled until they think about it (which is the point, after all): "What we are looking for is who is looking."

Got it?

Be back sooner than two years.