My Ruby Slippers

The remarkable, roundabout, discovery of the LIG Conference was There's no place like home! The right here in front of me HOME. That book I keep recommending, the one I really need to read again for my OWN Self, The Journey Home, is true. All we want of Home is right before us. And it took one floating Birkenstock to begin the enlightenment...It was an innocent riverside nudge, the shoe flew off and floated away. I thought Beth would burst, as we watched my (later-dubbed) Jesus Cleat (yes, it just might have been the man's secret to walking on water) swim towards the Pacific, in search of it's new home. I'm glad I was brave enough to paint it before it left. I'm glad Hayden outgrew them last week, so I might enjoy their last days with us. I'm so looking forward to finding it's photo in Found magazine. Without spares, Beth rescued me with an amazing pair of hot pink orthopedic shoes. They don't look it, they're old lady shoes in a hip chick package! I couldn't give them back. I'm almost sorry even, Beth, as I can only imagine how much you miss them. Know that each step I take is filled with Love and Gratitude for you and the shoe gods who must have conspired for this adventure to begin.

You may remember I was in quite a freaky-icky funk before the conference. It was all I had in me to conjure a good feeling about attending, let alone participating fully and joyfully. Several shifts in a quick succession and I was in a place of openness and readiness for whatever was awaiting me. I chose to stand in "Seeking the Good" because it felt better than the other bogged-down perspectives I'd been stuck in.
The next time you're tempted to call someone and say, "I think you're really good at that" -- Do it! Because someone I love and respect said those words to me, I knew I was fully prepared. I could share myself and my well-earned wisdom with those who would be open to the benefit of a shift in perspective. And what a wholloping shift I got to make! (More on TheWork of Byron Katie, I promise! Thanks Mike Biskup!!)

Mary's back. I saw her open further and further as the weekend progressed. Her larger than head smiles were genuine and deep by Monday afternoon in the park. Welcome Home Mary ♥ I had no idea how much I missed us. Both. What a beautiful, safe, loving, joyful celebration of life we were part of this weekend. A Present of Presence. Whatever the road to arrive right here, right now, it's all moot -- Right Here, Right Now Rocks and it's all been worthwhile getting here.

These are my new home girls. We're ready to take over the town -- Yeah BABY!
Renee is a freak who was hiding among the scary folk, secretly waiting for her fellow freaks to expose themselves. She found me. Then mostly I hid from all the places she sought me. And now I've been cornered and I'm in love. Scotty got to be XuMei's Fairy Godparent at the Conference and Renee was Scotty's ♥ I wanna dance like her and Chris. I also think we should both be preggers next year; we'd be quite a sight! Kat (with the pink hair, not to be confused with Kitty, the punk rock one with pink hair) is my long-distance (VA) blog-stalker. Now she lives just a big U away. She's fed us a lot these last couple of days; me and my teenage cohorts. Thanks Girlie! Meanwhile, her hubby is very Scotty-like and they've got a dog who is loving my Cesar channeling ;)
Also at Kat's house lives Marley. I. Love. Marley. She is a true to the bone unschooler. No box big enough for this humongous soul in a tiny little 4 year old package.
She should grow up and marry Fergus. Their babies would be Wild Animals. THAT would be fun to witness ♥
She really likes me now. The neighbor's cat came looking for her today, after Marley made her a delicious and playful salad from backyard greens.

Life is Good and I'm so glad I am reminded again and again and again.
It is a blessing to be here, now, together.
Amen Sisters!