In gratitude for family, friends, floods and new beginnings…

Family…

It is no understatment to say that it has been crazy and challenging while since my last post.  My December trip to Africa was a combination of excitement and precious  family time. It included visiting 4 countries; (Zimbabwe,  South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique), two blown tires while on the road (thank God no one was hurt) ; almost being mowed down by the presidential motorcade in Zimbabwe (YIKES); a fun eighties party at big-brothers; and not making it onto my flight back because they overbooked it! 

The BEST  part of course was the time with my family.  It was such a gift for all of us to be together.  All 3 Generations!  I got so much joy spending time with my nephews who are just the cutest, sweetest, funniest, most talented, kindest, coolest boys/young men ever.   I cherish every hug, kiss, conversation, game, laugh, moment I had with them.  It was also fun to be with my siblings and their spouses who continue to amaze me by being so brilliant and loving and talented and cool.  I am SO very blessed with a loving, support, sometimes dysfunctional, but always amazing family.  My parents were blissful being surrounded by their kids and precious grandbabies. A good time was had by all.  Thank you Lovely Family for the gift of you!

Flood…

After making it on to a return flight the day after my original departure date, I arrived at JFK airport to some devastating news.  My phone started blowing up as soon as I turned it on.  As I stood at the baggage carousel waiting for my luggage I called my friend back to find out that some pipes had burst at my house and it was FLOODED! Yes flooded.  I was stunned.  I was hysterical.   Thank God for my friends who were able to talk me into getting on the shuttle – heading for my friend R’s house. She left work to meet me there and I collapsed in a blubbering mess of tears on her shoulder. Since then she has been comforting, supporting, advising, feeding and taking care of me in every way imaginable.   From helping me organize my soggy belongings, to reminding me what I need to get done, to pouring pefectly timed glasses of wine or cosmopolitans when necessary.

When I went to the house for the first time I as stunned.  It was a mess.  The ceilings in my spare room and office were completely down. The rugs were waterlogged and frozen. Much of my stuff wet.  The place is completely unlivable and needs to be gutted.

So why gratitude for the flood? In the midst of shock and trauma I have been able to see so many blessings and gifts. Namely:

• I am SO grateful for my family, who even from afar, have bolstered me with love and support. I know they feel helpless being so far away, but the prayers and support have helped me stay sane. Plus I know that at any moment I can get on a plane and go home where I will be welcomed with open arms. I always have a home and i know that.
• I am grateful for my dearest friends who have offered every kind of support imaginable: advice, places to live, places to store my stuff, help with cleaning up and moving and most importantly concern and love! My dear friend Curly Moo who spent a frozen day there with me packing up my books. THANK YOU!
• I am particularly grateful to my friend R. and her family who instantly took me and my cat in with no reservation and made us part of the family. They have been beyond kind and supportive to us. 
• I am grateful for the shuttle driver who picked me up at the airport to find that his fare was a  weeping, hysterical woman. He was so, so very kind. The epitomy of compassion.
• I am grateful for my landlord who has been nothing but kind and supportive.
• I am grateful for all the colleagues, acquaintances, strangers who have flooded me with sympathy, support and kindness.
• I am grateful that the majority of my belongings are OK, albeit a little damp. Most importantly my computer and my precious books are untouched. Woo hooo!
• I am grateful for my fabulicious friend Deb who is letting me house sit while she is away for a week,  so I have some space to be alone, be silent and regroup! Thanks Debilicious!
• I am grateful for this opportunity for a truly new beginning.

New Beginnings…

I have been on a rollercoaster ride since I landed at JFK to all hell seemingly breaking loose.  It has been upsetting and its a very disconcerting and alien feeling not having a place of my own to hang my hat.  But it’s ok. I’m OK. In fact I’m great. I’m alive and I have much to look forward to.  On the second day after my discovery of the catastrophe, Big Sister remarked that I sounded really good.  “Are you telling me that my little sister is all growed up?” she asked. Hmmm. Maybe I am all growed up. I’m a big girl now   She also pointed that perhaps this was happening so I could see exactly how strong I am and what I am capable of  surviving. So true. My new theme song is Alicia Keys Superwoman and I keep telling myself  “I am a Superwoman / Still when I’m a mess /I still put on a vest /With an S on my chest /Oh yes I’m a Superwoman”. LOVE IT.  And believe me there have been many days when I’m a total-overwhelmed-hysterical-woe is me-boo hoo mess… but I keep putting on that vest!

Seriously though, this whole thing has given me some clarity and perspective about certain things. Namely:

• How important family, friends and love are!
• Love is all around. It is. I have been swimming in it, soaking in it, absolutely deluged by it – and I love it. I want more.
• People are kind and loving and supportive and just plain lovely. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE people.
• How important it is to expect the best, because even when you get the worst, it could be the best – just wearing a really good disguise.
• I am less attached to stuff than I thought I was.  It’s just stuff.  I feel an incredible sense of freedom right now. In fact I want less stuff in my life. I want to distill my stuff down to the bare essentials. Thanks to the universe I’ve got a jump on this.

So I for right now, I’m homeless and it feels (mostly) great. I put all my belongings into a storage space. I’m spending a week housesitting for my fabu friend, writing fairy godmother and marathon completing woman Deb. I couldn’t have asked for a more peacful and cozy space in which to regroup. It is overflowing with good energy. At the end of the week I’m taking myself to Florida, where I’ll spend a week sitting on the beach and just BE for a moment!  There is so much more I can and will say about my decision to forego immediately finding another place to live and doing a little gallivanting.  More about that next time.

Till then here’s to new beginnings.   A shiny brand new day has come in more ways than one.