December 19, 2103.
Yesterday I finally accepted my busy future fate and surrendered to
one 40-hour per week job (starts January 16) plus two part-time jobs.
For the past week I had flung myself around the house in full martyr
mode, bemoaning my fate. I had called four friends trying to gain
sympathy, but no dice. Each one talked about a time in their life
that was extremely busy. All four were positive and saying peppy
things like, “I worked six days a week for three years because I
wanted to build my retirement,” “Well, I have to work hard during
the busy season,” “Make hay while the sun shines,” and "I was so busy working that I didn't have time to spend money."
Fine.
Once I got over myself, I decided to work in the main house where
there is an Internet connection. (I am caretaker at a ranch that is
for sale and live in the cozy detached guest house.) I opened the
door and saw five cows grazing on the pristine lawn in front of the
house. They were escapees from the neighboring ranch. I set down my
computer and rushed toward them, clapping and
shooing. The last cow stood still, looking at me with bovine
indifference. As I herded them up a small slope I quietly told them
how much happier they'd be once they were
home with their other cow friends. They moved up
the slope and I scooted by them and opened the gate. I
waved my arms in a forward sweeping motion. They didn't budge. I
climbed the hill behind them and rushed at them again clapping and
shouting. All five scurried neatly through the gate.
I call this extreme pet-sitting.
This happened 10 days ago. Finally I trust that I am headed the right way
into a full working life. I see my Higher Power standing ahead of me,
coaxing me forward. This is the big difference between how my HP does
things and how I do things. My HP coaxes me, I herd myself. My HP stands a few
yards ahead of me, waving me on. I stall and try to garner
sympathy from friends and waste time gnashing my teeth, drinking a
little too much wine and watching too many TV series, but so what?
My question is: how do I stay awake during this process? How do I
take my poetry heart, which requires vast empty space and
keep it open as I move through my very scheduled days? One step here.
One breath there. I don't always
feel that happy about where I am being led, but by now, I trust
where I am being led.
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This season I've had to forgo lots of holiday events in order to take
care of myself as I juggle three part-time jobs. (I still am slightly
worried about my writing time when one of the jobs gratefully goes
full-time.) I've been happy to stay home with two pet-sitting
charges: a dog named Sammy and a cat named Jimmy, both female. We
hang out in my snuggly room with my Pic N' Sav tree and listen to
Xmas music. I love Xmas music. On Xmas morning I lit the wood
stove and danced in the kitchen to a Xmas mix I created in 2008.
Recently, while I was watching Downton Abbey in my room, I felt my HP
calling me inside the big house. I searched for lights left on, water
running then I thought a work-related phone call would be returned. Instead
I looked out the large kitchen window and saw a rainbow. I stepped
outside onto the patio. One end was bright, shimmery, yet subtle and
seemingly anchored to the earth. I walked down into the field for a
better look. The center of the rainbow was pale, barely perceptible
as it arched over the orange groves like a gentle, sweet promise and
disappeared behind the hills to the east.