Scenes from Quarantine ~Part 8

In the three months since I posted my last 'Scenes from Covid' series, much has transpired, even while we continue to be in the mists of a global pandemic and spend the majority of time at home. We've had a few exceptions and when doing our same ole grind, we have tried to make the best of it through a variety of ways. Here's what the pandemic Fall looked like. 

Three celebrations. 

1: Anjahni's birthday. What better way to SIP than with my favorite black forest cake! 

2: The not trick or treating Halloween. 

3: Save-the-Turkey Day at home (where we did Thanksgiving 100% vegetarian, without having to schelp our own meal stuff to other people's houses.)

We took lots of walks up in the hills, with both humans and goats. We got to safe distance with school friends as well. We found a new trail along the Bay and one in the woods in Pinole Valley and also hiked at another Bay Trail

We visited the Grand Canyon State (very safely, I might add)

We took a train ride.

Mom had to make an emergency trip to Georgia with sister/tia Kim because brother/uncle Bobby was very ill.

We went bike riding w/ our new bicycle, a generous gift from our cousins.

The girls continue to do school from home and Gaia Girls safely in person.

Anjahni and Don continue to work from home.

Kai continues to try to play with Samson. Samson continues to growl at him.

We all laugh and get on each others nerves but most importantly;

We are grateful for all we have because we know many are not as fortunate during these times and we are mindful of the blessings we have.

Goat Encounters

                      

The goats were recently back grazing on the grassy hills behind our housing scheme. We are always happy to go up and visit with them but during a global pandemic, when we are home 95% of the time, getting out of the house and trekking up the steep hills and finding our four legged, horned pals, is even more exciting than usual. 

We love to go up with just the four of us or with our friends up the street but recently included some other school pals (safe distanced) after their mom told me their kids always wanted to see a baby goat. "Baby goats?" I told her, "I think we can make that happen." 

I personally love get up close to the herd. They are all so different be it in coloring or personality but they are so beautiful. It's fun to get familiar with them (some of the kids really know the goats) and to see them do their grazing thing. Each time the goats return to help with fire safety grazing, we are so thrilled to welcome them back.

Central Georgia Roots

                                                                                                  

My bio brother Bobby recently ended up in the ICU in his hometown, Cordele, Georgia. Cordele is a small, one street town. Not much to see and not much to do. It is famous for being the watermelon capital of the world. Most of the industry is farming including cotton (with it's connection to slavery.) This is where our beloved maternal grandmother retired to and spent the last thirty plus years of her life. This is where she was laid to rest when died at age 93. Our roots are deep in Cordele. Our great grandmother and her people settled well over a hundred years ag. Grandma's family branched out south to Miami, then Key West. My bio mom and her siblings were all born in South Florida and eventually Bobby and my sister Kimberly were born and raised (we share the same mama but different fathers) in Key West. Over time, they too branched out. Kim to Central Florida but in more recent years back in Key West. Bobby eventually making his way back to Cordele when grandma was still alive and where our Uncle Wayne spent the last years of his life.  Cordele may not be big spot on the map but it is a special place, for that is where our family roots started. 

Being adopted (and having found my siblings at age 22), I am always deeply grateful to learn about and explore where I came from. So even though my trip to Cordele was one of deep concern for my brother, my sister and I still a small bit of our time connecting with the earth in that part of the world where part of our family tree is rooted. We went by the houses of our grandmother and great grandmother. We hiked in the woods outside of town. We talked about the family history and even took a drive 30 miles out to visit Jimmy Carter's place. My sister and I remarked how in such a rural and removed place, there is much beauty and much good. 

Here are some photos of our time where are roots began.

Our grandmother's home.

Window to the Soul

 

Our Collective & Individual Cultural Shadows

 

I know that everything happens as divinely planned. This universal truth is something that I remind my two small gems that often. During this world pandemic of Covid-19 and  the video murder of George Floyd, I know for sure , that these times are an invitation  to face our shadows. To take a hard look within ourselves about what we believe and feel about others as well as ourselves. These world events are inviting us to face our collective and individual shadows. 

 This year, and for the past four years really, the truth of racial divide and hatred as well as fear of others,  has not been has obvious than it has in decades.  Thanks to a narcissist, racist, misogynist president (and I mean thanks sincerely because this is ultimately a gift to our own freedom), the dark is coming to the light ever more so.  No longer hidden, the truth of the impact of deep systemic racism is this country is revealed. Through the events of these times, we are invited to explore ourselves and what we think and believe about others. Personally, I have had to questions my own thoughts, some which pop into my head, leaving me surprised and questioning, "Wow, where did that thought come from? Do I really think that way?" The inner inquiry that follows has allowed me to see where in my own life I hold my own racist thoughts, some learned, some from my own experiences but all ignorant. 

The work is not easy. To admit my thoughts or actions stem from a place that is the opposite of love,  to admit that these thoughts or actions hurt others, is deeply humbling. Who wants to admit that despite their loud cries for justice, equality and one love, that they too hold  unconscious or conscious biased? I know that is something I had to struggle with for a minute. But truth is my calling.  Revealing the truth, letting what lies beneath to be seen and exposed, that is my purpose in my own personal evolution and in the way I serve others. That is what I do as a healer (in Western terms we call it psychotherapist but healer is it's true name), I expose the truth. And so I must always inquire within myself to see what lies within. What is exposed may be truth yet not always the ultimate truth. What do I mean by that? In exploring my own thoughts and actions, my dissecting them, I have uncovered some of the origins of my thoughts and actions are not always things that were planted by me. Yet, I may have unconsciously or consciously allowed them to take root. Ultimately, it is up to be to be mindful of my thoughts and actions in every moment to do the work to free myself.  And in my own freedom, I then create the space for freedom in those around me.

In my recent trip to Georgia to visit my ailing brother,  my sister and I came upon the house that you see here.  It was not surprising. We were in central, rural Georgia.  The truth about slavery, the civil war, the hatred and fear that people feel about one another is alive and well.  Some may be appalled by someone flying this flag in front of their home. I was left feeling a tad of respect. As least those that let their racial flag fly were open and honest about what they felt and supported.  More often than not, most hid their true racist feelings. But whether you hide from others or let it fly freely, these times are an invitation to dig down and deep, to dig up those roots and explore them.  My prayer is that each human being would do this work but sadly, I know that this is not the case. So all I can do is my own work and plant seeds in my own children that when they take root may have a different outcome. 

Covid Escape Express

How does one stay relatively balanced, on all levels, during a pandemic? Our family, like so many countless others has played board games, gone bike riding, taken endless walks. We watch television and movies, the girls play some video games and we all keep in touch with friends and family through Facetime, Zoom, Whatsapp and other mediums. And still, the boredom sets in and depression and irritably have planted roots. So last month, when I saw the Niles Canyon Railway would be opening for a train ride, I thought, let's do this. 

I did not tell the family my plans. I thought the element of surprise would add to our outing. I made sure it was safe; county officials had given the green light and we'd be in an open air train car (which turned out to be freezing!!)  I had always wanted to take the girls on this train but we just never made it. Well, thank you Covid, Shelter-in-Place Blues, for you gave us this opportunity. 

The training ride was just the right amount of time, it had a perfect blend of history and excitement.  It got us out in the fresh air and it allowed us to make some fun family memories.  We probably won't do many things like this during these pandemic times but taking this Covid Escape Express shifted away some of the blues and boredom that were becoming too comfortable in our home.