Day 3

The West Marin Review is a publishing collaboration of Neighbors and Friends—all volunteer designers and editors—with Point Reyes Books and Black Mountain Circle. The writers and artists are not only from West Marin, but also from around the world. Many hundreds of pieces of art, poetry and prose are considered for each volume. This year one of my paintings is in the Review. I am humbled and honored.

The book launch party was full of talented writers and artists. Listening to the presenters, I realized that I was among some very special people. Personal stories about life were shared. Hard stories, real stories. I was particularly moved by painter Toni Longfellow talking about her painting process, where meditation led her back to the earth. The paint on her canvas returns to its earth-like qualities. Her paintings, organic in nature, "came from the beyond," she said. "I was, and still am, in awe of them."

The opening poem in the book, by Tobi Earnheart-Gold, moved me:

We had prepared for all contingencies.
When we arrived the gate was open.
It became apparent to many of us
the gate had always been open:
the one contingency we had failed to plan for.