all is quiet out there, a steady rain falling, it looks really bleak and cold. kind of like it's taking the day off from being ravishing and fascinating, having a rest from all my scrutiny. so i am drawn deeper indoors today. i have many things to look at surrounding me with their beauty. one is a resting buddha. he is seated leaning his head on his hands which gracefully hug the top of his raised knee. this is a pose i had never seen until i came across it in a garden catalogue the year we agreed each of us would get only one Christmas present and it could be whatever you wanted, no exceptions. in my case once i encountered this statue of the buddha on the catalogue page it was crystal clear. i even asked marty to cut it out and frame it for me until christmas arrived.
my acupuncturist ellen had been encouraging me to rest more; i know all of my travels and work in new orleans worried her, with her understandable and appreciated focus on my energy and well-being. i went anyway as often as i could manage but this buddha has brought such ease and joy to my life, pulling me into its completely serene state with contentment and happiness abounding every time i look at it. i also love his long flat ear which takes up almost the whole side of his tilted head, and those long elegant fingers. tranquil and composed he resides on top of the small white dresser across from my bed next to the flowers dayle brought and sarah arranged. so i'm ok with with the marsh taking a break, it's cozy and snug in here.
Life on the Salt Marsh is a journal of what i am learning and experiencing in this breathtakingly beautiful place, where the Dyer and Sheepscot, both tidal rivers, meet and merge.
Sweet Last Days of Summer
Author
- Rev. Mary
- Midcoast Maine
- Rev. Mary is a Unitarian Universalist minister who served congregations in San Francisco, Sonoma County, Houston, Marblehead and Winchester MA, and New Orleans, in a variety of ways. She is President and co-founder of Gulf Coast Volunteers for the Long Haul and has led 14 service trips to Louisiana and Mississippi since a few weeks post-Katrina. She has 3 children, Sam, 22, Julia, 26, and Jason, 41, and the best spouse in the universe, Marty. She was diagnosed with ALS/Lou Gehrig's disease in 2006. Rev. Mary can be reached at duckdreams at gmail.com. Due to her illness her ability to reply is unlikely but she would enjoy hearing from you if that's OK.
From Mary's Journal in December
after simple surgery turned into a nightmare: "the pain has been excruciating and for 3 days was unrelenting, even breathing was an agony. i tried to picture our mallard in maine who i studied one day when it was freezing cold, windy, pouring down rain and he was in his spot in the grass all tucked up and i tried to imagine how he could handle the elements. i decided he must go very deep inside and have duck dreams. so i tried to emulate him."