I've a ritual now when I am done with work there; I bring along some tea in an insulated travel cup, or make some when I am there. When the work is done (this week mostly emptying and cleaning cabinets and closets, and a very thorough vacuuming as well), I like to take a chair out onto the deck and spend a few minutes maintaining gratitude for my house. I wish my children had not had to live with such poverty and sadness there, although we had many, many good times and moments of happiness, especially after I found Al-Anon. I do not know how to make the sad times up to them except to honor their lives now and try to help when I can.
I always turn every light out in the house and sit out on the deck in the dark. I ask Spirit for the things I need (including a new roof and deck, the most urgent things for that place!) and the "power to carry that out," as they say in twelve-steps. On clear nights, the stars are amazing and you can see the jets going into San Jose Airport; the kids and I used to watch them on clear nights and sometimes their lights would illuminate the deck!
It was a lovely night, the sky quite gray, and the screech owls calling very softly; there are owlets in a nest up in one of the redwoods, and I could hear them making little squeaky sounds. I thought of my children, and the child I am raising who has not yet seen this house (she can't until it is 100 percent clean and safe inside and out). So many people helped me when I was a single mother, struggling in every way. I thought especially of my sister, whom I greatly miss. This song ran for a long time though my mind until it was time to go (I think this version shows some vintage pictures of Detroit, and they are rather interesting):
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