Saturday rain, but I am satisfied to be home for Halloween.

Of course, the days spent in Italy were priceless, life-changing even. The experience of being in the Veneto region, the north east of Italy within reach of Venice on the Adriatic sea and the Dolomite mountains in the north, – lead by Luca, a resident of the region who was a history buff and an irrepressible story teller. It was a rich experience which I am certain to write more about. I’ve yet to go through a portion of my photos.

I am glad to be home though. (I missed Starbucks) Home is where one belongs. Or to say it clearly the place that belongs to us and we to it.

This afternoon we plan to walk the neighborhood to accompany our almost seven year old grand daughter and her parents for a trick or treat adventure. Do you remember any of those times from your childhood? I do. The memories are exciting, at the core positive. It is a good sign when the unknown, when fright is laced with positive possibility. Good things can derive, to be stimulated when risk is felt…

Death and life go together. Full stop. A key aspect of the Buddhist and Taoist tradition. Yin – Yang. Life is emergent and exhilarating. Words cannot encompass to describe life. Death, well that’s even more elusive of description. Both are to be embraced, accepted as normal, a common ground for all peoples, indeed for every living thing. Hurray for Halloween! 

While in Italy, I had an inner conversation with my mom and dad. They are long deceased. However I imagined that they were present with me while we stood next to Caterina Coronaro’s palace-castle at Asolo.  Was it my privilege to fulfill some of the meaning of their lives through my presence in Italy? Yes. Surely that was part of the reason I was there.

The dead are present and speaking/listening – Mom and Dad and Queen Caterina Cornaro.

Time for a Halloween tune! Zombie by Langhorne Slim.  You’ll love this one.