Kayaking: Silver Lake, Bellingham Bay

Ah, after awhile there is not a you, just gliding along the water. You are the water. That's what David said, or something like that. He's very experienced at kayaking. Me, I'm new. I would say I was very aware of the cold, the wind, the workout on my arms and upper back. And I could tip over, and I'd had the drill, what to do if I fell in. But what would it truly be like? Going overboard?

It's the same with healing, I guess. You never know what it will really feel like to lose someone, to go through changes with illness, divorce, moves, etc. The recent changes I've been through have left me at an interesting place. I'd say being empty is a good thing. Although at first I interpreted it as a bad thing. Really, it is where all possibility comes from. Being empty, Tableau Rosa, a blank slate. You can write anything on it. What I want written on my slate is an open heart. I want folks in my life who don't push me to fight, that I don't need to compete with, who give to me as I give to them.

I remember my dad preaching that, give to others as you want them to give to your, or something like that. But that isn't what he did. So how do we learn better behavior? Perhaps giving from the water where everything feeds everything else. Where the nourishment of life is a given. Here I am now ready to kayak again. I've been three times, I think. Each time I've done a little better. And with my Pilates workout, my arms and back and core are strong. That's what it's all about, you know.

Keep having fun. I'll be traveling soon with David and will have more to tell you.

Nan

Ocean Spray Leaves

I love the sun. Lately I've been out in it (I know we're not supposed to) down at Marine Park, on the brought-in beach. Yesterday and three days prior, I went swimming in the Bellingham Bay. It was fabulous and our our particularly record breaking heat days, the water was tepid. So nice.

Saltwater is great to swim in, so buoyant. I grew up around freshwater lakes, inland. It feels different inland, still, stopping, planted, where here around the water, everything is swirling and flows. I love that, but at the same time, it's restful to go inland, to feel the dry heat, to smell the smell of Eastern Washington, the dry grass, the wheat, the sage, the pine. Yes, very nice and invigorating.

David is still in the Arctic above Norway. He'll be back in ten days and this is a countdown now for us. Nine weeks is a long time to be apart. I thought that a long distant relationship would work when I moved to B'ham. With the ex, it didn't. This isn't really a long-distant relationship, it just is a long time to be apart as we are new to each other and there are so many things to learn and do. Like swimming in the sound. Hopefully he'll be into it when he returns. Well, hopefully the weather will still be great.

Here's a note from him: We had lovely day once the fog cleared and saw Atlantic Puffin, numerous wildflowers in profusion, a little history of poor quality gypsum mining, then over for Reindeer, Arctic Fox, Arctic Skua, Snow Bunting families,Fulmars and the best part for me... the first "flight" gliding down from800-1k' at the cliff nest down over a kilometer to the water by the juvenileThick-billed Murres.... very exciting!! They have just started and won't finish moulting into their flight feathers for another 40-50 days!!

Yes, I can't wait to see photos of all these birds and the landscape, ice, ice, ice. And polar bears, he's seen plenty. The guides have to carry shotguns (short version) along with them, since the bears do attack. And the guides have to go out to the firing range when back in Svalbard between cruises. Unfortunately David got the kick-back of the rifle in his face and has a couple of loose teeth now. Send him good healing energy. I'm hoping they'll heal on their own--I'm sending Reiki and distant cranial work.

Well that's about all for now. Enjoy the summer and plan an adventure. Our next one is together, going up the Nooksack River to camp. Can't wait.

Nan