Snippets of My Day

#1 – I read Wendell Berry's Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front during my Monday 6:30 am Copper Falls Poetry Hike. I said after how that poem has been an important one for me for over 20 years and that his line, “Be joyful though you have considered all the facts,” was one I especially needed to hear in my 20's. A woman on the hike asked for the author and name of the poem again because her son is really pessimistic about the world and she wanted to share it with him.

#2 – I have a lot of flexibility in my position at this retreat center, and so I was able to rearrange my class times last week before I submitted my schedule so I could attend the faculty yoga session from 9-10 am. The instructor was here last year and someone I knew I enjoyed. She said there are so many people now who are teaching asana (physical postures), that she now focuses on the philosophy and other aspects along with it.

This I love. We did a little singing/chanting, some postures and then she talked about the wider yoga philosophy.

#3 – I cheered on a few staff after they returned from a multi-night hike. They said they were just talking about me and that the hiker sign out board wasn't kept up the first summer they were here.

#4 – In the afternoon I taught my “Meditative Doodling” class. At the end when I asked people how they felt, a woman shared she was trying to watercolor earlier that day and had been frustrated by not being able to create what she had in mind. She said this on the other hand was freeing.

#5 – I'm leading a Sitting and Walking Meditation class tomorrow morning. The location where we are to meet got put on the schedule incorrectly. This has led me to adjust the class and do something different than I usually do, which I am looking forward to trying.

Back in the Village

#1 - I have been having a fairly frequent experience the last few months of waking up around 3 in the morning and then being awake for an hour or so.  My doctor said it is normal to have sleep or wake cycles and we just often don't notice them as much when we are young.  She told me to get out of bed and go in a different room and do something quiet, like read or a puzzle, and then when I'm tired again go back to bed.

I've been away from home a little over 2 weeks and last night was the first night I woke up and was awake for a bit.  Most nights I have been sleeping straight thru.  And even last night it wasn't frustrating at all.  

I have been sleeping well.

#2 - There is such a range of hiking experience here.  I just saw a staff member walking by that did an overnight by herself last night over 10 miles away, so over a 20 mile walk.  I'm in awe.  At the same time I asked another staffer today about a hike and she said it was the first hike she had taken in her life.

Each Sunday here I have a "hike haus open house" to answer questions and get people familiar with the place.  I had my first one today and I love it.  There was a large church group that had never been here before so I think I recruited many of them to the short 6:30AM poetry hike I lead on Monday mornings.

(There were only small patches of snow at the end of this hike, but it was fun to see because I did this hike a little later last year and the snow was gone).

#3 - I also had my first dish team of the summer today and it is great to just be able to jump in and help/to know what I am doing.

#4 - Another staff member sent out a message to have a lodge cleaning meeting on Tuesday.  I am super grateful someone else is taking the lead to organize this!

#5 - I picked up Seven Years in Tibet at the library here Friday and I'm already on page 200.  I realized that the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday falls on a Sunday, which is perfect because I often lead a sitting and walking meditation class on Sunday mornings. I can dedicate that class to him and use some of his quotes (as part of my job)!

 

A Few More From Oregon

 

P.S. I didn't get sick.

A Week In Oregon

I wasn't thrilled to be returning to the city (I'll post some more Oregon coast pictures later), however I joined the Portland Market drum jam with some shakers they had for people to grab and had a great time today.

I got a sore throat last night, and now I'm a bit anxious, hopefully it is just a sore throat, people do just get sore throats right?  However

A. I got Co-Vid when I traveled last year, and maybe the year prior as well (I took the test too early).

B. I have someone I knew 20 years ago that I was going to meet up with tomorrow that lives in the Portland area and she just emailed that she tested positive for Co-Vid. (I knew she wasn't feeling well a few days ago but figured she'd be better by tomorrow).

So I guess I should pick up a test tomorrow but wait until later in the day for 48 hours after symptoms onset.

Sigh.

I hope I feel better as opposed to worse in the morning.
 

A Few Things

Yesterday I started my day frustrated because a family that I am so close to getting to the goal of number of home visits cancelled.  And then that frustration led to frustration about not having a hiking plan for Saturday. I did not feel like hiking alone, but I'd already hiked with the friends who I thought would be up for a long hike (or they were busy/out of town).  Today however

#1 - That same family did their visit, and if we can just get a 1/2 hour visit in next week, they will reach goal!

