Badgers and More

I just got back from badger watching with Patty.
We left probably around 8:15/8:30. I thought we were there for less than an hour but when I got back and checked the time it is 10:30. Wow~ After sitting for a while we moved up the hill in silence and wondered away from the fence toward the other badger home behind Naomi van. At one point when we were sitting down I saw a white line move up the pathway just outside the hole and then stop. I think that may have been a badger! It is hard looking at one thing for a long time. Kind of trippy. I was trying to focus and at times really struggling.

I caught myself saying to Teo earlier today, 'sometimes we need to wait a little extra time for the things we really want.' I certainly could take that to heart and analyze it.

Tonight as I was waiting for my pizza to be baked in the pizza ovens I stepped away from the table to dump the water out from the corn bowl and when I came back I accidentally put the corn bowl beyond the cheese bowl in the assembly line. That was just as Ronan was reaching for the cheese bowl; I said something about putting the corn on his pizza before the cheese. Ronan in his Ronan way asked why I think he should put the corn before the cheese and I genuinely responded 'because then the cheese will melt on the corn and I think you would enjoy that.' His response was both Ronany and complimentary "always speaking from the heart."

It is neat having the feeling that someone wants to be your friend. Eamon (exact age unknown but I would guess around 45-50) and I bonded over washing and drying dishes today. There was still a mini mountain of dishes at 5:00 (when we typically end 'work') but we decided to all stay back and work hard for 10-15 minutes and then leave the space clean and tidy for the next shift. Eamon is a good DJ. It would have been very different and a lot less fun without his lively song choices and the dancing and singing that ensued.

As I was walking to the dinning yurt to get a cup of tea before heading in to do some laptop stuff he asked me if I was heading down to the People's Circle soon. He was thinking of heading down in a bit. He is going to start the fire. I really enjoy when it is clear from both people that a friendship is wanted and or that we enjoy each other's company. (Even when the 2 individuals are so very different in many ways.) I am certainly feeling that from Jana (pronounced Yana) as well.

I felt today and I anticipate feeling for the rest of my time here the ups and downs of leaving a place soon. The ups stand out at me certainly more than the downs. (More on that later most likely - as my time at Embercombe for summer '13 comes to a wrap up).

Sitting still, without human noise besides breathing (and sounds from a distance which I have no control over) for over an hour was really nice. Whether I go badgering again or just sit still - I definitely want to do something like that again.

In circle this morning I shared about how part of me has already left Embercombe because of the energy I am putting into planning what is coming next. That feels ok. It feels real. Part of me wants to be at Guilford now, right now. But then again I know I am going to have a great last week or so here, then whatever I choose to do between Embercombe and flying out of London on the 15th, PA time, and the ride to Guilford. I like that I am so excited about life nearly every day.

My ankle and the side of my foot are throbbing slightly from where I swished past a nettle plant while walking barefoot in the woods on the way back from badgering. Walking though the forest of ferns (half as tall as me) made me remember swimming through the kelp forest in Baja California with Mike and Ori. Hm!

I have kind of almost filled my whole journal. I started it on the airplane here. I wonder if I will fill the last page on the airplane ride back. That certainly would be convenient in organizing the chapters of my life and the journals that go with them.

I just got hit by a wave of -- I want to have a Soul Migration  movie night here at Embercome before I leave. It feels doable, fun, and good. I also really really want (and kind of need to for my paper) talk to Ronan about (his experience with) Schumaker.

My eyes are already growing a bit heavy and there are more computer things I wanted to do before heading down to the People's Circle where I do not anticipate going to sleep (in the willow structure with Teo?!) before spending at least an hour by the beautiful fireside with wonderful people first. But then again who knows - if I am feeling tired enough I will certainly go to sleep. I am getting really good at living where my feet take me and in many aspects acting without thinking and finding myself living a beautiful and joy filled life.

My work ethic changed today when I caught myself realizing few things really feel like work around here, it just feels like living. That was an exciting and important realization that I want to apply in many aspects of my life for many years.