Balancing Life

Today’s thoughts are a lot about balance. We’ve been travelling now for almost 4 weeks. Our adventures have been numerous and I have ample opportunity to reconnect with Nature after immersing myself in workshops and classrooms during the month of December. It was a busy time! These last few weeks have been a welcome break!

January we drove across the entire United States arriving finally in Los Angeles. Our son Jonathan, daughter-in-law, Vanessa and our two fantastic grandchildren, Oscar (4) and Stella (7) live here. We are settling in with them for a few weeks. We make dinners, read books, go for walks, and take the children to their schools in the morning. There are skating lessons, violin practise, karate, and gymnastics. There are books to read together and toys and games to play, and conversation that can only happen between us. Grandchildren are very special people!

It was Stella's birthday this week too! We were able to celebrate together!

There is work here too. Today I had a meeting at one of the schools in the area. The Principal is eager to provide professional development that focuses on character education. He wants to enhance positive interactions amongst students and teachers and enrich the learning environment for students. The school, grades kindergarten to five is a friendly community school. I am excited about the opportunity to work with them. I’m feeling eager to get back to my work.

I remember a Yoga colleague of mine, Jacqueline, from several years ago. It was during a time in my life when I was working long hours, daily and had very little time for leisure and relaxation. After a late evening practise she and I were talking. She’s a professional photographer and we were talking about our work. “Do you work every day?” I asked her, curious about the successes working her art to make money. With a slight blowing out of one side of her mouth, she responded with, “No way!”

That was a new beginning for me. I began to consider alternatives to the hectic, often, crazy days that I had been obsessed with work. Restructuring the way I think about money and responsibility and recognizing that I can have it all led me to change the way I live. Balance…..regular work, some play, quiet time, oppprtunities for adventure, laughter and calm. I think I’m finally getting it!

Leaving 55

It is the day before my birthday. I will no longer be 55 years old ever again. I feel the age, I have to say. I feel my age.

I feel it as I climb to the peak of Cathedral Rock in Sedona, Arizona. I get tired faster and I move up those rocks way slower. I know it because I am only comfortable with short 2 kilometer runs nowadays, and I choose not to run every day.

I feel it as Paul and I paddle our canoe on the quiet lakes of Kilarney, Ontario, or carry that same canoe for a kilometer portage.

I feel my age as I talk to each of my adult children and marvel at the uniqueness of each one. They are, every one of them, accomplished, generous, and productive human beings. We have created a family of siblings who love each other (and us) and we all make it possible to enjoy time together. Our numbers continue to grow. That must mean I’m getting older.

I feel my age when I crave hugs from my grandchildren and anticipate with joy the times we get to be together. I recognize the love I have for them is unlike any love I have. I want more!

I feel older when I recognize that I have achieved a professional reputation that allows me to choose my work schedule and location. I am eager to give my time and expertise in areas of the world that will benefit from what I have learned and I travel to exciting places to share the things I (at least think) I know. It takes me longer to overcome jet lag.

I feel it is I think about my loving friends all over the world and imagine the bountifulness of my relationships with each of them. Some of these friend I have had since childhood. It takes a long time to become this rich!

I feel it when I look at my honey and best friend, Paul. We have been together for so long. I love him even more than I did when we met. We have been through so much together. The years have given us time to learn how to be together. Only with years of experience can that happen!

I feel it when I lead the way on motorcycles down the village roads of Hampi, India, stopping to have bitter coffee with the local sadu and picking up local farmers on the back of my cycle to hasten their way home. Or unfolding from a headstand during a 3 hour yoga practise underneath the tree house in Fort Cochin, Kerala.

I get tired faster than I used to as we meander our way through the markets of Jerusalem or Istanbul or Rishikesh or Fez. And the purchases we make seem to be heavier than they were years before. But they still make their way to our home. I have so many fantastic experiences to remember.

I feel it as I look over the grandiose pit of the Grand Canyon and my eyes tear at the absolute beauty of the land. There is nothing more dynamic, more profound, more meaningful to me. I never used to find that so powerful.

I feel it after a full day in the garden on Gabriola, after listening to the Grateful Dead station on Sirius and digging deep into the soil to prepare for our garden. I feel it each night as I crawl in to my tent. My knees just don’t make easy for me anymore.

It isn’t as easy for me to water ski anymore and snowboarding is out of the question. I still scuba dive, and horse back ride, and zip line in Costa Rica and kayak in the Pacific Coast of British Columbia. I can walk for miles and climbing Grouse Mountain is still a given as long as the weather is right and I’m wearing proper shoes.

I do feel my age as our road trip through the United States wears heavily on my lower back and I struggle to make my way out of the car each time we stop for gas or a simple pee break. My body just isn’t as generous as it used to be.

Tomorrow I will begin being 56! I can hardly wait for what lies ahead. Happy Birthday me!

