Morning Coffee With Riley

So...after a 4 mile walk from the house to and through the park this Sunday morning, the rain was just starting to turn from a drizzle to something more substantial as I hiked up the hill back to the house. I topped off the coffee pot and soon poured my first cup. I then joined the cats on the porch and stood at the screen door with my buddy Riley and listened as the rain played through the tall maples. Riley turned his head up the road as the sound of sirens proceeded a caravan of police cars, motorcycles and an ambulance coasting down the treacherously steep Henning Road hill. I took a sip and raised my cup as Lance Armstrong and a few companions whisked past our driveway. The coffee was an excellent organic blend from Trader Joe's that My daugther gave to my wife and me on our last visit. "What do you think Riley! It's a good thing I got my walk in before the rain."

Fringe Tree

I wander the border
the scraggly
edge
looking for breaks in the
forest, the overgrown
corduroy
trail where horses
strained against leather
traces, steam-
train nostrils swallowing time
and rain

I hear my heart barking
snapping its rusty
chain
glance back for
border guards
or fellow
smugglers searching

for a way through

I am always alone
The exit is always along

the periphery, never
the centre

Edges
have their own beauty
mystery, liberty
promise

I promise
to never stop
wandering

Kim Goldberg

I Found Tai Chi

i found tai chi this morning

through spring magnolia blossoms

stands the field stone farm house

WTCQD 2010 At Hickory Park, PA

The Pear Garden School of Tai Chi hosted World Tai Chi & Qigong Day 2010 in Hickory Park, New Hanover Township, Montgomery County , PA. A count of twenty six people, cool brilliant sunshine and ten thousand gnats made the annual last Saturday of April's Tai Chi and Qigong gathering quite remarkable.

The initial circle gathering for smooth warm up stretches and Eight Section Brocade Qigong had a magnificent diameter of one hundred feet plus. ( How's that for finding the straight within the curve?) Students from the Pear Garden School and Tai Chi classes at the Boyertown YMCA, along with friends and members from the surrounding community followed the choreography of slow arms and waist movements seamlessly.

It was not until the Tai Chi walks, kicks and form practice did our arms and hands really get into gear. We literally had to wave hands like clouds as ten thousand gnats ( maybe more) descended upon our heads, eyes, sunglasses, etc.

Everyone persevered in an excellent Tai Chi way and completed two sections of the Yang Long Form, Straight sword and fan forms and then promptly retreated to a covered pavilion. Here my wife Barbara (who co-owns Pear Garden School of Tai Chi with me) had artistically laid out an array of fruits, nuts, cheeses and juices. However, the winner of the day was a baked french toast (still warm) using artisan breads from our local Wegmans market

This year was probably our best turnout yet and I would like to thank everyone for participating and an special thanks to the founders of WTCQD Bill and Angela Wong Douglas.