Re: Pi in the Sky

Yes! As life is sometimes kind enough to do, just when I'm asking myself how far I have really come in finding what it is that I want to do with this life of mine, I find this... the ultimate reminder. I'm making a difference to someone. Just as others are making thier difference - to me and to the world.
Why is it that sometimes, knowing something within ourselves is not quite enough to believe in it? Is it that today, Melbourne's skies are grey and the light dull? Is it something to do with the phase of the moon that sometimes allows that skeric of doubt to sneak through the cracks? Or is it simply that without the odd doubts here and there, we would never challenge the path we tread? We would never stop to say, is this it? Am I doing the right thing? How can I do this better? Perhaps it is one of natures ways of getting us to reach out to each other. I think sometimes we need to hear a friend voice their doubts, to remind us to reassure them of how great the difference that they make really is.
Whatever their purpose, however unfun and shaky things can be when they show up, I think our doubts push us along, make us strive for more, stir up the important questions and help us make that difference that we all endlessly stretch ourselves for.
I will continue to watch this space and look forward to witnessing another amazing group of individuals continue to make their difference. x

Re: Pi in the Sky

I don't know much about salmon. But I do know this ... they undertake an unfeasibly hazardous and difficult journey over great distances to spwan in the exact same stream in which they were born. This great and instinctive lust for high adventure must be good for them as they often live for up to 8 years ... which is old for a fish don't you think? I imagine, unless we humans savagely intervene, they die peacefully in the knowledge they have lived their fine, fishy lives to the full. We can learn alot from the Salmon.

Re: Pi in the Sky

Hi gorgeous Beck!!! It's so good to hear from you - twice!! Even! And even under grey skies and a doubtful moon. yes... it is a worthy wondering, this question of the doubting ... I am beginning to wonder if doubt is really Fear's more well-ironed cousin? Seems more ordinary and has very clean shoes, but is really just a quieter version of the All Hell Breaking Loose Wild Child of OH MY GOD! I'M TERRIFIED!!**@@@@^^. What do you think?
I wonder about watching all the different types of experiences that our girls have on the mountain; the panic poos, the going quiets, the Loving This, the tired and cold and not saying much, the feeling worried (especially at the first camp - I always think of seeing that first climb out into Huayhuash and how every time it makes me feel like I really need to get to a toilet. Fast) ... the internal dialogues that i know went on for me in the beginning - and still do, even after 20 long haul climbs... and I see fear dressing itself up all sorts of different outfits - some of them quite plain, even quite frilly and pretty.
Some would say that unless we are joyfully, playfully, boisterously and laughingly bouncing around in life we are actually limiting ourselves, and holding back. I;m not sure about that, those types, to be honest, give me a bit of a headache.
Pips has taught me that it's ok to lie around half the day sunbaking and meditating and dreaming of pigeons - as long as at that moment when the wonderful, incredible, Oh My Goodness! What a Bloody Ingenous idea for an Adventure ... Yes!! Yes!!! ... let's DEFINITELY go for a Walk! ... strikes, we are able to seize that happiness with zest and effervessence. ie - we don't have to be going a million miles an hour all the time. In fact, I reckon we can go snail paced and staring out to space if we like, as long as we can also go warp speed and blissed out by the moment ... the key is in how quickly and naturally we shift between responses to circumstances - are we stuck? are we in a rut? are we dragging ourselves around? what is our attitude??? and what are our expectations?
The funny thing, when i look back over the treks each year is this thought... it was only 11 days! Does that surprise you??? I think that in those 11 days we have the chance to experience directly so much of how we respond to life and to our own inner voices, (and outer chills): to walk our attitude! That's what makes the trips seem longer, because we are often slowing down time and space to fit in more of our Stuff about time and space ... except when one of us says, "Come On! let's SWIM in this Freezing River! Or, hey! Let's catch Fish, or make a Pyramid, or put a dent in the trout population of Northern Peru,.. and we forget all our dialogues. We Join In. We get creative. We Help Others in their idea for a game. We feel Happy.
When the Dalai Lama was asked to summarize the entire Buddhist teaching (and his 14 incarnations of learning .. that's about 1000 years or so of accumulating options and opinions... aaaaaaarrrggghhh!) he said this: "Help others. Be happy."
My own personal quest has always been how, how, how how to do this in the context of a normal working life. What could I do that would help others and add to my happiness? (Of course the problem is compounded by other factors of flourishing and surviving in this world of ours... don't get me started). It has been such a puzzle that perhaps I have made it far more complicated than it really needs to be and risked missing out on achieving ethier side of the equation by sometimes being so miserable and confused that I did nothing but tread water and scowl at the moon.
And yes, you are so right - especially at these times I was asked to think more deeply, grow more patient, cultivate compassion for others in their own watery dilemmas, become stronger, wiser, choose my options, appreciate love and kindness, become mindful of whether I am a cause for peace or a cause for misery... One of these days i will be able to combine the insights that doubt asked me to clarify with a true leap into the waterfall of life - laughing!!! And I hope you do too!!! What are you up to these days???????
j xxx

