Journey of Hearts 

Our tribute to Dr. Leo Buscaglia started a day early, ultimately dedicating two sunsets in his memory and celebrate his life and his work.

Our original plans had been to spend the sunset in Tilden Park, overlooking three counties--Marin, San Francisco, and Alameda-Contra Costa. Instead we spent the sunset on July 17th overlooking the Peace Grove at this spot.
 

July 17, 1998
The days of Hug week in California were in the 100^o F range, the first big heat wave for the summer. We were seeking a cool spot for running on the 17th and went to one of our favorite spots along the Nimitz Trail in Berkeley's Tilden Park. As we ran along the ridge, the cooling breeze came up over the bay. We ran and watched the sun rays diffusing through the redwoods, casting a magical quality in these groves.
We ran past a group sitting playing a guitar, joyfully singing songs as they watched the setting sun. We ran through the eucalyptus trees, with the strong cleansing scent from this grove cutting through my residual stress from the 24-hour-shift on the 16th.
The trail continues past the peace grove and up the hill on to the top of the peace monument look-out. From this vantage point you can see three counties.  I felt lucky that we were at this place to be able to enjoy the dusk--alone.
At this point there is an stone monument which reads as follows:
 
 

As the wind came up from San Francisco Bay for the first time that day, I felt cool. I stood on the top of the monument and just let the wind blow around me, listening to the distant noises of the cities surrounding us, and realizing how lucky we were to be experiencing the sunset from our vantage point, and how many were missing out on the "free show". It was a wonderful place to be enjoying the last rays of the day.  I felt very much at peace.

July 18, 1998

Another day of over 100^o F and we were looking for a cool place to be. We decided to go to Marin County, to get to the Coast. This time we headed to Mt. Tamalpais area (seen as the mountain off in the distance in the sunset above).

Starting at the Pan Toll station, we took the Matt Davis Trail towards the coast. The summer heat had dried up many of the spring flowers we had seen several months ago, but I was still amazed at the array of wildflowers surviving the summer temperatures. I was concerned that we were going to be 'too late' for the sunset, but rounded the corner nearing the Coastal Trail and were greeted by the Sun rays over the Pacific Ocean and the welcome cooling winds.

From this point we started climbing up the hill on the Coastal Trail on a section dedicated as the Bob Cook (Memorial) Trail (1959-1979). I later discovered this part of the trail was conceived as his eagle scout project and with his persistence, dedication and volunteer labor over two years the section was created. He died on the way to do more trail work in Idaho, the year both of us graduated from high school.

As we were climbing the 1500' to the top looking for a better vantage point, I saw the sun set behind the hill. Nearing the top we stumbled across one of the revered areas on Mt. Tamalpias, O'Rourke's Bench. This bench carved out from rocks with laurel trees overhead, gives one a spectacular view over to San Francisco (from the North) and the vast Pacific Ocean). Richard Festus "Dad" O'Rourke referred to this his favorite resting spot as the "Edge of the World"
 

Give me these hills & the friends I Love, I ask no other Heaven. to our dad O'Rourke,  in joyous celebration  of his 76th birthday Feb. 25th 1927 From the friends to Whom he showed this heaven

I wondered if they were there in memory of Leo and his teachings, but did not want to disturb them by asking. Each were lost in the sunset and in their enjoyment of the moment. We were all at the ocean, noticing the sunset and experiencing the 'Joy of the Moment.'

I had been concerned that we had 'missed' the sun actually setting on the horizon, as we climbed up the hill. But, as often happens when we diverge from our original mapped path, we discovered something different, confirming (as Cole and I frequently do) that this was the route we needed to take. I had seen a spot on the map earlier and wondered what significance 'Dad' O'Rourke's Bench had.  On this unplanned side jaunt, we discovered the 'Edge of the World' a place dedicated in Joyful Celebration. What a tribute to Leo! I also thought about this 'Dad' O'Rourke who was alive and hiking at age 76 in 1927!! What a tribute to Wilderness Therapy!
 
There was a feeling of 'love' in the air. I could hear a couple laughing in the distance. Someone below me was cheering as the sunset, raising a glass in a toast. As I hugged my husband with the setting sun behind us, I realized how lucky I was to be in the moment with someone I love at this incredible spot watching the sunset over the ocean. The ocean wind picked up, blowing it's cooling, soothing and healing mists...surrounding us with a feeling of love and joy. I moved to stand on a rock with the wind blowing around me, an incredible feeling of freedom and energy came with the wind.

It was a time and a moment to imprint and pull out during times of stress or sorrow...

Perched on the edge
I look at the ocean far below.
The waves crash onto the shore
        and the wind whips through the air.
Mesmerized by the setting sun over the horizon
    I see the colors fade.

The edge tempts me to fall.
The wind carries the soothing sound of the waves,
    a lulling voice of nature.
This Force blows against me,
    trying to make me falter
            to lose my footing
            and fail.

Surrounding me
    the fields of gold unable to withstand the pressure
    yield to this force of nature.
I watch this display of nature's power
    and face into the gusts
    determined not to bend.

Amazed at my own power,
I stand firm and strong against these elements,
    and the temptation.

The wind shifts
    unable to alter my course
    and carries a presence of an eternal force of love.
I am lost in this sunset moment
    overwhelmed by a feeling of determination
    and joy.

I believe Leo would have been very proud to see so much Joy in the Moment.
 

Of note:

As I prepared this page, I picked up Leo's Love book, looking for a quote. What I found instead was the following, his motivation for starting the courses. Did I have a sense of that student when I wrote the poem above...I do not know? This was the poem that came to me when I sat down to write about Leo's sunset.

From Leo's Love book:

In the winter of 1969, an intelligent, sensitive female student of mine committed suicide. She was from a seemingly fine upper, middle class family. Her grades were excellent. She was popular and sought after. On the particular day in January, she drove her car along the cliffs of Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles, left the motor running, walked to the edge of a deep cliff overlooking the sea and leaped to her death on the rocks below. She left no note, not a word of explanation. She was only twenty.
I have never been able to forget her eyes; alert, alive, responsive, full of promise...I often wonder what I would read in her eyes or her papers if I could read them now. But, as with so many people and situations in our life, we superficially experience them, they pass and can never again be experienced in the same manner.
I was not blaming myself for her death. I simple wondered what I might have done; if I could have even momentarily, helped.
It was this question, more than anything else that led me, in that year to start an experimental class...I called the class, "Love Class."
 

Love What life is all about, by Leo Buscaglia. Published by Ballantine Books, New York, 1996. The quote comes from his original book on Love © 1972.

As part of my enjoyment, I took several photos of the ending sunset with the winds. These will go off to the developer soon and will appear on the site once developed.