Yesterday, on the deck of a local cafe, a toddler was screaming in his father’s lap. I reached for my nearly-invincible kid-distracting/attracting toys, when the father swiftly and cuttingly said, “That isn’t going to do any good.” About 1/2 hour later, inside the cafe, the same kid was screaming, his father’s energy large and subtlely challenging.  That tuned-in kid was expressing his father’s anger and rebellion.

Often, when my children were very small, I would notice that they would suddenly cry when I wanted a distraction, though I generally wasn’t conscious of that until they cried.  Wow!  Watch your cat, your dog, your child, and see what they’re reflecting about YOU.

While driving to the Roasting Company to write this blog, I planned to tell you how very RELAXED this place is. I thought I lived in a relaxed place (Port Townsend, Washington), but I had to slow down quite a bit to fit into this place.

Enroute to Ganges, where the Roasting Company is, I came upon some road construction. The summer weather has just recently begun here, so road crews are out repairing pot holes. The guy with the STOP sign and beautiful, flourescent ankle bands for safety, was sitting in the shade near his truck. He stood up, in a very relaxed pose, his body language that of someone alone, perhaps waiting for a friend. He was SO relaxed that he literally dropped his STOP sign a minute later! But he’s not alone - as we two cars coming into town passed the 7 or 8 coming out of town just after 5pm, someone on foot was talking with one of the stopped drivers, standing casually between the two lanes on the narrow road. THEN THE CAR BEHIND ME STOPPED AND JOINED THE CONVERSATION. And no one honked or yelled.

Pulling into the parking lot in Ganges, the back of the car next to me said SLOW in quiet blue letters.

I started to get emotional yesterday, thinking about my time here possibly ending on the 30th or 31st, but it doesn’t look as if I’ll be leaving that soon, after all. Interestingly, all the other energies from other places I’d been checking out - Bellingham, Washington and South Central Alaska (Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula) have all backed off, plans being cancelled or connections seeming to disappear. THIS place, though, keeps on coming, keeps on meeting me 2/3 of the way.  This morning, I was offered a little, primitive place with a great view where I can stay for nearly 2 weeks - Heaven! - with only 4 days to fill between “my” two places - no problem!
A miraculous life has met me here. I toured the north part of the island Wednesday, and by Sunday, had invitations to see the two favorite (private) spots I’d spotted! I’d also received a gorgeous gift from my new artist friend, Tina, and been befriended by Tracy, a warm, natural networker who works at the local paper.
I’m curious what the coming weeks will bring. And grateful, very grateful……….

What a difference a day makes!

As soon as I expressed my feeling of isolation here on Salt Spring Island, Heaven broke out all over, with connections everywhere and everywhen. It all began with a walk to Rainbow Rd. Trading in the late afternoon, where smiling, gorgeous Joanna made me feel right at home.

Then this morning came the jackpot! Carol, radiating welcome and extending her phone number; warm and funny Mark, and brilliant David, and Stephen (Steven?), who shared great conversation and company for a couple hours ’til I had to go. Went to Mark’s pottery studio later, at his invitation, and then back to the Roasting Company again, where I was recognized as the one who “spent so much time on the pay phone in the pouring rain” yesterday. Yes, that was me, on a pay phone without any shelter! Now I have that very same, cold rain to thank for yet another friend, Terry.

Going over the border Monday evening, I felt a sense of wonder and felt very young. After all, I spent a lot of years out of the country before I was 27. The European look of Victoria, BC, and the spilling, exuberant multicolored flowers everywhere made me high with excitement and anticipation. Then, to top it all off, as I cleared customs and headed toward the street, several people called out, “911 was an inside job!” At this, I felt more at home than I did in the USA….

Having said that, I am now in my 2nd day on Salt Spring Island and am feeling the British cultural influence on Canada. There is NOT the American problem of fake smiles, to be sure, but also not a preponderance of smiles toward strangers, period. And I miss that, the real ones. Good thing I’m here for a bit of a retreat. It may be a little more solitary than I’d planned!