Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Happy Birthday and RIP


In so many way, 2013 has been one of the best years of my long life but like all things, it too is coming to a close.  However, I can't let it pass without giving a birthday shout-out to my little sister over in California.  Here's to 2014, Jackie!

Sadly, we lost a couple of great ones in the closing days of 2013.  Let us observe a moment of silence to commemorate former San Francisco Zen Center Abbott Myogen Steve Stucky, who left us early this morning after a battle with cancer.


Proving that like impermanence itself, cancer does not discriminate between the young and the old or the clergy and the layman, we also lost musician Curtis Benjamin of the fine Brooklyn band School of Seven Bells to cancer on December 30.  Mr. Benjamin was 35 years old.  Let us observe a moment of joyful noise in commemoration of the life of Curtis Benjamin.


So the great cycle of life and death continues, mine in it's own quirky way, Jackie's with a celebration of its origins, and Myogen's and Curtis Benjamin's with the bookend events marking the end of this existence. 

Here's to 2014, my friends - may you all live long and prosper!

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