Congratulations to Ricardo & Linda!!

On May 28th, 2006 our dear friends Ricardo and Linda got engaged.

After Ricardo proposed to Linda, he took her to a surprise party organized by Jessica and family and friends.

Toasting to newly engaged couple.

Carey was the matchmaker that brought them together.

Doing shots. Yup, these girls can drink.

Linda is the best belly dancer in town. She teachers and performs on a regular basis.

Linda, I love you. You bring so much light into this world and you are such an amazing person. The clarity and wisdom that you embody is a blessing to everyone around you.

Ricardo, I can't think of a better person to take care of this wonderful jewel.

I wish you both the very best!!

Cinco de Mayo & the Swiss Alps

I just got back from walking in the park. The air was cool and the sky partially overcast. During my introspective walk I listened to an amazing compilation of Italian arias that were tastefully set to electronica. I was also accompanied by the wonderful scent of honeysuckle which blankets a good portion of Shelby Bottoms at this time of the year.

This is an occasion for me to make a conscious effort to admire the nature around me. In actuality, it does not take any effort at all; the outdoors seems to have a purifying effect on my psyche. This is the good dose of medicine that I need to handle the hustle and bustle of everyday life, a retreat from the mental pollutants of the information age.

Today however, I spent a good bit of time thinking about my upcoming trip to Switzerland. This August, Sufis from the Chishti Inayati lineage will be gathering on the Swiss Alps for a month of retreat, meditation and fellowship. I was invited by Atum, who will be teaching at the main tent for a week. I feel incredibly honored and humbled that I have been asked to share my spiritual practices and assist with the program for that week. This was the time my friends and I were planning to be in Spain and Morocco, but everyone has been very supportive of this opportunity. I am also looking forward to seeing Joan, Bovi, Yves and Simone. I will also be meeting my goddaughter Pascal and the other children for the first time. It has been years since we have all seen each other. This has been a long awaited reunion.

Tomorrow, I will be finalizing travel plans with Caleb. I am thankful that one of my good friends from Nashville will be able to enjoy this experience with me. The rest of the crew will still be going to Spain in a couple of months. I am very grateful to have two amazing vacations planned this year.

I have not put anything on this page in a few weeks so I will give a brief update. With the advent of spring I have made 2 trips to the nursery. I got a few plants, a mixture of flowers and herbs for tea and the occasional culinary experiment. I did a little bit of planting. I did not use any fertilizer, but I did have a short conversation with the seedlings that will be establishing roots around my home. I was honest with them, I told them that I did not have time to water them, but that I was going to pray for rain. So far they all seem to be doing quite well, especially the basil and the sage.

Last week, we celebrated Cinco de Mayo at Pimp Daddy Supreme's (Shane) house. A few of the top DJ's in town were taking turns spinning an assorted of tunes. As usual the crowd was eclectic, the music energetic, and the spirits were flowing. At around 2:30 a.m., the night ended earlier than planned, but it did end with a bang. Carey and I had to carry an unconscious Jessica to the car. Our little sister had more than her fill; which is quite a bit, because this girl can put them down. A few minutes later the cops came to shut the party down. That's the second time this year! Jessica wasn't the only casualty of war that night. Selena had a huge speaker fall on her foot. She cried more than a little, but like a trooper she kept partying on.

The following day, Selena and I took some time to enjoy the art fair at Centennial Park. It was a perfect day. We saw a couple of friends there. Selena had some funnel cake. She is astounding for someone who weighs less than 100 lbs, especially since we had just eaten an enormous meal at the Vietnamese restaurant before heading to the park. The artwork has wonderful and there were all kinds of dogs taking their owners out for a walk. The rest of the day was tame, we had our fun the night before and chilling out and being lazy seemed the proper thing to do.

That evening, we had Zikr at Jamila's and Muhammad Jamal's home. This was followed by an exquisite meal with seven friends. It was a first time for most of us at this Thai restaurant in the Coolsprings area. I would have to say right now it is my new favorite Thai place and I am definitely going there again and again.