#2 - I asked a friend to hike that hiked with me 2 weeks ago (so I doubt would want to again), but she is in!

#3 - I did my final visit with a family that I've worked with 2 school years - the full length of the program.  This is my 3rd program year at this job, but I started mid year, so the first time I've worked with a family the full 2 school years. When the mom arrived home with her older/elementary aged child she told me he had said, "Hurry up!!

 I don't want to miss M_____'s teacher!"

#4 - The mother took a couple super cute photos which she remembered to send to me.

#5 - Not only did I buy groceries a day or 2 early (I usually go Sat/Sun), I made dinner.  I rarely cook on Fridays.  I also bought so many delicious things - green beans, kale, asparagus, strawberries, a mango, an avocado, salmon, cream cheese, bagel, sprouts, mochi ice cream, sparkling water (watermelon mint - which is a gamble as I don't typically like watermelon flavor)...

Weaving In and Out

 #1 - Trevor Hall's music has really been nourishing me this week.

Monday night before bed I meditated to his "Lime Tree" to calm myself.
Tuesday AM I did the same with his "Mindful Breathing" with Thich Nhat Hanh.
Today I've been listening to both of his Live at Red Rocks shows as I work.

#2 - Last week I found out my friend Paul has a show on Saturday. I reserved 2 tickets not knowing who I'd attend with. I've already seen him twice in the last 6 months with a few friends, so I doubt they'd want to go again.  I asked my sister in law earlier this week, I don't often get alone time with her. She said Saturday would be rushed and to see if I could find anyone else.  

Today she emailed that it would work after all if I hadn't found anyone.

I hadn't tried.

#3 - #5 People Weaving in and Out of our Lives

I'm staying at my friend's a few nights this week with her 13 and 15 year old while their parents are out of town.  It wasn't until I arrived that I realized the last time I slept there was almost exactly 3 years ago when I moved out of the place I shared with my former partner.  I lived with that friend/family over that summer, having no idea what was next. I had always been close to those kids, but that summer they really saved me.

Now they are teenagers and I don't see them much, but this morning before the 13 year old left for the school bus, he gave me a hug at my back as I washed at the kitchen sink.  And the 15 year and I might be playing tennis together today.

Also the Realtor who first tried to help my former partner and I find a house and then help me find a condo 3 years ago said she was interested in the book club I started in November.  She wasn't able to attend the first couple sessions, but she will be here tomorrow. It's also fitting to see her again since she was a big part of my life during that painful transition.

Also a sweetheart (in her 20's) who I met at the retreat center I worked at last summer who lives locally responded to my book club email.  She said she was interested, but hasn't responded or attended thus far, so I told her I was going to take her name off the list.  She replied it hasn't worked out yet but she is still interested.

Impatience

#1 - I have my monthly library poetry group tonight.  I plan on reading poems from Emory Hall, a book given to me by a friend earlier this year.  I haven't had any of my own writing to share for a while.  However as I was skimming thru Hall's book to pick which poems to share, it wore off on me and I wrote one.

#2 - I had a quick turn around as I got home last night about 8pm from an evening home visit and then had a make up visit at 7:20am this morning.  They both contained seeds of beauty.  Last night because I connected the mom to a local park she was not familiar with (we met there).  Today because this family has been a challenge to get to "goal" (a certain number of visits for the program).  Today was a make up visit though and one step closer.

#3 - I picked up a quick pre-made sandwich/dinner on Sunday because I thought I might be watching my friend's son play tennis Monday eve and not have time to make something.  That didn't happen, so today I'm grabbing that to eat between work and poetry group.  It will be a more exciting dinner than the pb&j I would pack otherwise.

#4 - The white blossoming tree outside my bedroom window is exquisite. Just having a tree outside my window is a gift. And when I walked back to my building today I could barely smell the flowering around. Everything has burst the last couple days.  

I've been paying attention.

#5 - The limitations of patience - one of my friends commented how I was a patient person - in response to waiting over 2 years to have a couch here. But patience can be categorical. I am usually patient with children, a patient driver.  However, I am feeling other areas in my life where I lack patience. Fortunately in the middle of that, are many moments of beauty, so my focus does not rest too long on my impatience.