Hello and Happy April!

Dear readers, how are you?

Ok? Fair? Hanging in there? Struggling? Good?

All of the above depending on what is going on?!  (smile)

Yesterday as I was starting to push my grocery cart outside, the sky opened its arms wide to the raindrops very eager and anxious to push through and douse everything below! In my effort to sprint to the vehicle with my hood up on my raincoat, the wind that I was running into had other plans. The wind was certain a hood was overrated! That of course, made the rain happy being able to moisten – very well – something dry, like my hair!

Perhaps it was the wind strongly showing its presence. Or the rain hitting my face. Or maybe a combination of the two.  Or, in the spirit of ownership and choice, it was simply my body responding to my perception of the wind and rain being in cahoots together and not at all the wind and rain’s fault. Whatever the factors, to say I found myself very chilled in that feeling of chilled to the bone kind of way would be an understatement.

Minutes later, as the wet sacks filled with abundance and nourishment and I found ourselves nestled inside the vehicle, I was filled with gratitude.   No longer in the rain. A downstream flow kind of shopping experience in the store.  That the rain was not snow.  That it has been a great morning leading up to this moment. That I was beyond blessed with the life given me.

Blessed indeed. Like this turkey feather in its messaging. The path we walk is filled with blessings.

If we choose to see.

Overflowing blessings, minus the rain and wind, being wished for you as we continue onward with Spring.

Namaste’

-Christine

THE CREASES NOW SPEAK

LAURA

Laura wasn’t sure who laughed and cried more when all four of them greeted each other at the airport.  Josh was meeting Abbey for the first time. Laura was meeting Kaylen for the first time.  Abbey and Kaylen were finding a kindred connection, being the spouses no longer in hiding. Josh and Laura were feeling a stronger bond in the realization they had married outside the expectations and social norms of their upbringings.

When Laura had responded to Josh that she would help find the missing woman in the letter, she wasn’t sure what response she would get when Josh read Abby, my wife.   

She also knew that as soon as she told Abby about Josh’s message, Abby would have her booking the first available plane tickets, regardless of cost.   A part of Laura had hoped her boss would not approve her working remote. Of course, given that she already worked from home most of the time, and was trusted, respected, and valued, her boss practically helped her pack, offering whatever resources Laura needed to help find the woman.

It was less than 24 hours after Laura had responded to Josh that she had an email from him waiting in her inbox.

Aunt L,

Wife?!   I can’t wait to meet Abby!   I also can’t wait for you to meet Kaylen.  She is my wife. Grandpa doesn’t know I’m married.   Kaylen is black.

I’ve attached a photo of the only thing I have, which is the letter.   I think there may be a photo in grandpa’s album. I will check with him and send to you if it is her. 

Let me know once you have your flights.

Love you and I can’t wait to see you,

J

Josh and Kaylen offered to let Laura and Abby stay with them, but Laura felt drawn to stay at the house where she’d grown up.  Abby hadn’t been there before.  The house hadn’t been sold yet, and Abby was not only curious and excited to see Laura’s roots.  She felt it would be good for Laura to find peace with her past. My dear Abby, ever the healer wanting my heart free Laura thought to herself.

After Josh and Kaylen dropped them off, and after Laura had given Abby the grand tour along with memory narratives that bubbled to the surface in her mind as they entered each room, Abby fell asleep. Laura wasn’t tired, caught in the time zone transition.   And her memories.

Laura couldn’t explain why but felt drawn to the cabinet next to the breakfast nook.  She remembered how her mom would open and close the doors periodically, and if memory wasn’t failing her, her mom was putting books on a shelf.   Laura opened the cabinet doors to find her mom’s journals.

Laura was about to close the doors, feeling like she was violating her mom’s privacy, when she saw an envelope with Josh, Kaylen, her dad, and Laura’s name written on it. She wondered if her mom would have written Abby’s name on it if she’d known about Abby?

Laura opened it and read the words from her mom. My dearest family. If you are reading this, I am now with Stephanie and Mary, and you have found my journals. From the time I was a little girl, I wrote in journals, but when Stephanie was born what I began writing changed. I started writing words that I felt you would one day want to know when I was no longer here to speak.

These words are from my heart to you.

Love,

Mom

When Abby woke up the next morning, she found Laura on the floor by the cabinet surrounded by books. Reds, blues, colorful patterns. Laura began reading excerpts to Abby.