Judy & Paul go to Vote...Spiritually that is!
Asako Takami creates beauty and wonder!
Asako at 47!
Hands of strength and wisdom
Asako, 19 April 2007, her 47th Birthday
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Higher still and higher
From the earth thou springest,
Like a cloud of fire
The blue deep thou wingest,
And singing still dost soar, and soaring ever singest.
Percy Besshe Shelley
"To a Skylark"
"To a Skylark"
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The day is lovely and I am delighted by the fact that for once in my life folks are turning out in droves to vote and actually seem interested. Who would have thought it possible? Perhaps we will even start to get the truth of Wordsworth years ago when he proclaimed "The world is too much with us; late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers". Paul and I cannot vote except in spirit since we are not registered in Arkansas but we have stopped shopping til we drop. (no kudos here though...we have far more than any dozen other mortals could want or need).
Even though I see little evidence we will be able to avert a collapse of the Earth's ecosystems or that our progeny will have anything but a hardscrabble existence I am managing to relish these other victories in the here and now. My tummy is even calm and placid today! Normally my innards are on the point of revolt...queasy and such although I am hungry. I tried a half glass of good red wine and that seems to sooth the savage beast. We will see if it is just coincidental or not.
I am scanning the beautiful autumn waters of Lake Hamilton and enjoying the antics of our resident egrets, geese, ducks, hawks and turtles. Running through the back of my mind is a type of meditation on a woman I never met, Asako Takami. She died of ovarian cancer about a year ago. I had the opportunity of learning a great deal about her and the blessing of helping out a bit financially toward the end of her life. Asako fascinates me not because she shared my illness but because she embodied so much that I admire. Artistic, unconventional, free yet supportive and kind to others Asako helped reach across the boundaries that separate us all and forge new bonds.
http://odissi.blogspot.com/2007/09/asako-takami.html http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/2000/11-12/2000-11-28.shtml
I wish I could have lived a life more like Asako's! If I get better and remain healthy for a time why shouldn't I aspire for my own version of the same? The election today which promises to make President a man of color (no matter your view of his politics the possibility of a more open society is a wonderful thing, I believe) and the image of Asako help me to feel more free and willing to invite possibilities into my own life.
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Back to the remaining 4 tablespoons of my half glass of Brunello ..
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Feeling hopeful and light,
Judy (via jeff)
what follows are a few journal entries of Asako's life partner, Ralph Lemon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Lemon). So lyrical, so lovely:
October 28, 2007
“Yes,” she says, “My consciousness is almost completely internal. If I can move my knee one tenth of a degree over two hours or take the same amount of time, what seems like a lifetime, to move my hip one inch to the left or right then I am relieved. Points to do with bone, muscle, heat. It feels miraculous. So in some ways I am still practicing my dance. I can be happy about that in these tiny and everything moments.”
“Yes,” she says, “My consciousness is almost completely internal. If I can move my knee one tenth of a degree over two hours or take the same amount of time, what seems like a lifetime, to move my hip one inch to the left or right then I am relieved. Points to do with bone, muscle, heat. It feels miraculous. So in some ways I am still practicing my dance. I can be happy about that in these tiny and everything moments.”
October 29
She slept and slept and slept today and tonight she talked and talked and talked, wilder and more opinionated then I’ve ever heard.
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“ I want to walk down Fillmore and sit in a café and have coffee and wear a nice dress and go see and feel the ocean…
“ I want to walk down Fillmore and sit in a café and have coffee and wear a nice dress and go see and feel the ocean…
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But I know I cannot, it is not my life now. I feel like I suddenly went blind, cannot see, a new different life.
I am beginning to understand the pain of others, old persons who can barely walk, someone who has no leg, someone who I could never see, know about, hidden away in horrendous pain somewhere...
But I know I cannot, it is not my life now. I feel like I suddenly went blind, cannot see, a new different life.
I am beginning to understand the pain of others, old persons who can barely walk, someone who has no leg, someone who I could never see, know about, hidden away in horrendous pain somewhere...
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My pain and experience is more of the world, I can see it that way now, not before, but now I can. I feel more calm.”
My pain and experience is more of the world, I can see it that way now, not before, but now I can. I feel more calm.”
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Asako's magnificent bloom is now clearly wilting, like witnessing the most exotic flower turning in on itself, completing its season, peacefully, but still present. Everyone knows it, sees it still, that kind of disappearing...beauty.
Asako's magnificent bloom is now clearly wilting, like witnessing the most exotic flower turning in on itself, completing its season, peacefully, but still present. Everyone knows it, sees it still, that kind of disappearing...beauty.
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That kind of surprise… there are always daily surprises, it’s Asako after all.
That kind of surprise… there are always daily surprises, it’s Asako after all.
