Coastal living will always bring one to the realities of
the ocean's high and low tides... Georgia’s coast is no
exception to this natural phenomenon. Whenever the
Atlantic decides to cleanse itself, the marshes of Glynn
are covered with water. It takes a split second for any
unskilled boater to veer off and ruin his precious vessel,
as the waters recede back into the ocean, leaving behind the
beautiful golden grass (not to mention a nose-blocking coral
stench), and the picture perfect rivers and streams meandering
to download their contents into the ocean.
the ocean's high and low tides... Georgia’s coast is no
exception to this natural phenomenon. Whenever the
Atlantic decides to cleanse itself, the marshes of Glynn
are covered with water. It takes a split second for any
unskilled boater to veer off and ruin his precious vessel,
as the waters recede back into the ocean, leaving behind the
beautiful golden grass (not to mention a nose-blocking coral
stench), and the picture perfect rivers and streams meandering
to download their contents into the ocean.
This is the Golden Isles, home of the Sea Island venue for the 2004
G8 leaders summit, among other notable names.
In January 2005 I relocated to this beautiful region with my family.
Being my first time in the USA, I became lost several times on the
small island of St. Simons and its mainland gateway town
Brunswick... okay, so I had never owned or driven an automobile
before... and though I did not know anyone here (save my long-time
friends Venetia Hanratty and Charles Saunders who were very
instrumental in our relocation), I loved it from the start. The
ageless oaks and the beaches - even though you cannot see
when an alligator is scheming to have you for lunch.
Being my first time in the USA, I became lost several times on the
small island of St. Simons and its mainland gateway town
Brunswick... okay, so I had never owned or driven an automobile
before... and though I did not know anyone here (save my long-time
friends Venetia Hanratty and Charles Saunders who were very
instrumental in our relocation), I loved it from the start. The
ageless oaks and the beaches - even though you cannot see
when an alligator is scheming to have you for lunch.
Like the ocean, the "tides" of (Golden Isles) life also have their ebb
and flow, leaving one to wonder (if you are not connected with your
inner-self) why it must go down so low, and will it ever go back to
being a high tide again? The ups and downs are part and parcel to
our being. There is a time to plant and a time to reap. The lapse
between plant flowering and fruition can seem long. This is when
our spiritual steadfastness is tested. It is when the edges begin to
crumble.
On August 4th 2008 at 9:00am my edges crumbled. I did not
scramble because I knew that there was a "center" with a "source"
and all I needed to do was ask to be re energized. Imagine being
called into an office to be told “we have eliminated your position,
please give us the cell phone and any other keys, and the security
will escort you from the building”. What a seemingly shameful
way to leave the workplace I had given my "all" to... a job I thought
I would hold onto until my retirement. I had to remind myself that
it was my first job in America. Moreover, the schools were going back
in a week’s time, and I have four kids enrolled in school... ohhh wait a
minute, one being college-bound... hmmm... the edges are really
crumbling now. As I am penning this, my grandmother (my friend,
my childhood doctor, my icon) is lying instate waiting for burial on
Thursday and due to my circumstances I will not be by the graveside
to bid her farewell. She joined the other saint last Saturday at 6:00pm
Kenyan time, no more “wuon Olal” as she fondly called me.
The major question: how do I balance the tension of these two
extremes - how can I rise above all these joys and sorrows to
weather the storm below? How can I dance my way through
crisis lovingly and joyously, accepting that this is just a low tide
and the high ones are on the way? How do I face these realities
and still be at peace with my higher self?
Damar. Rest in peace. "Nya Ochiewo" fare thee well.
Awino sleep in peace. I love you as you loved me and
will cherish those moments we shared together.
-To be continued next week -
scramble because I knew that there was a "center" with a "source"
and all I needed to do was ask to be re energized. Imagine being
called into an office to be told “we have eliminated your position,
please give us the cell phone and any other keys, and the security
will escort you from the building”. What a seemingly shameful
way to leave the workplace I had given my "all" to... a job I thought
I would hold onto until my retirement. I had to remind myself that
it was my first job in America. Moreover, the schools were going back
in a week’s time, and I have four kids enrolled in school... ohhh wait a
minute, one being college-bound... hmmm... the edges are really
crumbling now. As I am penning this, my grandmother (my friend,
my childhood doctor, my icon) is lying instate waiting for burial on
Thursday and due to my circumstances I will not be by the graveside
to bid her farewell. She joined the other saint last Saturday at 6:00pm
Kenyan time, no more “wuon Olal” as she fondly called me.
The major question: how do I balance the tension of these two
extremes - how can I rise above all these joys and sorrows to
weather the storm below? How can I dance my way through
crisis lovingly and joyously, accepting that this is just a low tide
and the high ones are on the way? How do I face these realities
and still be at peace with my higher self?
Damar. Rest in peace. "Nya Ochiewo" fare thee well.
Awino sleep in peace. I love you as you loved me and
will cherish those moments we shared together.
-To be continued next week -
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