About Self-Isolation

Now … we have to become like  trees.

We cannot wander freely.

We need to stay on our own property.

We can receive from the sun, the rain,

The air, and the wind.

We nurture ourselves through the root.

We have to grow deeply … to learn what is true for us.

Time to stop doing.  Time to start feeling.

Grow deep.

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Another Technological Challenge

I’ve spent an hour on my other website, one that promotes my book “Your Invisible Bodies”.  Except it looked very different from the one that usually appears.  The old one appeared, but not the new website developed by Lisa Francis in 2012.  That one is much more attractive, and cost me a bundle!  All I wanted to do was add a new page, and then put my current spiritual thoughts on that page.  However, more than an hour later I want to be able to talk to a person at WordPress.  Lisa used Joomla to create that website.  I need to get back to it.  In a few weeks my colleague Carla will be at the Healing Touch International Conference, and will give out free bookmarks about my book.  So I have updated my website…. and now it has disappeared!  Every time I upload a new offer, these technological tasks get more complex and less easy to use!  Arrgh!

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The Bearer’s Burden

This book, written by Diana Jones, tells the story of a stretcher-bearer in World War I.  It contains detailed information about the region of Picardie, France, and helps us experience the days and nights before the battle of the Somme.  Inspired by tales from her grandfather, who was a stretcher-bearer in WWI, Diana has researched and expanded the story into a tale of fiction.  Since I have known Diana for several years I have heard about the many revisions to her manuscript.  I had no idea she was a skilled writer as well as a thoughtful wise woman!  I am thrilled to have a personalized copy of her book, which I have recommended to many others.  The Bearer’s Burden may be fiction, but it could be true.  Historical fiction that grips the reader, and makes me want to read more about the European men and women of the last century.

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People of the Fire

This book, by W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O’Neal Gear, is another of their historical books about the First Nations people of North America.  This book tells the stories of people who lived 7000 years ago.  Major climatic change was ushering in a 3500 year drought, A young dreamer and a courageous woman from another tribe united to lead their people to a new destiny.  As usual, the authors, who are archaeologists and anthropologists, teach as well as inspire, as they show how people lived during a tumultuous dangerous time.  They have the same emotions and thought processes that we have today, so despite their way of life, the decisions made resonate with us still.

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Do Not Say We Have Nothing

This book by Madeleine Thien won the Giller prize this year, so I was anxious to read it.  I watched Madeleine Thien receive the award, when the Giller prize was announced, and she impressed me as a speaker.  Reading her book later impressed me by her writing and her wisdom.  She tells the story of an extended family in China during years that I knew about slightly through Canadian media.  However, this book shows the rich humanity and passion of the individuals, over years and generations.  Sad.  Sobering.  I cried, and I learned.  I wanted these people to live, and live well, and reconnect.  I wished I played piano and had experienced Goldberg and Brahms and Glenn Gould.  I have only a smattering of knowledge to bring to these pages, so I received much more in return.

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A House in the Sky

This book, by Amanda Lindhout and Sara Corbett, describes Amanda’s life and her early years as a reporter/photographer.  I remember when she was captured in Somalia and followed her story through Canadian media.  I have read her articles in the United Church Observer, so I knew she had been released.  However, reading about her imprisonment, and how she managed to survive the years of deprivation and torment, has been fascinating to me.  She didn’t give up.  She persevered.  She has a phenomenal memory, and her descriptions of attempts taken and lost mesmerized me.  She found ways to cope, and eventually envisioned living in a house in the sky that sustained her.  At times I was frustrated by her early naivety and her youthful confidence, but I realize that’s because I am old and hesitant to risk.  She wasn’t.  She paid a huge price.    I

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Confessions of a Pagan Nun

After I read ‘Away’ by Jane Urquhart I phoned my friend Carolyn Pogue to see if she had read it.  Not yet, but she suggested her latest read, ‘Confessions of a Pagan Nun’; by  Kate Horsley.  She teased that the central character seemed similar to her and I, so I was intrigued.  Fortunately the library had a copy available, so I have read it.  Perfect!  It follows a woman through her life living in Ireland at the time of the transition from Druids to Christians, so it’s dark ages, historical, full of impoverished hungry people and dramatic changes.  A sobering read, and makes me realize anew all the horror stories about the Christian doctrine, including the stupid practice of celibacy for priests and nuns.  What a sad history.  Well-intentioned, but inadequate to meet human needs.   Ever thus, I fear.

