i’ve been at mom’s in niskayuna, ny (that’s in schenectady county, near albany and about three hours north of new york city) for the last week. the house has four bedrooms, two living rooms, two bathrooms, one shower and now only has 8 people staying in it. the first part of the week we had 12-13 people … growing up it was always just 3-4 people, but this week we’ve had my step-dad’s (earl) three kids along with their kids all staying too.

earl’s side of the family is jewish, mom was raised a catholic and they have both become buddhists at some point in the past ten years. it was actually much less confusing than it sounds, but we did have a menorah, a christmas tree and we spent christmas eve meditating with a buddhist group that meets in a room of a christian church near-by. i don’t pay much attention to world news anymore, i used to be a total news junkie but realized that it just put me in a bad mood so i stopped. it does help being over in thailand and not having to hear george bush’s voice, but all the endless killing has a way of getting to me. what really struck me tho is that the news i heard on npr last time i was in usa (dec 2005) sounds remarkably similar to the news i am hearing this year. i know it’s silly to think that something which works for my family or community could possibly work for the world at large, but it never ceases to amaze me how different religious faiths have such trouble coexisting. i love that the local christian church can see the positive messge in thay nhat hanh’s teachings and allow a group of his buddhist followers to meet in their church. i love that we can light a menorah and also have a christmas tree …

the weather remains mild, we’ve had some nasty winds but it really hasn’t been all that cold this year. we have been able to go on some really nice walks. my mom practices yoga at a local yoga studio and while the studio is closed this week the owner was nice enough to give us keys so that we can go in and practice each morning. i’ve pretty much just been practicing the primary series and then having my mom, step-sister and brother follow along. it’s been great having them practice with me, of course i especially love watching my 61 year old mother move through the primary series (5 surya A, 5 suyra B and seated vinyasa between poses).

the menorah, christmas tree and buddhist meditation altar

the whole family

my newphew jeremy

my aunt denny and niece mila dancing together

me looking my tree look pretty

the whole family sitting around the dinner table

hiking in the rain with zak and mom (well mom took the pic)

my brother with his breast implants

my nephew jeremy, brothe zak and mom trish

my brother practicing to be a dad