Waking

Last night I saw a movie Mabo, I watched with curiosity,  a land claims case in Australia, so far from my homeland.  I find myself these days in Australia,  a part of a wildly improbable goal become probable because of so many of you sharing my hopes, supporting me.  I am writing a book,  the protagonist goes to Australia,  I am learning more about myself as I write as I live.  Mabo spent his life writing his story, claiming his land, educating his children because he believed in himself, his people and their land. 

I read the news from across the world.  Trudeau has won a majority, we breath many of us a deep sigh, relief felt across the world.  His work, our work is just begun.  More first people's elected than ever before.  An inquiry into missing women will surely come.  Syrian refugees will now be welcomed here, we will cut through paper work.  Climate change summits will be attended, scientists valued.  Citizens will remain citizens, all citizens able to vote ( it's mandatory to vote in Australia).  All people will be allowed to dress, to veil, to not veil, cultural practises will be seen to strengthen the fabric of our great country.  Rivers, lakes and streams, preserved for decades to come. 

We have a liberal majority.   Our work has just begun. 

gkn October 2015

Today I Saw

Today I saw the dolphins

and I wept, 

great tears of delight, as they

jumped and turned and frolicked only feet

away from my dry feet, cool weather shore.

Today, I communed with dolphins

as they posed

for pictures, and I missed 

again and again.

They laughed,  I felt, and said,

just be with us here, 

with us now.

Enjoy this moment. 

So I did! 

gkn October 2015

Now that I am old

With thanks to Jenny Joseph and Warning

The warnings, the threats are past no longer do I say when I am old I will, 

rather I can say 

Now that I am old,  not only will I wear purple, I will wear whatever 

colour pleases me today,  yes, even black and white.

Now that I am old I will not be 

flattered that you think I am young ( I worked hard to get this old), 

I will give thanks for all the years I have lived, especially those in which life seemed too hard, and someone always came along to help see me through and I learned again and again, I 

was not alone. 

Now that I am old, I recognize angels more quickly, those walking flesh angels, 

those I have known in flesh and those who accompany us all, and I dare to say it, 

I saw an angel today, 

 I have loved some  who journeyed with me and left me and this world too

soon, ( they did not get to be old like me)  they companion me still 

reminding me lest I forget,  that

THIS is my sacred life and only I get to live it, to revel in my joys, to sob through

my sorrows, and to be present in all of it, the stormy seas, and the frolicking 

waves of delight.  They remind me, daily if I listen,  

they remind me that I am a lucky one, 

Now that I am old, I get to play with grandchildren, 

 I get to let go of worry, and live with the all, of whom I always wanted to be,

 no longer concerned about what others say, ( they will say it, whether I 

concern  myself or not)  no longer anxious and wondering whether there will be enough time

to do it all ( there will not be)   

Now that I am old I get to live unapologetically as me, 

perhaps the voices from the other side say, 

perhaps you always could, and then in a collective voice 

they encourage me

 just do it! 

gkn October 2015

Beauty

The Navajo way prayer and blessing waking in beauty was with me on my walk this morning.  

I paraphrase

Beauty above me

Beauty around me

Beauty before me

Beauty below

I walk in beauty wherever I go.

gkn October.2015

I am in Australia

I am in Australia with gratitude overflowing to you,  my community, my supports.  Rosemary met me at the airport, has taken me to her favourite coffee shop in Melbourne, introduced me to many, always says meet my friend from Canada, she just got here she is staying a month, SHE is writing a book, or something along those lines!  

I am feeling blessed! 

We walked down to the beach from the beautiful place I will call home,  a beach where swimming is safe and Dolphins frolic and play with swimmers.  A beach you walk through a national park to get to where kangaroos, wallabies, koala and kookaburra'so live ( yes snakes live there too!). I will walk and watch for all of them.  

I am feeling blessed! 

My suitcase red and packed full for all weather eventuality, did not make the quick layover in Los Angeles.  I am wearing Rosemary's nightgown, I wore her jeans and fleece for our walk.   I hope the red suitcase comes so I can share maple syrup with her! 

I am feeling blessed! 

I am surrounded in the beach house sanctuary with birds, trees and plants unfamiliar to me.  I had no idea there were so many different types of eculyptus tree, or that kangaroo paw in yellow, reds and orange opened, could and closed would add such splendour to my bedroom window view. 

I am blessed,

 may you too experience many blessings on this day, the first day of the rest of your life, and mine too! 

gkn October 2015

Probable

Suitcase, carry on back pack sit waiting

by the counter, zippers opened, closed, opened again, 

Items added, subtracted repeated action

improbability leaving. 

It is Wednesday, on Friday morning the

plane will land in Melbourne, I will be met

by Rosemary, gifter of a dream, 

to challenge improbable belief.

Yesterday, today, I got cards, I got emails, 

I got phone calls, support, once felt to be

highly improbable, now 

not only probable a reality

received.

gkn October 2015

Thanksgiving

Another year another blessing

family gatherings, celebrations of those present and absent, 

time to catch up,  to hear stories,  young adults, remembering, 

I am, hospital visits at your births, now you stand before me, tower above me, 

bright eyed sharing your new world opportunities, 

 awe and amazement fills me I see who you have become 

are becoming, your hugs fill my body soul

hope for a new world, life being born again

and again,  soon I fly across the world to create, live, write 

stories,  I fly with the words, the arms, the eyes of support, 

shared today,  surprised blessed by your thanksgiving offerings, 

I travel on.

gkn October 2015