 

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Summer Time: Heat and Eat

This summer has been hot days and lots of relaxation.  I haven’t even written my blog.  However, since no one reads it, who cares?  I have walked more, and walked my dog Sage, and I’ve eaten A LOT.  I am not losing weight.  However, I am not gaining weight either, so life is good.  When my friend Beryl visited, Deb used our new BBQ to cook veggies.  As Beryl is a vegetarian, we ate healthily and well, learning anew how good veggies that are sauteed on the BBQ taste.  Here’s our dinner:

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Mollie Runs Free

Mollie, Australian Cattle Dog, Queensland, age 13

This is Mollie, Deb’s dog of 13 years, mother of her son Cowboy (7 years) who passed away in May.  Mollie is still with us, but is showing her age.  She walks slowly on our walks and stops to sniff five times in one block.  She would rather lie around on a dog bed or the sofa than go for exercise.  That is probably part of aging, I’m sure, and she walks much faster on her way back home than when we first set out.  Two weeks ago Deb and I took Mollie and Sage (our new 3-year-old Blue Heeler) out for a walk.  Deb took the leash off Sage so she could play fetch with her.  I took the leash off Mollie hoping she would move more freely and get a bit more exercise.  Sage was delighted and ran for the rolled-up shirt very excitedly. Mollie watched Sage running after the “ball” but made no move to participate.  At one toss Sage bumped into Mollie, frightening her.  Well, I was astounded to see Mollie get up and run away.   She ran faster than I have ever seen her, fortunately towards home.  “Mollie, Stop!” shouted Deb.  I ran after Mollie, expecting to catch her and re-leash her.  Sage saw Mollie run, then me, so she ran after the two of us.  Deb was still calling “Stop!” to Mollie, but she is so deaf and was so frightened that she didn’t stop but just kept going.  She was actually outrunning me, even though I ran as fast as possiblel (not easy for me in my old age!).  Within 2 minutes we were a cavalcade of two dogs & two owners carrying leashes, careening down the playground path, down the sidewalk toward 30th Avenue.  Four adults and a child stood at the streetside, watching us wide-eyed and mouths agape.  As Sage met them, a man scooped up the child and they stepped back from Sage, who was jumping up on them for petting.  They watched as Deb passed me, then grabbed Mollie by her collar, and I ran up to put the leash on her.  Well, Mollie had tasted freedom.  She shook me off and ran away again, and Sage was happy to ran after her.  They were both heading toward home, so I ran after Sage who was going to the back lane.  Deb ran after Mollie, and we all crossed 30th Ave safely.  We expected Mollie to turn into our yard and go to the gate beside the house, but she didn’t.  Mollie kept running, at the same top speed she had initially.  She must have been running on pure adrenalin!  Deb finally caught up to her a few feet before 36th Street, which is a very busy street.  Deb collapsed onto a neighbour’s lawn once she had a leash on Mollie.  She arrived home several minutes after Sage and I were in the backyard.  We were all exhausted.  Mollie slept  solidly for the rest of the day.  My legs ached and I realized once again how out of shape I am.  I will never forget how Mollie ran so freely.  We were all happy and scared, and pumped!

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One Year and Two Houses Later

I am surprised to see that I haven’t posted anything to this blog for almost a year.  When I wrote in July last year, I had no idea that my life would change so drastically.  I went to the coast and visited friends and family.  I attended the Raging Granny Unconvention in Victoria.  I got caught up with old and newer friends.  I was happy.  I had no intention of changing my life, even though it was often frantic and unfocused.  I liked my many activities: writing, singing with the Grannies, attending church, visiting friends, and being part of Calgary Authors, Knox Healing Touch, Calgary Presbytery, and Calgary Lesbian Seniors.  These four groups all met different needs and called me forward and outward in engaging with the world. 

I visited my old friend Deb, with whom I lived in 1974.  This was after I left my marriage and I was an emotional mess.  She was younger than me (still is), and after a year we went our separate ways.  We never lost touch for long however, and we never stopped caring for each other.  Well, there we were at lunch on Burnaby Mountain in August, both single and still both very fond of each other.   

Now Deb has moved to Calgary and we are living together again.  We are creating a new family with her two dogs, a lovebird, and my cat.  The moves were necessary because of the dogs, as they are too big for my condo.  I am renting my condo.  We rented a house temporarily while Deb looked for work, and now we have bought a house in south-east Calgary.  It is perfect for the dogs and us.  I have had less time to write, and much less motivation.  Now that we are settled into this new home, I have returned to this page.  I shall try to write more regularly.  My life has changed, grown deeper, more focussed, more relaxed, and I don’t feel driven anymore. 

After Larry Freeborg analyzed my fingerprints last fall, he said my purpose is: to overcome inappropriate surrender in relationship in order to become a messenger and a teacher in the school of Love.  In more detail: my Life Soul’s calling is: Through living with and embracing my challenges of inappropriate surrender in relationships I will excel and bloom at my life purpose of being a leader, doer, teacher and messenger in the school of love.   I also must own and embrace my wisdom and be willing to take risks.  I have done that this year.  It’s been an amazing year.  I have grown immensely because of this relationship, but am still the person I was when I first knew Deb 40 years ago.  She is mature but frequently shows her impish side, which drew me to her initially. This is an intensely affirming relationship.  I think we both had to grow up in order to be able to love each other now.  We share unconditional love.  She can get angry at me and tell me how she feels.  I can get angry at her and tell her how I feel.  It’s work, but it’s beautiful.  It’s our common destiny.  Spirit brought us together again, and we are very happy.

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