In NYC Obon is celebrated on the second Sunday of July right in the middle of Manhattan (Bryant Park) during the hottest part of the day. By contrast, in Seattle, for example, Obon is held on two days in the coolness of the late afternoon/early evening.
But, hey, I’m a New Yorker. I’m tough. I can take what Manhattan offers and own it. The dances (Bon Odori) in New York are different from those that I learned growing up except, of course, for the old perennial standard, Tankō Bushi, the coal miners’ song. I sometimes think about going back to the land of my roots to see if the dances there have evolved. Maybe, it’s only my memories that are stuck in the past.
For now, how nice it is to live in the moment – not reinventing the past or yearning for a better future. Just as I'm centering myself in the present, I see a face from the past. I think this can't be. But, it is -- it's Lori whom I've known from grade school through high school. I haven't seen her for over 25 years! I'm so glad to re-connect. We had first connected in NY after seeing each other on the subway. New York really is a small town!
Yes, the past can co-exist with the present and the future in ways that aren't always immediately apparent.
So, embrace the here-and-now but honor the past. Hug a grandparent today (if not your own, then someone else's)!
PRW
seeking Peace, Respectfulness, Wisdom
If you haven’t changed your mind lately, how can you be sure you have one that is still working?
