What The Hell?-October 8, 2013

Sista Friends September 2013

Well it has been the best of times and it has been the worst of times. Recently I started my fall coming off on a high. Went out to see my beautiful sister that has made her home in Castlegar B.C. up on a mountain top. We both were very emotional at both my arrival and my departure. Now I know we must have sensed things would change soon.

What a week we had. Trip to the States Got our toes done and local sight seeing, shopping, drives, walks on the beach, checking out the local flavour and meeting the lovely people that are now her and her husband Michaels community and network. We shared lots of laughs and it was just a wonderful and relaxing time together. She is such a strong and courageous woman. I have such admiration for her.
 Some of the guys who worked on her house were in town and I met them. One of them always used the expression "what the hell" about most things, so that became our trademark expression. I even got a beautiful tattoo that has a special meaning to me.

Me with the Artist Ojas Cats

A lotus flower, which is a beautiful rare flower that literally grows out of the mirth. Symbolism of “through what appears to be a mess and disgusting, something beautiful can emerge.” I incorporated purple, pink, red and white into it, although at first glance it kind of looks pink.

The color bears importance in the meaning of the lotus flower in Buddhism. A white lotus flower refers to purity of the mind and the spirit. If a lotus flower is red, it refers to compassion and love. . The pink lotus flower represents the history of Buddha and the historical legends of the Buddha. A purple lotus flower speaks of spirituality and mysticism.

Coming up from the lotus are some swirls and from them two hawks flying that sympolize my parents re-united in the afterlife.

I also have the Sowelu symbol incorporated into it so tiny in the stem of the lotus flower. Linda has renamed her new place Sowelu and I liked it and wanted to incorporate it as as well.

Sowelu is finding wholeness and completeness within whom we are and how we interact with others.Sowelu is achievement.  Sowelu is celebration.  Sowelu means having
what we need when we need it – even if we can’t see the truth of that in the current moment.

Sowelu – the Sun, wholeness, completeness, personal life force,the growing energy of the sun.Element:  Sowelu calls us to the higher parts of our existence, to reach for the
sun (it is the closest star, after all), and expand our life force for a new path
soon to be chosen.

Finally, the top of the tattoo has some rays of purple which for me symbolized the crown chakra which is connected to enlightenment. 

It is the most beautiful home I have seen and I love the open structure and the unique touches and the wraparound deck with mountain views.

Linda and Mike with the Girls Lily, Georgia and Rosie

All too soon it was time to come home and I was beginning to miss my family as well.

My work has been busy and I enjoy it very much. It is fulfilling in a way that other jobs have not been. The teams I work with are such a sisterhood, especially at the womens shelter.

Last Friday everything has changed. My beautiful sister phoned and told me that she had breast cancer. In that moment I felt the bottom drop out. It was like the air had been sucked out of the room. Being so far away from her is so difficult right now but, it is what it is. The emotions are up and down and at times my heart is breaking for her having to deal with this. Feeling like I was in shock so, I cannot imagine what she was going through. It must be overwhelming and totally surreal.  She has been told it is aggressive and I pray that it was caught early. In 3 days she has surgery to remove her breast and I hope that the cancer goes with it.

I cannot imagine my life without her and she has way too much left to do here so, I know that she will get through this detour in her life and come through it like the warrior she is. We have trips to take, laughs to share, coffee to drink and treats to eat, family to visit so hopefully she gets through this as smoothly as possible, I hope for her sake. And, if it's bumpier I will do whatever I can to respect her choices and support her in whatever way she needs.

I saw hawks today and did a sage smudge and sent protection to watch over her, I have sent her strength, comfort and love up through the smoke and into the winds. I know they will reach her. As long as my plans and the universe plans line up...it's all good.