🎶Winds in the east, mist comin' in, Like somethin' is brewin' and 'bout to begin...🎶
This last week the Suns and Sunflowers have been wheedling at me, so that I would finally relent to doing a lesson with/for them. I wanted it to be something worthwhile, instructive, showing why we learn these movements and how beautiful it can be. I went through the bare-bones basics while doing warm-ups, showing roll-back, push, grasp, pluck, and the strikes. I had musical accompaniment that they found helped them get into the spirit of it. I brought out swords, tonfa, staff and even borrowed JD's pair of Sai to give a few examples, then showed them the elegance of the Tai Chi sword with a bit of air dancing.
Changes in me, in what I'm doing and where I see myself in the days ahead have me more observant again. People notice it, notice my warrior training coming to the forefront, and are responding as I've seen them do so often before. I am much more fit again, able to show my prowess and adaptability, and that's being noticed, too It amazes me how many trusts me and my words, my instructions, and my suggestions too. But it also feels natural to me, and many of them say it feels natural to them too.
I wasn't quite as graceful as I'd hoped, but at least I didn't cut myself with the weapons that I was borrowing. Dave now has a better idea for how and where I need balance with my blades, as he continues to work on forging them. But that brought a few more people to check out our lesson there in the park where we were sharing in the activity. Officer Davies was actually impressed, and it was nice seeing him again. By the end of the 30-minute lesson of cloud hands, wind carries the lantern, paint the sky, embrace the moon, circle the field and snatch the fish, I was well worn out. Aranya needed to get Joy back home as she was starting to get a chill, and the others dispersed to head for lunch or some other activity. But each of them wanted a copy of the playlist I'd made for the 90-minute session. I was exhausted, but had some jars of chili I wanted to take to the former aunt to ensure she had more than just frozen pizza and burritos.
She wasn't home quite yet. She was on the way, though, so I waited. I'm glad I did, because she needed to talk; to get out some bad stuff that happened making her so upset she was crying and broke down a couple of times while sharing with me. I held her while she cried, and she noted I was still a touch damp but smelled nice not that nasty sweat scent like many men after a workout. It got us both laughing as she teased, "No wonder all those girls are fawning all over you!" She said it was like a spice cake drifting on the cool early autumn wind, mixing with that slight earthy loam kind of smell. I found that interesting. When I asked Aranya about it once home, she giggled and had to agree that it reminded her of something similar to that smell at the edge of Aha Tae's kitchen door that lead to the greenhouse. Joy agreed. That's intriguing to me. The former aunt reminds me of the scent of baby powder and cotton candy. Joy always smells like the flowers she wears in her hair mixed with honeydew melon; and I've already mentioned Rahni's scent in a previous entry.
Once home, I got a little bite to eat but find myself not really hungry, just tired. So, I got some snacking type foods: cucumber, apple, grapes, string cheese and a couple slices of chicken lunchmeat with crackers and a lemonade. Midday meds taken, I'm still worn down, so I thought I'd get a little bit of a nap before the evening, once I was done writing out this entry. I was surprised the lesson went so well. They are asking me to do a Water Form session in a couple of weeks, if I'm up to it after my surgery and the weather holds. We'll see. Next weekend is Lihn leading an Earth Form session, and I'm looking forward to watching that if I'm not able to participate yet, again, it will all be determined by how my surgery goes in a few days.
I'm amazed that the former aunt is so comfortable with me to show her vulnerability, and like that we can talk honestly. I did let her know that the roommate's lab results came back and yes, there's a lot of brain damage and trauma, so she's now trying to reach out to people for that reason as well, but it likely accounts for a lot of the desire to fight, go off half-cocked and wildly swing out, be forgetful and get all conspiracy theorist, too. And at least the BH is doing her best to be pleasant with people. We'll see how long it lasts. The former aunt's mom is showing some signs that could be dementia - behaving argumentatively, accusing and lashing out with nasty diatribe and judgements, forgetful and full of a lot of childish pouting and blaming - sound familiar? But the former aunt and I talked about what was said, she got the chance to vent a bit, I gave her some coping mechanisms, and she hugged me tight and kissed my cheek about a half-dozen times before letting me go, telling me how much she loves and appreciates me, and the kind of man I've become. She tells me, "If you were a few years older or I were a few younger..." That makes me laugh.
Tomorrow, Joy, JD and Rahni are going to lunch with me at one of the little spots here that offers sushi and sashimi, I wish I could still have that myself, but at least they have other good Japanese fare, there, too. I think I'm going to surprise them and wear something a little dress-casual instead of the usual. I'll let JD know so he can do similar. Things continue to change, and while the clouds always move and shift, the sun still offers its brilliance whether there's a haze, grey or blue. The eagle still circles the field in search of prey, the heron still spears a fish to gulp down, and I will continue to offer the lessons and wisdom that are mine to share, and observe all around me, casting off that which does nothing but cause problems or pain and draw in that which helps and heals with a warm smile for those that offer it. I'm calm, but wonder if this is the calm before the storm or is it going to be an easy shift of energies and the life that is ahead?
🎶Can't put me finger on what lies in store,
But I feel what's to happen all happened before.🎶