Distance Doesn't Mean Distant

As snow falls on this spring day, and the whole world is held in suspension, it seems like a good time to connect with friends. In fact, it seems like many friends have been sending out green shoots like little antennae, seeing what signals they can pick up! So I’ll send out a signal: We’re here, with you, and all is well.

To bring you up to date, first a look at Christmas in Vancouver with the Fosters.

Before the morning gift opening, all neat and tidy

Les Boyz

Miles and Avril

Will (He got a heating pad!!)

Franklin (my late brother's grandson) now a year old

Mom Erica-May and Franklin

Dad - Hallis (my nephew) in the doorway

Grandson Will and Granne

The Christmas Dinner Table (with grandparents Sandy and Wendy Foster, Shelley and Rob Young (Darcy's sister) and assorted relatives 

Anne and nephew Devin Blaney

Next a drive down to Vancouver via the Fraser Canyon, which was a sentimental and grounding journey. How many of us took that route for years! 

Back into our home in winter wonderland, we watched as unbelievable amounts of snow fell, and used the time to read, study, explore, connect, and commune. 

For me, daily walks to the lake area have been a source of exercise, watching the weather’s creations, watching dog Drifter’s enjoyment of the changing beach scenes and encounters with other dogs, and greeting other dog walkers as we faithfully greet the elements, fair and stormy.

Washed up ice foam. It's solid!

Fragmented Ice washed up onto shore

But such descriptions do not give a comprehensive, deeper look at what really happens in our lives, or begin to connect with what’s also happening in your lives. 

Our internal lives contain many thought routes and meditations and likely the sharing of this inner life and work with others, thanks to texts, emails, blogs, Facebook, Zoom, Skype, YouTube, Streaming, Netflix, Amazon, phone calls, snail mail, photography, musical drop boxes, and telepathy. We are certainly not an inactive generation. 

As an example, over the last months, we have had plans to fly to Atlanta Georgia where we were to spend time with friends in spiritual considerations, which were sidelined by you know what. We have also been planning, with Korean colleagues (JaehYoung and Dukhee), a Council which was reaching out to spiritual leaders world wide, to take place in South Korea in May. That has been now sidelined for us (it will now be a virtual event). by you know what. The fascinating aspect of such adjustments, which you may be experiencing as well, is that those forms which had to be released, have birthed new forms of connection over the air waves and by deeper heart connection that defy the usual technological means. Communication persists, like water finding its way, getting more nuanced but intensely effective. Such communication is not unfamiliar, we just don’t normally attempt to talk about it! But it’s happening!!! And the pressure springs new rivlets and pathways between people.

Here are some of the folks that people our virtual world

JaeHyoung and DukHee and a Korean friend

John LeBaron

Laura Fisher

Larry and Joyce Krantz

Pamela and John Gray

Larry, John, Joyce and Pamela (together in Arizona)

Alan and Jean Hammond

Bill and Linda Bahan

Jack and Brenda Jenkins in their kitchen

Yujin Pak

JaeHyoung Lee

DukHee Kang

Chris Jorgenson

Don Hynes

Genoa and Graem Castell

Suzanne Core


And many more, not to mention family members!

Anyway back to our wonderful day to day life, always present. 

We've had visitors. Jack and Brenda and cello Opus came from the 108, and we enjoyed meals and music and lots of conversation.

Ron Skene also dropped in for a visit with his friend  with whom he had been cross country skiing throughout the region. Angela went to Hawaii...Here's a older photo of Ron and Avril.

We continue to take our day trips, around the area. We go to Kamloops, where we used to work, via the backroads; we go to Sicamous and travel along Mara Lake where we used to work; we go to Vernon and Kelowna, along Okanagan Lake where we used to work!! Familiar sights that we enjoy, using the time to share the inner landscapes passing through us, while watching the outside scenery passing by. Cars are great resonating chambers, although environmentally speaking, they should be used with discretion!

LaCasa

Full Moonrise over Vernon

Mara Lake

One likeable outcome of the corona virus, is that the virus encouraged Avril’s and Darcy’s families to abscond to their newly built “cabin” on Ruth Lake, near 100 Mile House. Four adults and four young boys have re-invented their lives, with home schooling, communal cooking, explorations of the surrounding woods (the lake is still frozen!!), with the adults’ city jobs continuing at a distance. Reluctantly, they had the internet installed for the season of working from home. It has been an off line environment until now. And there’s studying from home. The boys are using online resources and Avril completed her university course on line as well.

This photo is self explanatory!

As is this one

David's daughter Jjanet with partner Aiden and son Ren are also spending time at home, having a rejuvenating creative  home stay. Their day starts out with yoga in their yoga room, lots of good vegan exploration in the kitchen, and tons of love. 

and daughter Michelle