A Note to a Land Mermaid I met on the Train with her bike in hand...and To Natasha Jouhl for starting NYC and the rest of America off on a high note, fresh from across the pond (yes, London)
Here'a s note a "message in a bottle' I tossed into the cyberspace waves this morning to say hello to a new pal on the Wassaic train line. She hardly is ever up that way and almost got stranded in the cold after biking to her Millerton 'mountaintop' destination when she began her jaunt out of the city. This was a wise hardly soul with lots of biking experience.
The problems she shared that gave her cause for concern was not her bike or her stamina, it was that her Cell Phone stopped working in the Cold Temperatures and she wasn't quite sure how much longer she had to go in the dark and yes in the Co--o-old. Thankfully she either got a call into her friends before the coverage went and she was closer than she thought..and it wasn't what she felt was a mountain. Maybe that's due to what good shape she is in or that in the darkness the mountain was harder to see. Either way, she reached her friends and enjoyed the weekend.
Now Why do I refer to her as a "Mermaid"..well she is often in a sea of traffic and has a can-do magical quality about her. She also happens to teach people ways to address conflict (using words to put down swords of despair and create new middle ground or fair options as I say.) And her first name is...ba Da Da Daah Daah ba ba ba dah..Ariel.
Okay that's a bit of a wink to my drum group who plays that rhythm and of show with that tune. So hello to all the peace makers, movers and shakers out thar in the big world, on the land and on the sea (in the air, in cars and reaching that next mountain top, hopefully knowing what's at the top in terms of a safe landing place if you happen to be going up a steep embankment on a dirt bike.
One rather hardy young adults hadn't scoped out the prospects of going over the top of a such a hill and took to the air. The problem was when he landed he broke his lower leg badly enough to be bleeding. Thankfully he had a cell phone and was able to dial 9-1-1 before That Cell Stopped working. The rescuers were able to find him and he's doing well after surgery.
Still let's All Think Ahead a Bit more whether it's how we're planning (or not planning) our lives, trips, meetings, outings, adventures, schooling or work paths (to lead to the jobs or experiences we truly desire and to make sure all the courses result in the accredited certifications as well as in ways to really do the studies and the work.) I missed being a public school teacher because I did not take a couple of classes in the How to Teach Reading and Math (and do the student teaching for credit) back in the 1980s. I had asked a Southern University if I should do that of pursue other topics of interest at Vassar.
They assured me I could fill in the needed classes later, but I didn't do so in a timely manner. By the time I looked into it 15 years later the requirements had Changed. None of my education credits would count in CT. Thankfully in NY, I could take 8 English classes and become a high school English Teacher...theoretically. I wanted to work with younger kids since I felt the right foundation would help them overall. But neither came to pass other than teaching gym at the Town Hill School in Lakeville, CT.
That was a private school with about fifty students K-4. I did that right out of college a couple of days a week. I also subbed for seven second graders for two weeks. I stayed friends with most of the families from that era since they were in the tri-corner MA/NY CT area.
I could share another time what happened with the families in a general sense...but basically 'all the money and talent in the world' doesn't keep bad things from happening to families.. including unwanted divorces, car accidents when driving or being a passenger, or any number of situations.
We all know that on one level but in small communities or schools when something plays out, everyone can feel 'it happened to them' and hopefully they can all feel wiser and awake about deeper experiences in life.
Now to the people I met on my journey back to NYC...Nice to have our paths cross. I was reading in Your Life by Bruce MacArthur about such meetings...Do you know the theories of ARE...Edgar Cayce's work. The overall idea that 'nothing happens by chance' or without meaning for our spiritual growth (even if it's not looking clear or obvious what lesson is being brought to our attention..that we ordered up so to speak.)
It is not to blame anyone but rather explain possibilities for our human condition, likely stemming from life times of karmic experiences, balancing things out and 'heading toward the good, wise and true' in sync with others and the Divine. Those are points covered in the Your Life book about the 10K teachings.
Maybe that could be helpful as another aspect of addressing conflict..the Whys and Wherefores. I have a post called The Big Why..not talking about grocery stores (The Big Y) but maybe we could explore that question in more open-minded ways and let that inform our society..
Last but not least, I got to meet Natasha Jouhl as I was getting ready to help Ariel off the train with her bike and pack. But she already left. I happened to stay up that way and found a moment to say hello to Natasha who mentioned she had just flown in. When I asked from where, she said, "London." She then said she'd be auditioning at the Met today on Monday then flying back tomorrow. We became fast friends. Then she sang in Grand Central for a little practice and indulge my request of getting us started off in NYC and the world on the right note...which happened to be an aria with some lovely high notes and great range. Thanks Natasha and my new friend at Nexus who is all about making positive change in the world. Timely and much appreciated on all accounts...Bon voyage!
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