Re-connecting around wheels and shared history

Many light years ago I was an exchange student in Vienna Virginia living with the Johnson/Fountain Family. I was 16. That's when I met Patty who was a few years older than me. She took me under her wing and showed me around. Patty and I have this shared history with the Johnson/Fountain family who we still keep in touch with - and the school we went to - James Madison High School. We went biefly back to our stomping ground - here's a picture of the home I lived in as an exchange student with Martha, Dan and Tucker - that Patty too stayed in and a couple of shots of our school.

 I can still remember bits of the Warhawk school chant. I made my sisters laugh when I tried to chant it accompanied by bad cheerleader movements.

Another connection Patty and I have - as it turns out - is with motorcycles and cars. Patty has remained connected to both - although my connection with my Kwaka 250Z and my Hillman Hunter Twin Carbi with mag wheels are long gone. It was wonderful to connect with Patty again after all this time. We spent much of the day with her Harley Owners Group (Hog) at the local Harley distributor in the lead up to Memorial Day commemorations which remembers those Americans who have died in service. On this day nearly a million motor cyles converge on Washington DC as part of the  Rolling Thunder Run . It is the worlds largest single-day motorcycle event. It formed in the aftermath of the Vietnam War to highlight issues around Vietnam prisoners of war and those missing in action. The run includes thousands of US Veteran riders. One of the things as an Australia New Zealander that I've noticed is how many more Veterans there are in the USA than in Australia or NZ - they are a visible presence in every day life including women veterans.

Here's what caught my eye. I start first with my friend Patty directing motorcycle traffic.

The history of engagement in war is a long one in America: Memorial Day has its origins in the American Civil War. Interestingly Patty and her husband live very very close to the Civil War Manassas National Battlefield Heritage Park. You don't have to go far afield in Virginia (or Maryland for that matter) to find evidence of the Civil War in the landscape.  War is never a happy event. There is great loss of life and great injury. Some wars bring peace, some don't. But may all who are impacted by war including veterans and their families find peace. And thanks to Fairfax Harley Owner Group (HOG) for being so welcoming of someone who didn't look like them, but who not-so-secretly appreciates the beautiful design/s of Harley's.

Patty thank you for being a wonderful host. I think your number plate sums it up best! See you next time.

Fire hydrants and flowers

I am astounded by the colours of spring here. It really is like another planet - the variety the colour - and plants bursting into into flower with the warmer weather. It's a joy of sight. And the bees suddenly appear - and the bumble ones. Having this experience I can't say spring in Australia is a true spring - but more like an idea of what spring is in a country where spring never really existed... Along with buds and blossoms I am enamoured of the quintessential American fire hydrant. They don't grow in Australia either. My friend tells me the white stick thing attached to the hydrant is to indicate that there is a fire hydrant there when the snow is covering it.

And here are an endless array of buds, blossoms and fully fetched flowers captured in my wanderings.

Burmese journeys here and back

I have had a number of encounters with Burmese friends (new and old) while staying here in the USA. These connections have been a touchstone for reminding me that many of us share travelling and migration experiences. But there is also the unique quality of coming from Burma with its rich history and melange of cultures including ethnic Burmese, Chinese and Indian cultures.

There have been varying reasons for Burmese migration. In World War 2 it was a forced exodus in which many undertook gruelling treks from Burma into India. Many survived. Many did not. Later, came different waves of migration to the USA and Australia - many wishing to escape for various reasons - the military rule, endemic corruption, the promise of better economic circumstances and the hope of more freedom. Aung San Suu Kyi - is the post-war embodiment of how Burmese people have continued to peacefully press for freedom in their home country. After 15 years of house arrest in Burma Aung San Suu Kyi is now running for the Presidency even though she is constitutionally currently prevented from doing so. Here's a picture of her I snaffled from a newspaper.

My first first Burmese connection in the USA was through my friend Noreen who migrated many moons ago with her Mum and siblings to the USA. Together we (Shelley, Noreen and I) visited a travelling exhibition of Burmese photos from the 1850s taken by a British East India Company surveyor and photographer - Linnaeus Tripe. For Noreen it was the first opportunity to 'see' places she had visited as a child. That's big! Here is Noreen standing in front of a gigantic and iconic photo of Gautama Buddha in Amerapoora.

I had an antique postcard picture of this giant Buddha in my hands for a number of years - I was always intrigued that a Buddha could be that humongous - now I know where it was taken and by whom! Here's a photo of Shelley and Noreen at the exhibition.

My second Burmese connection happened here through my volunteer hospice work - where I had the wonderful opportunity to meet a Burmese family who invited me today to accompany them to their Burmese Temple for the ceremony for their Mum, who had died a month earlier. Two resident Burmese monks conducted the ceremony. It was moving and heart-warming to be there - not that I understand a word of Burmese of course! But there was a felt-sense of caring and kindness. Here is some of the family with the monks and a picture of the larger space (vihara).

And where would one be without the generosity of dana - food offering- after the ceremony was over. Here is the food blessing being conducted by the monks who with community muscle literally lifted the table up. I was at a smaller table that required less lifting!

And of course the food was wonderful - and everyone was so generous and kind in that place of offering and partaking of home-cooked food. We all tucked in. Here's a piccy - including a close-up of this amazing Burmese mango chutney. This picture is for Virginia in Australia who was my first 'first' Burmese connection. Do you have a recipe for this mango chutney Virginia? I bet Virginia and Noreen have had many Burmese mango chutney moments. I just had my first. Of course now I'm on a mission to track down the recipe!

Here is me with a senior temple member. Many Burmese under the British period of colonization in Burma were given English names as a consequence of being schooled at English 'Church' schools. The Burmese names are so much richer in meaning than the English appellations. I guess some of my ancestors could have ended up as 'British' in Burma - but they ended up in New Zealand instead - looking for gold, selling cattle and sheep, running rooming houses and railway stations. But that's another story.

Thank you to my new friends who invited me to their spiritual home in the West which included meditation classes if I wish. One can't have enough meditation. As it was pointed out to me more than once by the Venerable Monk I met and new friends - meditation is everything we do - walking, talking, eating and not just sitting! I have some way to go...

Snow meets a touch of Spring

We had the BIGGEST snow last Thursday 5th of March and it happened to fall on one of the most significant dates in our Buddhist Calendar, Chotrul Duchen. Normally many people would attend on that day but only one sturdy soul made it to the temple in all that snow - and his name was Karma! I was happily marooned at the Temple on this auspicious day, practicing, feeding the birds and helping out with an occasional bit of snow shoveling which I quite liked, I think because it's still a novelty. But of course having the camera in hand I couldn't resist taking some pictures of more serious shovellers - Gonpo and Ani Dorje who spent time uncovering the cars.

What a task - well done!

And here is Gonpo clearing the step at the back of the temple.

There was a beautiful soft light as dusk approached. A measure of snow anyone!

And snow or no snow who can resist a good feed!

 Meanwhile back inside the Temple I had the wonderful opportunity to practice with Ani Dorje

...and stay with Ani Aileen who is a mine of amazing history and hang out with her beautiful rather personable cat Lunar the magnificent!

As it turns out this snow was the last fling of winter before the warmer hand of spring reached out.
I did finally leave the Temple next day - but not before spending half an hour scraping ice of Ani Aileen's car so I could experience my first time driving on icy roads. Rather interesting. Sometimes there's no brakes and no traction! I did finally get home. Thanks Ani Aileen!  Here's some melting moments at where I am staying.

Receding snow-line - not a receding snow lion!

And disappearing snow-spots not a spotted snow-lion!

 Enter Spring in dissolving Winter...