Down But Not Out

Punches since I last blogged eighteen months ago: a short-lived marriage now annulled (after lots of paperwork and several trips to a California courthouse), my son Owen hospitalized for severe sinusitis, and unfruitful months of effort trying to move away from the agricultural dust and chemicals we thought contributory to his malady.  Too busy to attend to my worsening plantar fasciitis, which screamed this past week: “Do something!”

Per recommendation of a new orthopedic specialist in town, Owen and I drove to our closest "big city" of Ensenada to obtain orthotics from a charming man who is an expert on foot health and healing.  Touched and encouraged, we celebrated at a favorite seafood spot on Bahia Todos Santos (All Saints’ Bay) offering fresh fish, shrimp, octopus, oysters, and clams...near a popular surfing and skateboarding area.

Next we hit the segunda (second hand) shops, finding parking at the place where I bought a patio table and chairs three years ago.  Proprietress Gisela now offered solar lights for stringing across our back yard, a comfy yard chair with footstool…and an openhearted exchange about personal struggles.  “There is such peace in your eyes,” she said.

Peace…yes, thanks be to God!  A month ago He gave us deep peace about not moving, enabling us to enthusiastically embrace anew the beautiful gifts of place and people right where we are.  Owen created a new red gate, put up Malla Sombra dust-catching cloth, spread lava rock, and planted palms to improve our environment.  His sinus problem has not returned.

Ten months ago came peace about pursuing annulment of marriage to a man who should have shared critical history before rather than after the wedding, when a pattern of physical and emotional boundary issues with young women appeared.  I'm grateful he then disclosed the truth about prior struggles.  And I don't regret taking a risk for love.  The revelations and lessons learned may help him, his family, his pastor...and may protect others in the future.

The Kavanaugh (US Supreme Court nominee) hearings highlighted the struggles many men have with admitting weakness or misdeeds, opting instead to anger (it gives one a sense of power) and the pain of thousands of women drawn to the Me Too movement.  We have so much work to do to!  I'm grateful for the leadership/resources available at The Center for Partnership Studies (https://centerforpartnership.org).  On the heels of the Kavanaugh saga, new warnings about the human and economic costs of our failure to address a global mental health crisis "from epidemics of anxiety and depression to conditions caused by violence and trauma."  Inspired by a BBC report on an initiative in Zimbabwe at http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20181015-how-one-bench-and-a-team-of-grandmothers-can-beat-depression?ocid=ww.social.link.email, I'm considering whether that approach might work here, and possibly accepting an invitation to join Grupo Madrugadores (early risers), civic-minded folks who meet regularly to address community concerns.

Meanwhile I'm spending more time with my feet up, enjoying tea or lunch in the garden.  The image on a teacup found next-door to Gisela’s shop made me smile.  Note that the teacup lady is down—relishing the closeness and nurture of nature—but she is kicking up her right foot (happens to be my bad one).  No doubt she has plans for when she gets up again, rested and renewed, but I don't think she's in a big hurry...