Joan Amaral is the founding teacher of the Zen Center North Shore in Beverly, Massachusetts. In 2005 she was the jisha, attendant, to Mel Weitsman for a practice period at Tassajara. After getting to know her some, she'll share some memories of Mel who recently retired as the abbot of the Berkeley Zen Center, died at home just a week ago at the age of 91. Photo of Mel and Joan (if you can see it) by Shundo David Haye.