~For Cathy

 

~For my friend, Cathy Aten, artist, poet, soul-journer on her own MS odyssey who has inspired me once again by her heartfilled wisdom writing. 

How our childhood experiences do prepare us for the unknowable that is to come; this place where we find ourselves right now. I miss the smell of damp earth too but for me the pinnacle childhood adventure was climbing trees. The roughness of the bark, and the blisters on my hands and my filthy, dirty, blackened bare feet. My arms tanned and capable of reaching, pulling my weight up to the next rung of a living Jacob’s Ladder; toes and soles finding a crotch between branches to push off from. The thrill for me was climbing higher to a limb that felt terrifying and simultaneously cradled me against the sky, offering a perfect view into the blue of mystery...eternity captured in each ragged breath that filled my lungs as I found my place to rest and dream, way up there. I didn’t dare look down. 

How free and blessed we were in those days, in those bodies, these bodies, the very same ones...yet so unfamiliar. There are moments when I glimpse my strength, a flash, like a pixie quickly dashing off, leaving me to wonder if it had really felt this way before. Seems so long ago, has it only been a few years? And gone, with a blink; me winded, wilting, sitting down, grateful to have made it back to home base, my cradle-bough bed, before falling to the floor in a puddle. And here we are my friend, as prepared as anyone could possible be in this strange enigmatic forest, soul-journers, fortified with joyful memories, girlhood victories to draw upon for courage. How blessed we are in these days, in these bodies, those bodies, the very same ones that have carried us along despite our battle wounds...allowing us to understand the freedom granted by awareness and gratitude. Yes, the very same qualities too, that accompanied us through childhood and kept us happy and safe.

linking to Emily @: