Woke at 3:00am, instead of laying in bed to resume sleep and dream I decided to get up and do my usual set of breathing exercises. I was able to vividly recall the dream I had just experienced which involved running in a town which reminded me of Urbana. It does not surprise me that I was running because my knee is currently sore and I have not run in over a week because of this. August is my peak running month but this year it looks like my peak will have been in July.
My body is consistently getting weaker and thinner, the muscle mass declining. I most likely have a terminal illness and don't have much time left on earth. I am surprised the pain has yet to start but I am certain it is imminent, pain cannot be avoided when the body is preparing its final descent. Each day I am given which is physically neutral and pain free is a blessing and I try to make the most of it.
After finishing the breathing exercises it was 4:15am and I decided to walk to the track and do muscle exercises. The morning air was pleasant and calm and the walk beside the lake was very quiet. Along the way a cluster of pearl white flowers appeared at my feet and I gathered them together and put them into my offering bag along with the rice. At the track I saw homeless people sleeping on benches and as I silently recited Amitabha Buddha I was hopeful The Great Protector would bless these people. After two rounds of exercises I noticed the sky beginning to lighten so I cut the workout short and returned to the lake and walked to the beach. I waded into the water at the beach and then sat calmly in my usual spot watching the sunrise. The small beach cafe was lit with soothing yellow bulb lights which contrasted nicely with the pastel colors of the sunrise. I thought of my time spent in Chiang Mai when I would rise early and arrive at the Pharmacy Gardens as the sun was rising.
When my feet were almost dry I walked barefoot to the Jewel Tree and when I arrived and was approaching from the north I was startled to see the Pink Angel approaching from the west. If I had continued walking we would have reached the tree at the same moment! I decided this was not respectful to the Pink Angel so I took a seat on a nearby bench and quietly watched as she made her offering to the Jewel Tree. She then walked in my direction and when in front of me she stopped and looked up into the trees. I was facing east, gazing at the lake and the pink orange sky, and now the Pink Angel was directly in my line of sight, twenty feet distant. She stood still, looking up, and after sixty seconds I saw a large bird take flight from the tree. As the Pink Angel stood before me I had the urge to speak but decided against it. I placed my hands together and did a slight bow as she returned to the Jewel Tree.
After a brief time the Pink Angel walked in my direction again and I decided it was my turn to make an offering so I walked to the now vacant Jewel Tree and placed the pearl white flowers and rice in the usual place beneath the tree. I was surprised to see that the Pink Angel had made her offering on the south side of the tree, which is a rarity, as both she and I normally place the flowers on the west side. Aware that the Pink Angel might soon be returning to the Jewel Tree I quickly glanced at her offering, which was partially obstructed from my angle of view. I decided not to deeply study her offering so only made a quick scan and saw that she had offered beautiful flowers the color of deep magenta placed in an oval shape. I wanted to linger longer and take note of the type of fruit and food she had offered but decided it was best to quickly leave so as not to disturb her offering ceremony. I walked up the hill and sat on the bench and watched the sky becoming brighter and more colorful. I was relaxed and happy and soon began my walk home. When I passed the art gallery at the Marina I stopped to gaze at the pictures and made note of the new paintings and counted the number of tree pictures, seven in the series, all containing the double helix motif.
