Obon 2009

There's nothing like death to make one appreciate life. And, maybe it's all just as simple as that. As life throws difficult challenges at us, we need only consider the alternative.

So, why not celebrate those came and went before us, remembering their lives? And, here I am doing just that at the Obon Festival in Bryant Park. Obon is an annual Japanese Buddhist tradition that takes on the character of the locale. Here in NYC it takes place on the second Sunday in July and just like the City, anything and everything goes. What a wonderful crazy quilt experience!

Obon season is kicked off by two weeks of "practice." Again, a mishmash of the City -- the old and young, the very experienced and the novices, and a lot of in-betweens. Without practice, the Obon would be over in a flash.

Here's a photo by Keiko's mom (see Stacey, Keiko and me).

Now this is what sailing is all about

Finally, the clouds parted for the weekend and left NYC in a glorious state for the Fourth of July weekend. Thank you, Carole, for getting us on the crew of America II.

The winds were perfect and with Carole at the helm, we quickly made it out to the Verrazano Bridge.

I was assigned to grind on the starboard side. The winds were light so trimming the sails was relatively easy.

What a beautiful way to spend the holiday weekend in NYC!