Almost There

Waking up in Bakersfield, California to the sound of trucks starting outside our window. It is a perfect truck stop city with several fast food restaurants, car repair shops, and truck inspections. There is not much to notice other than the magnificent mountains surrounding the town.

Outside I hear the truckers, “I figure if we leave at 8:00 we’ll get to Sedona about 10:30 tonight.” I hear one say.

“Yep”, I think, "That sounds about right."

Yesterday’s ride was long. We left the Grand Canyon about noon with a hope that we make it a part of our route for our back to Canada. Our friends Chrysta and Tommy came to meet us the night before so we could experience the wonders of the Grand Canyon together. After a short hike in the morning they made their way back to Prescott, Arizona and we moved on westward.

We are expected in San Francisco tonight. The daughter of an old girlfriend of mine from New York is celebrating becoming Bat Mitzvah this weekend. It is my joy to be representing all the girlfriends at the celebration. Orith made a beautiful necklace and earrings from precious stones to which all the girlfriends contributed (There are 8 of us). Paul and I picked it up at the start of our trip in New York. It has travelled across the country with us ever since. From our group of long time girlfriends, we feel proud to still be together, sharing our love even as it overflows to our children. Paul and I are thrilled to be the ones to attend the party, represent these women and their partners, and give Natalie the gift.

Yesterday I spoke to our daughter Julia. “Wow” she said, “It’s hard to imagine that you drove right across the country!”

It sure is!

The Canyon Mother

I'm waiting for the sun. A new day is beginning at the great hole of the Grand Canyon. It is 6:58 a.m. I'm wide awake eager to experience the spectacular sun rise.

As I approach the rim of the Canyon, I am surprised to see a Chasidic man with his tzitzit visible through his jacket. He is holding a siddur. He shuckles and chants, facing east towards Jerusalem. With the expanse of the Grand Canyon before him, he is immersed in prayer.

The depths of the Grand Canyon are mind-boggling. The sun light melts her way into all the cracks 5,000 feet below. She slowly covers the gigantic energetic cavity. The sculpted rock structures can only be the work of God, or, what Chrysta calls 'the Mother'. I am in awe of the natural presence around me and so aware of the perfection of the art display. Each view....every turn I make, is breath taking!

As I walk around the rim of the Canyon there are moments when I actually can't breath. Occasionally, the viewpoint podiums suspend above the vastness of the Mother Earth. Below me is a hole so large, so multilayered that I fear I might be completely absorbed into it's abyss. No one would ever find me. I could be lost forever!

Diaramas of coloured sand layer the scene. Occasionally, structures of similar colour cluster strategically together. They are cousins, formed over billions of years. Their colour is similar, but the substance has changed. I feel the agelessness of the pit. I sense the activity it emits. I am humbled by it's power. I think I have never been anywhere like this before!

As I leave the rim, I hear the melodic sounds of a drone from around the bend. I walk slowly over to the sound and crane my neck just a little. A man, dressed in western clothes is prostrated on his prayer mat. A Muslim carrying out his afternoon prayer.

I am sure now. We are in God's land.

Back To Nature

I welcome the inspiration for meditation. This morning, on our way to Prescott from Santa Fe’ New Mexico, we detour through a National Monument, Tent Rocks, Kasha-Katuwe.

We’ve been going continuously for the past few weeks; usually stopping in big cities that inspire fast paced busy life styles. Today is a time to stop!

Walking on the trail, we encounter nary a soul. By the end of the walk we begin to hear voices. But recognize no sign of human life until we reach the parking lot to find other cars waiting for their passengers to return. Then I know we are not alone.

The hills reverberate with silence. The air, crisp and clean and fresh is a reminder to breath deeply and intentionally and fill my soul with energy. I remind myself to breath. I remind myself to connect with God’s world again. I remind myself of the miracle of our geological universe.

I consider the notion of God as artist, strategically directing the placement of each formation. Crazy looking cone shaped tent rocks, sculpted from volcanic eruptions, hide timid caves within the rocks. Layers of grey, pink and white rock along the cliff face, accentuate the intensity of God’s colours and the beauty that blesses my space.

I sit for many minutes, my eyes closed; my ears open to the silence, finding the peaceful offering. I understand what is meant by unity. I am, again, connected to the world.

New Friends

Being in Tennessee has been a bit of culture shock for me. People in the southwest really do speak funny. The southern drawl is extreme. “How ya doon, Y’awl?” Where y’awl from?” are common phrases. Sometimes the accents are so exaggerated, I think they might be kidding me. “Yo wanna he som music?” “Godda be caful out there in the street.”

Our travels are always enhanced with the chance to meet new people. We welcome opportunities to spend time with others. We seek out old friends as we travel and remain open to meet new ones. Differences are noticeable and irrelevant when you love the ones you meet.

In Nashville we connected with an old friend of Paul’s whom he hadn’t seen since high school. Alan is in the music business. His company, The Bigger Picture Group, finds and promotes ‘up and coming’ musicians. They produce The Zac Brown Band, one of my favourites. We made plans to get together.

