Alone With Everyone

I rung in the New Year with my nearest and dearest. I've always held the belief that whoever you spend your New Year's celebration with will be reflected in the year ahead. My lack of coherence in the New Year's resolution left me hoping for...nothing and everything at the same time. I had no wish. I didn't need fireworks or a cute guy to kiss. Just knowing that whatever I'm doing with my life is...working. The resolution is in the works and I'm excited.

Cousins, sisters, me...

Do I look anything like my dad?

I spent New Year's day in solitude and it was perfect. I went on my usual hike. The fog was heavy but that did not deter me from climbing all the way to the summit. As I was finishing my hike the sun came out and the mist dissipated. A hazy morning does not mean a cloudy day. Afterwards, I took the train up to the city and had a lovely afternoon at Samovar Tea Lounge. Okay, so this is one place worth checking out for you tea lovers out there. I stumbled upon this place about a couple of years ago. It's behind the Metreon in the Yerba Buena Gardens. I wanted to go to SF MOMA but alas they were close for the New Year's so I spent the whole afternoon tasting tea. My first meal in the New Year's was the Salmon Japanese Maki Bowl...

Wakame seaweed salad w/ sesame miso dressing, seasoned brown rice, steamed kale w/ ume marinade, toasted nori, and pumpkin flavored miso soup - yum!

For dessert, I had Oolong tea infused with wildflower honey from Sonoma and coconut rice pudding - delish :)

In case of day off, break glass...

I sat in the train looking out the window, passing by rows of homes, commercial buildings, people walking, children playing in the yard, and someone on a bike making the journey from one side to the other. But I can't hear any of it. Only my thoughts, the music in my iPod and the gentle vibration of the train. This is something to do, this practice in staring, wanting nothing to do. In solitude I find that being alone is to be with God.

The server at the tea lounge said something yesterday that had my mind spinning. She said that it takes several brews to get to the center or the essence of the tea. Interesting thought. Then I started applying that concept to everyday life. Let's take dating for example. It takes a handful of dates to even get a slightest idea of what the other person is about. Sometimes you don't even get past the first date; the whole thing falls apart in the first 15 minutes. Then there are times when you think things are going well and you are hoping for the best but the exact opposite happens. So you pick up the broken bits of your heart and move on. BUT once in a while, you do get past the dating hump and start walking the path to building a relationship. This is the point where you start seeing the essence of the other person. The part where you start falling in mutual love with each other. Afterall, Love is our essence. Great love takes nurturing and when it's real, it will withstand the test of time. My all time favorite love story is that of Czar Nicholas II and the love of his life Alix.

safe in the net,

jakey