Good morning everyone.

Last Thursday October 12^th, we had a Sake festival in Down Town Sacramento. As you know Sake is Japanese Rice Wine. Fortunately and very kindly, Dr. Ken Furukawa invited Michi and I to this event. Michi especially likes to drink Japanese Sake Rice Wine. So, we were looking forward to go to this Festival.

Last June, I was invited to be the guest speaker at another temple on Thursday, October 5^th. So, I had prepared my Dharma talk for them. One month before going, I called the temple and asked “I would like to confirm what time I have to be at your temple on October 5th?” Their office manager said “on October 5th? Our special service is going to be held the following week on Thursday October 12^th.”

“On October 12^th? Oh, no…” I was really surprised and disappointed because the Sake Festival was also to be on that same day…

I had to call Dr. Furukawa to explain about this change in the guest speaking invitation. He said “I will give 2 tickets to you anyway. So, please ask a friend to go the event”. Michi and I decided to give it to her maid of honor Hatsumi Yamamoto. Because Hatsumi loves to drink Japanese Sake. When I asked Hatsumi if she would like to go, she was really pleased and happy to go.

Although I was invited to be a guest speaker, their minister (who I won’t name… never gave me any details regarding the service. Finally, on the morning of October 12^th, I called that temple again to make sure about the time.

Ring ring ring. “Hello, this is Kaz from Sacramento Betsuin. I am supposed to be your guest speaker tonight in Kingsburg… What time do I have to be there?” Then he said “did I ask you?” And I responded “what??” Then he said “we are very sorry. We forgot that we requested you to come to our temple. So, we already asked another minister to come”

“Oh, no” What could I say? I could not say anything…

Anyway, now… my speaking was cancelled and I also already cancelled going to the Sake Festival. So… I did not have anything on my schedule for Thursday night.

I called Michi and explained what happened to her. I was very disappointed. She said “don’t worry about it. Now you can go to the Sake Festival! Your guest speaking cancellation was a good thing. Now you are free to go to the Festival to taste Japanese Sake. We can just get 1 more ticket for you…and we can all go together”

I think I am an optimistic person. But now I am sure that Michi too is a very optimistic person… maybe even more than me.

Michi, Hatsumi and I enjoyed the Sake Festival. And I saw many of our members there enjoying the taste of Sake. If I just remained disappointed about being uninvited to Kingsburg, I would not have gone to the festival.

But I was able to enjoy it, because of Michi’s very positive energy and optimistic suggestion.

Buddhism always reminds us that “Life is short and impermanent.” We should not let ourselves feel disappointment for too long. Let’s try to enjoy everyday of life. With positive energy and an optimistic outlook, like Michi, everyday can be a happy life.

In Gassho