10 years ago on this day Cornelia Aihara passed away. I loved this woman. She was a well-respected macrobiotic teacher and ran a learning center up in the northern part of California with her husband, Herman.
I apprenticed with her in my 20’s and lived and breathed her teachings of yin and yang. To this day, I use these underlying principles in my life and work.
My best memories are shelling peas with Cornelia at the wooden table as the sun went down. Walking barefoot in the morning grass wet with dew. Being in her cellar, tending the huge vats of miso. Harvesting ume plums to make umeboshi vinegar. Hanging daikon in the shade to make takuan pickles. Chanting loud until my head dropped down into my belly.