So...

...seeing Vinny was, as usual, very helpful. He was very directed in his work on my body and energy and I felt so much more like the me that is familiar and true afterward. It's always a relief, and quite moving, to be returned to myself. 'Cause it all feels real when it's happening, the good, the crazy, the bad. But, it feels best when it's the good. Landing on terra firma.

He recommended that I ease into the foods this week and that if I cut out meat and dairy, that's good enough. He stressed that the qi gong practice is more important to hook into. We discussed movement #10, which is my Achilles' heel. No discussion, actually, it just needs to be done. The more I do it, the better it will be for me.

#10: The Dragon Stands Between Heaven and Earth. My nemesis. I think of it as a standing meditation pose. The challenge for me is that I find it very difficult to quiet my mind. And stay still. And have some discipline. Sigh. It is not complicated...I have a serious block against it.

So, I enjoyed our meal at Yifat and Max's. I stayed away from meat and dairy, though I could not refuse the chocolate chip cupcake topped with pomegranate whipped cream. Max whipped the cream and added pomegranate molasses to it, his own flourish, which he was so excited to share with us. At the best of times, life distills down to the giving and receiving of love, whatever form that takes.

P.S. I have broken out in itchy hives on my lower legs and forearms. It's possible that they are bug bites, but unlikely. I think I would have felt or heard it getting bit so many times in such a short span of time.

P.P.S. Talking to Yifat tonight illuminated some things for me...so lucky and grateful to have insightful and caring friends.