Sharing memories of Vanda

From Silvani from NY
Date: Monday, August 16, 2010, 6:11 PM

Today I met with Ohashi sensei, our shiatsu mentor from Ohashi Institute, the place where I met Vanda.

He was devastated with her death and we talked about her for a long time. And he also recalled how he met her.

He said she will be dearly missed and how she had contributed to this world and that her life was not in vain.

When I told him that she had just turned 60, he though for a moment and then told me how auspicious 5 X 12 = 60

That in japanese, chinese or even tibetan culture the numbers 5 and 12 are very significant.

Twelve meridians, twelve hours, twelve months

Five elements, five stars, five colors

And that we were supposed to live until 120, but if we reach 60 is already good

After 60 ustead of growing older, the numbers start to come down 59, 58, 57...

Until we are reborn again



* I was reflecting on that...



* the below poem was sent by her friend Roger.
Adios

Adios

It is a good word, rolling off the tongue
no matter what language you were born with,
Use it. Learn where it begins,
the small alphabet of departure,
how long it takes to think of it,
then say, then be heard.

Marry it. More than any golden ring,
it shines, it shines.
Wear it on every finger
till your hands dance,
touching everything easily,
letting everything, easily, go.

Strap it to your back like wings.
Or a kite-tail. The stream of air behind a jet.
If you are known for anything,
let it be the way you rise out of sight
when your work is finished.

Think of things that linger: leaves,
cartons and napkins, the damp smell of mold.

Think of things that disappear.

Think of what you love best,
what brings tears into your eyes.

Something that said adios to you
before you knew what it meant
or how long it was for.

Explain little, the word explains itself.
Later perhaps. Lessons following lessons,
like silence following sound.


~Naomi Shihab Nye
from Words Under the Words