My Day Home and Post Party

Tuesday, January 13, 2004

My Day Home and Post Party

Ah . . . how good it is to spend time here. I’m shaping things so I’ll be at home on Tuesdays. This is the second week in a row that I’ve taken it “off.” I spent several hours this morning reading and writing on the porch. As always, the mornings are my favorite, the sun shines so brightly, it’s a little bit cool and its’ so, so quiet, especially after about 8:30.

The open house was a lot of fun. I had an idea of who was coming up when on Saturday morning with most folks saying independently that they’d be up around 3 or 4 on Saturday. Well sure enough, I looked out when I sensed a taxi stopping and here they all come, walking in as straight a line down my lawn as the tiny ants march a straight line on my white, glossy kitchen walls! Richard, Hope, Karen, Andy, Ian and Cara. Even though the clouds had come and it was a bit damp and cool, we all gathered on the front porch until we all decided it was time to start cooking up stuff. Richard spent over $1000J just on cheese for us! He brought everything he needed to make jerk cheese fondue. My oh my oh my! Was that a winner! Karen and Hope brought cocoa, peanut butter and oats for some no-bake drop cookies. I had been prepping food for days and the menu was just as I’d planned with those wonderful additions. (See last Friday’s entry for the menu!)

What I loved the most was having everyone participate in the making. Cutting onions and cucumbers, squeezing limes, Andy was hysterical, wrapping the fabric that hung near the double gas-burner around his neck and away from danger! Never before had I had so many people in my tiny little kitchen and it was priceless.

Having the afternoon free, I spent several hours playing with my new digital camera and got it all up and running. Now I just need to figure out how and where to post or send the pictures so everyone can enjoy them! Fortunately, Ian took several pictures of all of us in the kitchen, me, Karen at the sink, Cara next to her. I just loved having this place be so filled with life and energy!

After we stuffed our faces, we hung on the porch some more, relishing our full bellies and enjoying the darkening evening. Everyone was up for the little ceremony I had in mind and we proceeded to move onto the 8’ wide lawn for our “gathering under the breadfruit tree.” In place of the bonfire, I placed the stem-ends of a dozen or so dried breadfruit leaves at a center point, creating a two-two and a half foot wide circle. Then we placed six or so large, flat rocks in the circle’s center and then put about seven candles on those rocks. With all our chairs around the circle, you would’ve thought we were sitting in front of a small bonfire! It was lovely and cozy. Everyone was open to a little New Year’s ritual of sorts, so why not?! I was a bit nervous, since I’ve only done this kind of stuff with my friends back in Denver. When I told ‘em how I was feeling and that I wondered it they thought I was a little weird, they all laughed and said, “It didn’t take this for us to know that!” Then all we laughed, too, about how all of us must be a bit weird ourselves for signing up for this entire escapade.

I shared a tiny bit about the four elements and how they were represented in the circle, talked a bit about the four directions. Fortunately Richard has a compass on his watch so I found east for sure-I was right on the mark and felt good about intuiting that. Easy, too, since my bed faces the direction where the sun comes up, a common thread in 80% of the homes that I’ve ever lived in! I came across one of my most favorite poems, “The Invitation” by Oriah Mountain Dreamer earlier in the day and it seemed to be so appropriate for the New Year. If you haven’t read the book, I highly recommend it. So, I read that to everyone. Oh, yea, I also put three bubble bottles out, so wheeeeooooo! I felt like I was right back at home in Denver gathering with all my friends on the patio. Just didn’t have the graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows for s’mores! And of course, Murphy checking everyone out.

