Desert Messenger

September 2, 2015 www.DesertMessenger.com 17 Traveling with Gypsy Jane by Jane Finley writer * artist * teacher (stretching, exercise, relaxation, meditation) M & Ms (Magic Moments) Port Angeles, Washington This was originally an entry in my journal, but as I wrote, I heard a faint cry: "story." Then louder: "Story." Then a persistent inner voice shouted: "STORY, STORY, STORY" until I got the message, and here it is. I drove to the Unitarian Church in Port Townsend. It's what I call "a lovely country drive," the road alternating between tall ever- greens and fi elds with wildfl ow- ers of all colors growing rampant beside the road: lavender, white, red, yellow, and orange. As usual, always unexpectedly, the Unitarian Church service touched me in many ways. The fi rst reading was by Rilke: Be patient to all that is unsolved in your heart. Try to love the questions them- selves, Like locked rooms And like books that are written in a very foreign tongue. Do not seek the answers Which cannot be given you Because you would not be able to live them, And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now, Perhaps you will then gradually, Without noticing it, Live along some distant day Into the answer. MAGNIFICENT! I love it when someone catches the very essence of life in so few words. Later there was another quote, which also spoke to me because of experienc- ing it in my travels: We are travelers; We meet for a moment in this sacred place to love, to share, to serve. Let us use compassion, curiosity, reverence and respect while seek- ing our truths. In this way we will support a just and joyful community; And this moment shall endure. WOW! As I looked through the faces of the congregation, I saw one that looked familiar. When I real- ized it was a friend from EarthSave Seattle, Norma Davidson, who I hadn't seen for years, I moved to the seat next to her and said, "Do you remember me?" Since I was rushing off to Seattle right after the service, we agreed to get together later to talk. So right off, it was beginning to show signs of being an extraor- dinary experience. There were defi nite signs of M & Ms (Magic Moments). One of the speakers mentioned a friend of his, Peter Kechley, a dear man and fellow choir member in George Shangrow's choir at the Unitarian Church in Seattle. Peter was the lead tenor, and we sang together for many years until he died suddenly of leukemia at a very young age. I attended his beautiful memorial service. When I stopped by the Unitarian Church in Seattle the next day to make a few phone calls, I discovered a free tape of Haydn's "Creation" with, wouldn't you know, Peter Kechley as one of the soloists. Coincidence, oh yeah! I didn't really want the tape, but a nine-year relationship of mine, Peter Henry, popped into my mind. I thought about taking the tape to Peter, who sang in the choir with me and was into classical music in a big way. I hadn't quite decided for sure yet, but the next morn- ing what I was going to do became quite clear. If we listen and wait, life always provides the answer. I was driving to my yearly eye exam at about 8:30 in the morning. For some reason, I didn't take the freeway or any of the other routes to my destination, deciding to trav- el along 5th Avenue near North- gate. I saw a biker coming up the hill. I thought, "Could it be Peter?" I looked long and hard at the biker, and he looked long and hard at me, asking the same question, "Could it be Jane?" By the time we realized it "could be" and it "was," we were long past each other. "He probably has to get to work," I thought, "and I have to get to my appointment." But I knew then, that the tape was his. After my appointment, I drove to his house. It didn't look like Peter lived there; so I knocked on the door and inquired of his landlady. "Oh, Peter hasn't lived here for more than two years," she said. About the same time I started my travels. I called his work, and the owner said, "Peter doesn't work here anymore. He's teaching now." I sat down. Was this the Peter who never changed? The Peter who, when I learned he wanted to go back to school to become a teacher years ago and said, "Great! Let's go to a university somewhere else. You can go to school, and I'll work," was not at all interested in doing that. But in less than three years, he had moved, quit his job, become a teacher, and (hold on to your hat) gotten married! Will wonders never cease? So, I left the tape in an envelope with his former landlady, who listened with relish as the story un- folded. I wrote his phone number and a note on the envelope: "Yes, that was me today." She kindly of- fered to call him to pick it up. Soooo, another amazing chain of connected events beginning with the mention of Peter Kechley at the Unitarian Church in Port Townsend, continuing with fi nding the tape at the Unitarian Church in Seattle with Peter Kechley as solo- ist, and seeing Peter Henry biking up the hill the next morning. The synchronicity of life continues to amaze me, and, as I've said many times, is tangible evidence that I am leading the kind of life that is exactly right for me -- continually confi rmed by the M & Ms of life -- the Magic Moments. P.S. The idea of "M & Ms" (Magic Moments) originated with Joyce, Founder of the CRONE Chapter in Seattle (women growing older with power, passion, and purpose). ~*~*~*~*~*~ STARS, SONGS, FACES by Carl Sandburg Gather the stars if you wish it so. Gather the songs and keep them. Gather the faces of women. Gather for keeping years and years. And then... Loosen your hands, let go and say good-by. Let the stars and songs go. Let the faces and years go. Loosen your hands and say good-by. ~*~*~*~*~*~ Jane's book is WANDERINGS: Living the Ordinary Extraordinari- ly (Stories from the Road). This column consists of stories from her book(email: janefi nley@yahoo. com, website: janefi nley.com). T��� ����� ������� �� D����� M��������

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