“Have you ever noticed how blowing bubbles brings delight to adults and children alike? There’s something about their rainbow sheen as they float to the floor that captivates us all.”
—Julie Murray
It hasn’t been too long ago that we remodeled our front atrium patio with Tuscan stone pavers. We created a peaceful Zen garden with plants, colorful petunias and a Buddha statue sitting in meditation that I bought many years ago during a day retreat with author and meditation teacher, Jack Kornfield, at Spirit Rock in Marin County. We also have another Buddha statue (white) on a pedestal near our front door. The atrium throws off a peaceful countenance for personal reflection and playing with our grandchildren, Lyla and Emmy, especially while engaging them in bubble play.
We will never regret these precious times spent blowing bubbles—or using colorful patterned wands of all sizes to get the same effect. Little Emmy gets a thrill that with one flick of the wrist, she can create up to five or six bubbles at a time. Her big sister Lyla almost 3 1/2 years old has become more skillful at the craft than she was at Emmy’s age (14 months). There is something a fragile, yet bigger than life shiny rainbow bubble that captures their imagination. It is a joy-inducing distraction when you have run out of things to do. Developmentally, it is a boon to help them develop their eye-tracking skills that improve their focus on moving objects and light, and motor skills. It gives them playful sensory input—with each bubble blown—as they see delightful balls of bouncing light be carried off by the wind. And, as they go pop when they hit against a chair, a wall, or the ground. When repeated over and over again they learn about object impermanence and the impact of cause and effect, something the Buddha taught his followers during hins many discourses. But, most of all the bubble play creates a lot of laughter and a genuine bonding between adult and child.
Speaking of the Buddha, since today marks the celebration of Buddha’s birth, his enlightenment and death [called Vesak], I thought it would be a perfect day to post these recent fun photos of us and the girls.The holiday has been officially celebrated since 1950 (the year I was born), when the World Fellowship of Buddhists formalized it as Buddha’s birthday. The United Nations’ official date for Vesak this year is Monday, May 16. The Buddha was a man of great wisdom and compassion who taught people how to overcome suffering even in the midst of chaos. After he died 485 years BC, his teachings became the foundation for the development into Buddhism and mindfulness practices now being used in education, law enforcement, the military, prisons, hospitals, sports, yoga and fortune 500 companies.