We all talked about 2003, where we were a year ago. Someone had posed an excellent “Martha question.” Many folks down here know of Martha and the wonderful way she has of getting interesting conversations going, I’ve told them all what a “Martha question” is. . that was kinda trippy. For the most part, a year ago seems like forever ago, at least for me. We shared a bit more and talked about what we’re ready to let go of from the past year as the New Year begins (similar to some of the Burning Bowl stuff). We each wrote something down on the paper, lit them in one of the candles and let it burn down to our fingertips before we dropped it in the small white bowl of water sitting nearby. After a long, pregnant pause, we just let it be and moved on to talking about our hopes for the New Year. I was touched when someone said how valuable it was, to put the year behind them, instead of continuing to live in a “what if” place-what would I be doing if I was still back in the states. I loved how Karen said how good it was to have one whole entire year ahead of us, time to just enjoy and sink into this place. Letting our roots take hold. That was powerful to me, because it carries such a sense of stability, a welcome change from 2004. The entire evening was very sweet, intimate and warm and I was happy everyone was open to going along with it all.

Jerry, my favorite taxi driver, came by and picked everyone up around 8:30. Cara and Ian, a young married couple working with youth in schools, live the furthest and needed to get to Half Way Tree before 10 to catch a bus home. Richard stayed the night. We popped in my new DVD from Libby, “The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood.” What a classic! And so ironic that Richard is reading it and just last week I told him Karen had the DVD. Then, Libby’s Christmas package from Bloomington, Indiana arrives and poof! There it is! We slept in till 8:30 and woke to another beautiful mountain morning. After some fantabulous Blue Mountain coffee from the French press Tom sent, I cooked up a callaloo pie, using the leftover jerk cheese fondue. Oh my goodness! Now that’s one for the cookbook! We had boiled plantain, oh so sweet, toast, ortinque oranges and bananas and prunes marinated in ortinque juice. I am so blessed to have two of ortinque trees out behind the washroom and I’ve been picking four or six a day it seems. The best oranges I’ve ever had!

It was great having Richard’s company. We gabbed about a bunch of different books, life’s experiences and had a lovely morning. He hopped a ride down with Clifton near noon and I took a bit of time to clean up and chill out a bit. Despite a lingering upper respiratory bug, Mark made it up about 3ish and stayed till nearly 9. Not by design-we had a heck of a time getting a taxi for him. Jerry came by once on his way up the hill, said he’d be back down. When he got there, he was “full up.” That sure seemed out of character. It took until after 9 (started this about 6:50) till someone drove by and we flagged ‘em down. Mark called and he’d been able to talk the guy into taking him all the way home. He wasn’t even a taxi driver, but hey, as long as it worked out!

All in all, a very fun weekend. I learned a lot about how to throw one of these open houses-I think keeping it to one night will make it easier to plan around. Definitely helped having folks bring something to contribute, along with bowls and silverware. I loved sharing this beautiful place. I think first and foremost, folks commented on how quiet it is here. And then simply, how beautiful. Andy even gave me the idea that if I’m ever traveling, I could call him and he’d be happy to come up and house sit for a weekend. I look forward to seeing other folk’s places and would love to do something like this on a regular basis.
It’s been a good day here. More quiet time. Almost through with my quarterly report. I’ll meet with Robert tomorrow and let him know about my needs to change things around. Then, we have the monthly Executive Team meeting on Thursday.

I did two back-to-back aerobic classes at Raphael’s last night! I could hardly get from the passenger seat of Clifton’s car up the four steps and into my place! I love that good, tired feeling. Keith teaches on Mondays and Thursdays and those classes are becoming anchors in my week. Hopefully, I’ll be able to keep Friday to a short day. I had another lengthy and informative conversation with Alicia yesterday while at Peace Corps. She asked if I’d met with Robert or Ian yet about my planned changes. I told her Monday was Robert’s first day back in the office after the holiday and I was going to wait till Wednesday. She said she’d place a call there before too long as well.

I don’t know why I feel as nervous as I do. . . However, I do know how much better I feel when I’m on my own a bit more. I just need more space and time! I’m not sure if I’ve written you yet about developments for a Learning Resource Center that are going on right here in Maryland (Jamaica, of course!) Joe’s (the Peace Corps Volunteer who lives on the property here) been inquiring and has some connections that could open up doors for me to work directly with the Woodford All Ages School up behind the Woodford Anglican Church, a 15 minute walk up the hill. More on that another time!