Swarm

I encountered my first bee swarm at Wabamun Lake on June 21. My daughter Laura, her daughter Kaliana, and my son Jonathan were doing our customary walk around the north end of Moonlight Bay on a hot Saturday afternoon. Our path took us down a grassy slope, past a tall spruce. I noticed many bees flying and buzzing near the tree, and looked for a hive or nest. It was a swarm, much like the one in the photo, about as big as my head, in the shape of two inverted cones, side by side--phenomenal! The bees seemed to take no notice of us as we passed by, and on our way back to the cabin, the swarm had merged into a single rounded cone shape. The bee swarm web site that I found informed me that "The cohesiveness of the swarm is due to their attraction to a pheromone produced by the queen. The swarm will send out scout bees to seek a cavity to nest in and will move on when a suitable nesting site is found." It suggested that one could contact a local beekeeper, to see whether (s)he would like to come and try to 'collect' the swarm. Imagine witnessing that feat!

Tomorrow is the day that I take flight, myself, on my Learning Adventure of a Lifetime to New Hampshire. For me, this early summer season has been one of sweet farewells.

The Heart & Hands family camping day on June 8 had a shaky start, with no available venue for our activities. As I stood in the wind (I'm not very good with wind), gnawing on my knuckles and feeling responsible, families gamely threw frisbees to each other, explored the open field; the frisky beach; the playground equipment, helping themselves to the good fun they had expected to enjoy together. Here I am, collecting twigs on our nature walk through the woods. And surprise! The families gathered to present me with this glowing golden quilt, with blocks designed and created by the children themselves.


The last weekend in May I was graced with the opportunity to serve as a co-leader, with four other musician/DUP (that's Dances of Universal Peace) leaders, at Sylvan Lake. We exchanged hundreds (yes!) of email messages through the winter months, planning and preparing for this event. I wanted to do my best for the retreat participants, and for our leadership team. I was serious about practicing and preparing my role, and willing to work hard during the retreat itself. I was uplifted by the glory of the music that we created together, and it wasn't until after the retreat that I realized what a gift I had been given, in terms of my own growing and stretching and connecting and receiving from the experience of working with such wonderful, open-hearted leaders, organizers, and participants. With extraordinary vision, thoughtfulness and attention to detail, the organizers succeeded in lifting this retreat experience out of the realm of ordinary every-day-ness for everyone who attended.










Our wind-up In Her Voices Pot Luck Supper and Concert was held on Friday (of course!) June 13 (it would be too, too boring to be linear and chronological), and I was SO thrilled that Ken, Laura, Kaliana and Kay chose to be there. It's a good thing this proud baba wasn't wearing a button-up shirt--I would have burst those buttons for sure, I was so full of the joy of being able to show off that grandbaby to my beloved Luscious Women! I think every single person needs loved ones in their life who are willing to let them be a Star every little once in a while. My great-hearted mother-in-law has been one of my biggest fans since . . . oh, since about 1972. wow. Thank you, Kay!

8:00 now . . . time for my Air Canada web check-in. I consider myself to be a semi-experienced traveler, and a Good Packer, but for the first time, this time I understand why people may tend to procrastinate when it comes to packing their bags for a trip. Since school ended (June 25, and it seems like months, rather than mere weeks ago, now) I've been Bothered by Big-time Butterflies about leaving. I'm caught in a surreal never-land, between My Real Life and my anticipated adventure. My life has never been better--everywhere I go, everything I do, I'm surrounded by people who have generously opened their hearts to connect with me. Everyone is a warm, sincere hugger! Why am I leaving? What was I thinking? Three weeks, yes, but a whole, long, wintry school year?

Don't take me too seriously; my mother used to call me Sarah Bernhardt. I know I'll enjoy the studying, and New Hampshire, and the people, and I know everyone here will be fine. Let's just say that the leave-taking is challenging, and leave it at that.

Here's Rudolf Steiner, with his wisdom for June 30 to July 6*:

And when I live in senses' heights,
There flames up deep within my soul
Out of the spirit's fiery worlds
The gods' own word of truth:
In spirit sources seek expectantly
To find your spirit kinships.

*I know, that was last week, but something in me wishes to connect this meditation with this particular posting.