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One surprise was only a week ago when she woke up one morning and decided that she was going to a solo performance of her Delhi Odissi teacher, Kumkum Lal. It was a magical night. We wheeled her into the performance space and not an eye was dry, not even the performing master, Kumkum.
One surprise was only a week ago when she woke up one morning and decided that she was going to a solo performance of her Delhi Odissi teacher, Kumkum Lal. It was a magical night. We wheeled her into the performance space and not an eye was dry, not even the performing master, Kumkum.
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A week later, the night of the big benefit, Kumkum came by to visit on her way to the theater to perform. Their sharing took time and it got late and Asako asked Kumkum to put on her costume and make-up in our tiny studio space to save time and she did, at the foot of Asako’s bed. The teacher became the disciple.
A week later, the night of the big benefit, Kumkum came by to visit on her way to the theater to perform. Their sharing took time and it got late and Asako asked Kumkum to put on her costume and make-up in our tiny studio space to save time and she did, at the foot of Asako’s bed. The teacher became the disciple.
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Her sister, Kinuko is arriving today and then maybe her mother and father (hopefully) in a week's time. I put my credit card down on a bigger one bedroom furnished apartment in a swanky building closer to Japantown with nice trees out the window. A one-month rental, so that they can all be together.
Her sister, Kinuko is arriving today and then maybe her mother and father (hopefully) in a week's time. I put my credit card down on a bigger one bedroom furnished apartment in a swanky building closer to Japantown with nice trees out the window. A one-month rental, so that they can all be together.
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I’m not sure what’s really happening, when…how long…what any of this means, beyond the certain new mythology of Asako’s journey…so maybe I’ll quote the goddess herself:
“All of this amazing energy surrounding me now, feels so blessed. Is it because I am dying or is it because the miracle is about to happen?”
I’m not sure what’s really happening, when…how long…what any of this means, beyond the certain new mythology of Asako’s journey…so maybe I’ll quote the goddess herself:
“All of this amazing energy surrounding me now, feels so blessed. Is it because I am dying or is it because the miracle is about to happen?”
November 1
2:00pm we arrive at 2000 Post apts. Room 248.
2:00pm we arrive at 2000 Post apts. Room 248.
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Asako smiles, and resting in her new room facing a window exploding with the leaves of Amber and Magnolia trees, falls asleep and then falls out of her wheelchair. Giving us all a great scare. She didn’t hurt herself.
Asako smiles, and resting in her new room facing a window exploding with the leaves of Amber and Magnolia trees, falls asleep and then falls out of her wheelchair. Giving us all a great scare. She didn’t hurt herself.
12:00am
Munkund arrives for the “nightshift.”
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“Ralph, make sure you wake up early tomorrow,” she says, for the first time.
“Ralph, make sure you wake up early tomorrow,” she says, for the first time.
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Yes, I will. Ja ne. I love you.
Yes, I will. Ja ne. I love you.
November 2
Noon
Noon
I suggest to Kinu-chan that she should go out for a walk, to get some fresh air, and then we tell Asako as much. With a giant smile on her face Asako says to Kinu-chan, “Oh I want to go out, walking with you in the sun…”
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And then she looks at me and asks, “Why are you crying?”
And then she looks at me and asks, “Why are you crying?”
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And later after Kinu-chan leaves, just she and I in the room, after she catches me crying again...
“Why are you crying, Ralph? Do I look like I’m dying?”
And later after Kinu-chan leaves, just she and I in the room, after she catches me crying again...
“Why are you crying, Ralph? Do I look like I’m dying?”
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No, no, I say. I’m crying because you look so beautiful. Everyday you become more and more beautiful.
No, no, I say. I’m crying because you look so beautiful. Everyday you become more and more beautiful.
3 comments:
I as deeply touched by this posting.
Fred
I as deeply touched by this posting.
Fred
It's nearly 3 months since November 3 when the spirit of Asako connected us again, warmly, in her circle at Jeff's home.
Last Sunday I was in the Arboretum with my daugher Usha and little Jaden, my grandson, and afterwards we stopped at the Arizmendi Bakery, where Asako and I had had some fun times. Usha said: "You talk so much about Asako but she was only in your life a short time." It's true, but one can't explain.
On that Sunday November 3 I first spoke of in this note, I lit a candle in front of Asako's photograph and turned to make tea. The back door opened. I figured that my daughter had not closed it well the night before, so I closed it firmly, I thought, but it opened again so I said, ok, and left it open for a bit. Good fresh air and a very peaceful feeling. Walked down the street later, picked up a beautiful red maple leaf on the sidewalk, brought it back and put it in front of Asako's picture. Later I drove to Asa-chan Pond in the San Francisco Arboretum, walked around, saw a fish jump, did qigong and t'ai chi, watched the way the shadows lay on the water, reflecting branches of a tree that were just then a dancer's arms raised toward the sky.
All beauty.
Rasa
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