Where I live we often hear sirens heading out highway 1, especially on the weekends. There’s always a feeling of sadness for whoever is affected and what has happened. One never expects it to be someone you know, but this time it was. A good friend fell asleep driving back from Commonweal. Her car went off the side of the embankment on Panoramic highway and her car with her in it fell and turned over for 200 feet. It was quite a rescue effort, involving our local agencies. She’s in the hospital and she’s alive. She will heal.
I sit with it. My father died in an accident. It brings up fragility, something I’ve lived with since I was 19. Like that, a person you love can be gone. Take care – give care to yourself and those you love.
We were married June 19, 1971 so 55 years ago. We celebrated by spending the night in Sausalito where I took a slew of photos, and this morning had great fun interacting with a Great Blue Heron. Being in Sausalito in the mist skews distances, so, at times, I felt as though I could have been here with the Coast Miwok sailing across the bay in a tule boat.
Rainbow splashing down over Angel Island when we returned from dinner last night. Another ViewA Great Blue Heron enjoying the mudflats at low tide.Another ViewReflectingEnough photos – off to a new adventure
I walked Tennessee Valley early this morning in an environment wet with mist. I walked with these words from Neil deGrasse Tyson.
We are part of this universe; we are in this universe, but perhaps more important than both of those facts is that the universe is in us.
Immersed, I was surrounded with birds singing, flying, scurrying, feasting. I noticed the changing smells and the array of greens. I thought of algae changing the color of the reflecting pool in Washington D.C. to green. Plants rule, and yes, “the universe is in us”, and it’s for us to notice and live aware.
MultitudesOne of many bunnies along the trail!SerenityAlone with waves and quiet on the beach What do you see tangled in the tree?
Walking around my neighborhood I crossed the bridge to Eastwood Park, and took a photo of the creek. When I looked at the photo, I saw a perfect reflection of the sky. I was brought to consider even more deeply my steps, and where I place my feet. The ground and I reflect.
The creek reflecting what’s above!Bee HeavenTransition!
Leaving early to walk Tennessee Valley to the beach, I saw a deer at the top of our driveway, and then, three more along the path to the beach. Quail were hidden but sounding: qua querko, and so many birds were singing, I felt I was in a jungle. What a gift of a morning!
Sun on the RidgeMoon still up in the skyCruise ship entering the Golden GateMy only companions on the beachBlending In
It’s the end of the school year for children and teachers. Photos this week are of our grandson receiving a Little League trophy, a self-portrait, a painting with the words Love Is Love, and a camping trip with friends from his pre-school. He couldn’t have a broader, more proud smile. I think of our worry for him a few weeks ago, and can’t stop smiling.
It’s been a major step on the journey. What have I learned? Something beautiful carries us through what is tough. I’m filled with memories of all the help I, and we, received. And, I needed to process it, to let the tension go. Animals know this. They run from danger, then, when safe, pause and rest.
This morning I meditated on sadness. At first, it was personal, and then, it expanded out into sadness for the world, and then, just sadness. The fog is in. The redwood tree waves its branches gently, fanning the air I breathe.
Gratitude is a wreath around me, and I’m the eye, an I that is not separate, is one with beauty, balance, and fear, all strengthened as one.
Poppies pop out of rock on the path!BridgeRetreat to Re Treat!
The text just came through to “Fab Fam” from my daughter-in-law.
Great news! The MRI came back. The bone is infected, but there is no abscess. We’re going home with several follow ups scheduled for blood draws to track. Yay!
Well, an infected bone may not be the greatest news, but that there is no abscess which would have required minor surgery to drain is super-good news. And he’ll be home, despite his joyful time at the hospital.
I can’t believe the relief. Again, thank you for all the prayers, lit candles, and support.I felt it, and I know he did too. We all did! Support! Connection! Love!Gratitude! Deep thanks in all ways!!
I’ve been posting about my six-year-old grandson and his time in the Stanford Pediatric hospital.
Today, I learned he would have an MRI. I’ve never had one but I’ve heard about the pounding and the claustrophobia. Yikes! Worry set in stronger than before.
So, how did he do? Well, he feels he’s too old for naps so even with all that’s been going on since Friday, he is clear. No naps. I’m too old for naps.
It’s been painful for him to lie down flat, but somehow when he lay down for the MRI, he fell asleep and slept through the whole thing, and there you have it. Once again, an example of how we meet what comes. No one told him it would be scary. He met it fresh, well, actually asleep, but what’s fresher than that. His adventure continues. He’s currently writing and illustrating a “graphic novel”. I’m curious to see the result after all of this.
If I ever have an MRI, I’ll say to myself, “Great, I’m in need of a nap.”
Thank you all for all the prayers, concern, and care coming his and our way. I’m so grateful!! I’m swimming in tears. Monday I read him Alice in Wonderful. I never really related to the book, but now I “get” it. I’m big. I’m small, and I’m swimming in tears. And perhaps, the whole thing is a dream!!
What’s more dreamlike than Rodeo Beach in the fog and mist?
Great news on my grandson. The antibiotics are working. His mother writes “He loves hotels. This is like a hotel plus movies and he’s the center of attention.”
Now, we just need to keep him entertained. I’m going down with “The Complete First Series The Prophecies Begin: Warriors”. He has a window seat in his hospital room with a view. He’ll be there tonight and maybe another night depending how quickly the infection is wiped out.
Modern medicine. Wow! We live in the best of times when it comes to medical care. Now it needs to be health care for all, not just for those who can afford it. I’m waving a flag of gratitude.
A month ago I bought my grandson a book called That’s Good! That’s Bad by Margaret Cuyler and David Catrow. It’s essentially the “Is That So?” story about the back and forth that happens in our world, and how we meet it. It’s about perception.
Today we got a call from the physicians that our grandson needed to return to the hospital. Obviously we united in what I might call “false cheer”. “Oh, the tales that you’ll tell when you go back to school” etc. Meanwhile I drove home in tears.
But then we FaceTimed with him. He was still in the ER as they waited for a room to open up for him. He was hooked up to an IV and excited about all the machines. He bounced up and down to show us how the machine showed his heart rate increasing and decreasing. With sign language, he signed the whole alphabet for us, and showed us a drawing he did, and explained the complexity. He shared how excited he is because he gets to go in an ambulance from one part of the hospital to another, and he gets to have an “overnight”.
Talk about a lesson in perception. I’ve spent the night in the hospital three times, twice for the birth of my children, and once for a lumpectomy. I never greeted it as an “overnight”. I’ve never been in an ambulance but I doubt I would have seen it as an adventure. These last days dealing with the fear and sadness in the ups and downs of this with my grandson have been a huge lesson for me in how I might meet life now. For one thing, all that matters is family, friends, connection, and perception. Everything is so precious, every moment, exchange, breath.I’m precious too. Can I let myself feel that?
I still read the political news which is staggering, and yet surrounding that is the Love we share, the Love that is tangible and matters, and will carry us. I don’t post photos of my grandchild but I have one here of him strapped in ready to go to the ambulance. He has a huge grin on his face as he holds a small carton of milk. He’s wearing his Valkyries hat, and his Grinch pajamas because he loves Christmas so much he wears Christmas pajamas all year. He’s my example of resilience, and how we meet what comes. Life is an adventure. Children show us the way. They give us Joy.
Living in the mist that unites tears and laughter in Receptivity, Resilience and Joy!
Cathy's Blog! 