Our first meeting was for brunch. We met at a funky little restaurant…one of those decadent ‘all you can eat’ places. In my attempts to avoid wheat and dairy, I filled up with meat and salad. Though Tennessee is known for its’ ‘barbeque’ I’m not sure if I’ll ever get used to the amounts of meat offered.

Friends of Alan and Kathy joined us for brunch, and afterwards we all went to Lisa and Peter’s for afternoon drinks. We had a chance to get to know them there. I had an even better chance the next day. Jana invited me to her ranch to ride horses. Paul was busy for the day and I thought that would be such a fantastic way to spend the day. We rode and talked and laughed and shared our stories. We got to know each other quickly, and deeply. We talked abou...family, money, food, philosophy, and God!

Jana, in her gentle southern drawl says “Heaven is rat heya in my backyad! Life is a big pahty if y’all allow it. People make heyl for themsalves. But heyl ain’t snakes and worms. That’s what some people thank. Rally though, it’s what you make for yaself.”

“Yes”, I think. Thank you Jana. An important reminder!

At the end of the ride Jana and I go back to her house for a drink. Jim is there and proudly shows me around. Lining the walls of the foyer are large sized portraits displaying several of his family members from generations back. “That would be my ol’ great great uncle Roy.” Says Jim as he gently touches my elbow to guide me to the next room.

The dark oak wood walls provide protection from the outside elements and also represent the homeowners. An original Louis Vitton chest sits on the wooden floor and Jim and Kathy proudly identify an early signature of the designer. “This heya box must be worth a small fortune.” Says Jim. “We never even realized.”

Carefully folded handmade quilts are stacked in a glass encased cabinet displaying the handicraft of Kathy’s grandmother. The house is warm and alive with home made jams and canned pickles that come right from their annual gardens.

The windows lead seamlessly to the outside. I notice the peacefulness. The field we have just been riding through is now familiar. I picture me and my horse and my new friend riding side by side. We are just chillin, riding our horses and spending our day together. I feel lucky to be here.

We are different, no doubt. And we have become new friends quickly, because, actually we seek the same. Accents aside, different approaches to daily living, and diverse political ideas mean so little when we get right down to the things in our lives that really matter. What a welcome to new friendships in my life!

“Life sho is good, padna!”

Cindy and Jean

I believe in win-win situations! To help take care of our house during crazy travels each year Paul and I have house sitters in Toronto. This is our third experience doing this, and so far, we’ve had fabulous guests. There have been no issues. In fact, for the most part, we have really liked the people who have inhabited our home while we are away.

This year we started to get a little nervous when, by the end of November we had no bites of interest. Leaving on January 7^th, we decided to ‘soup up’ our advertising strategy and place additional ads in on-line sites.

With 24 hours, we had a call.

“I’m interested in your house offer. My name is Cindy Boudreau and my adopted grand daughter is scheduled for surgery at Sick Kids Hospital on January 17. How close is your house to the hospital?

We never got a chance to meet Cindy and her husband Jean. Nor did we even speak with their adopted daughter, Leslie, the mother of 3 children all under 3 ½ years old. We never laid our eyes on little Ria, one of the twins, born with a rare disease called Aperts Syndrome that leaves the baby with malformed bone structure in her head and various body deformities. We never felt the need to meet them. We just knew that they were right for our house and that they are good people.

Ria’s condition will require that she undergo a multitude of surgical procedures over the years. Several of them have already occurred. Up until now, all have been carried out in their New Brunswick home base. This, a more complicated procedure requires the expertise of paediatric doctors at Sick Kid’s Hospital in Toronto.

Cindy and Jean have adopted Ria and her twin Laura. Their older sister, Lana is just 3 years old. The mother used to have the support of their father, but he took off when he heard that she was pregnant with twins just 4 months after their first child was born.

I believe that Cindy and Jean are God sent. They have had several adopted children in their lives. Cindy is a nurse and is often the first to meet those brand newly born babies who need extra care and love and attention. And Cindy wants to help.

She ventures to Africa every year for a month with an entire group of medical practitioners all of whom travel on their own expense to medically support a community of children in Tanzania.

Jean and Cindy sponsor many children and families throughout the world through organizations such as World Vision, Unicef and Unesco.

“I fell in love with Ria the minute I saw her. I knew she had to be mine.” Says Cindy. Jean acquiesces and from that moment on, Ria was accepted into their care.

The cabinets of our bedroom are full of syringes and tubes and cotton balls and vials of medication for Ria’s care, all carried and administered by Cindy and Jean for Ria’s sake. The room provides space for the ventilators, breathing machines and vaporizers that help Ria survive. Our house has become a health care space.

I am comforted to know that Cindy and Jean are in our house. Our walls absorb the holiness of their presence and I feel gifted to have them in our home.

I think about Ria today as she undergoes her surgery. And, I send out good vibes to her for a strong and healthy recuperation and growth. God bless…..all of them.