Re: Pi in the Sky

Sounds like Pips sets a good example - for keeping things simple as well. Think I run myself round in unnecessary circles at times!!
There is a parcel on its way to you - well there was, though I fear it may not be any longer? Have you changed your address... its on its way to the Fairlight address on the "Support Us" page of the site... not sure how I got that so confused though it has been a long time. And I do tend to get confused (i.e. meet you in the 'swimming pool' in the foyer of el dorado!) Hope that it reaches you eventually. It was to fill you in...
I'll wait and see before sending another!
B xx

Re: Pi in the Sky

i've got my parcel sleuths onto it! Can't wait to see it Beck. i'll let you know if it appears to be in the pool at the El Dorado.... so you can send it to me here in Bundeena instead. YOU are such a gorgeous woman. I think of you often. And I am so glad you're following our trails again this year... I'll be sure to check the clothing pool at the rescue centre for you. xx

Re: Pi in the Sky

good detective work! ah... the stray knickers - be sure to share that little adventure with Gudren if you haven't already. i'm blushing just thinking about it... and you'd think i'd be over any hot flushes that tale might stir, its been told one too many times here amongst friends! what great times! Perhaps that particularly cheeky chimp can have a name change to the knicker-nicker! xx

Re: Pi in the Sky

A fish cant bird but a bird can fish.. I love the salmon story and yep, it doesnt matter where you are as long as your heart and your mind are open, even a salmon could sprout butterfly wings and fly!! I am out of Roma for a week now and in northern Italy in Bolzano where very few people speak english. I am learning to speak without words and think I like it better. It is beautiful here. Medievil village surrounded by the Dolomites and Castles everywhere! Tomorrow I go trekking to the mountais for 2 days and castle hopping. So many things have happened since I left little Bundeena and I slept thru jetlag, Whats that? and walked in Rome for 3 days and nights watching people and taking fotos. At the moment it is hot as hell at lunchtime and i work with Beate in the theatre in the mornings and it is good. I am building a garden and painting and working on some things for next year here. I will be back here in june is the plan. I know you know how amazing the world is and we talk often about it. I think even though I was scared of this journey it is changing me in some way and it is good. I am off to Padua and Venice soon to take another 1000 fotos... I think I may open a gallery in the house when i return. Fly out of either Roma or Munich after the 20th of July but before the 24th as I wait now on Jo to come from Sydney. to design sets for the next production in the theatre with Beate. I miss our chats and I miss Pips and the beach and most of all Bear. Hopefully I will see you before you leave. If not caio baby salmon and Viva la Vida. XX

Re: Pi in the Sky

A fish cant bird but a bird can fish.. I love the salmon story and yep, it doesnt matter where you are as long as your heart and your mind are open, even a salmon could sprout butterfly wings and fly!! I am out of Roma for a week now and in northern Italy in Bolzano where very few people speak english. I am learning to speak without words and think I like it better. It is beautiful here. Medievil village surrounded by the Dolomites and Castles everywhere! Tomorrow I go trekking to the mountais for 2 days and castle hopping. So many things have happened since I left little Bundeena and I slept thru jetlag, Whats that? and walked in Rome for 3 days and nights watching people and taking fotos. At the moment it is hot as hell at lunchtime and i work with Beate in the theatre in the mornings and it is good. I am building a garden and painting and working on some things for next year here. I will be back here in june is the plan. I know you know how amazing the world is and we talk often about it. I think even though I was scared of this journey it is changing me in some way and it is good. I am off to Padua and Venice soon to take another 1000 fotos... I think I may open a gallery in the house when i return. Fly out of either Roma or Munich after the 20th of July but before the 24th as I wait now on Jo to come from Sydney. to design sets for the next production in the theatre with Beate. I miss our chats and I miss Pips and the beach and most of all Bear. Hopefully I will see you before you leave. If not caio baby salmon and Viva la Vida. XX

Re: Pi in the Sky

I clearly remember the flying fish in Turkey. It landed on the deck with a nasty sort of thump. Like just one knock at the door. By a man with a wooden knuckle. It had built itself a flying suit out of leathery stuff and barnacles and heaven only knows how it got the energy to break through the skin of the ocean - (not being able to touch the bottom for any spring) or where it got the idea. But fly it sort of did! In a low rise curve, not very much gliding and turning sort of way ... to arrive on the deck of our sailing boat on the way to live on an island in a plastic bag humpie with lots of eggs. The moral of this story is be careful, Miss Vixstar, of your presumptions about fish!
Good to hear you're being industrious and artistic on your travels .. you sound like italy suits you. People tend to be proud of Itlian suits, so you are a very lucky girl.
Bundeena has been listed in the top three most desirable subrubs of Sydney (with a pic of Geoff and Libby scowling happily in the Sydney Morning Herald sort of contradicting the idea).. and last night I went to the RSL where my dinner partners ate before I got there, and Brian has a black eye he can't remember getting ... was it before or after he drove home? he just can't tell!.. and Andy's dad has died.. and the $2200 badge draw was won.. and Cheryl is talking about her funeral these days ... and my house is like a cryogenics parlour.. and I have to wonder what state the fourth best suburb of Sydney is in.
lots of love .. miss you (weirdly enough) and don't forget to bring back my face washer : )
xx

Re: Pi in the Sky

Most deridable suburbs perhaps?