A welcomed sight!

How i love this welcoming sight at the end of a long day!

After spending the morning making mugs, Terry and I drove over to the Cheticamp area - about an hour and a half away, for a service to mark the passing of a friend.   Cliff was a long standing member of the Buddhist community here on Cape Breton Island and all of Nova Scotia.   It took place in his lovely home, overlooking the ocean and it was the first time i've attended a Buddhist 'funeral' as such!   His body was laid to rest in the main room downstairs, and there were probably about 20 of us crowded in together in the upstairs room where a large screen had been set up and about 50 or more others joined us via Zoom!  It really was a beautiful gathering, quite a few friends and family shared some lovely stories about Cliff!   I didn't know him well, he had been to a few retreats here but my main connection with him happened a couple of years ago due to knee replacements!   He knew i'd had one and was due to have his done and so he was asking for advise and tips etc.   We had a couple of chats afterwards also!

His wish was for a green burial and so on the 16th he will be buried on his property by his family and close friends!  

It certainly has given me pause and to thoughts of death and dying...something we so easily shy away from..... i was impressed that he had made his living will and so things were much easier on the family.   Definitely something to keep in mind.  

The drive over there and home was a bit tricky, loads of rain and wind!  We ended up having dinner at the local Chinese place in Baddeck, it was an extremely bland and dull meal!   oh well, easier than having to start dinner at home at 7pm!!!