Monday, June 9, 2014
Wife Swap
One of the TV shows I'll watch is "Wife Swap" where a wife trades places with another family across country that is way different from themselves. So I was not disappointed when I answered Rose and Desi's Craigslist add for a roommate. Rose is my age and Desi's Auntie. A week before I moved in Rose's Sister/Desi's Mom had died. That wasn't in the ad. I'd been having dreams of this family so I knew I needed to be here. Now I'm leaving after three years.
Rose and her sister had been illegally adopted by 50 year old Mormon's from their Navajo mother so she rides a bi-cultural fence. Things like that were done then on the Reservations. Her story is in the book she wrote. We talked often about how her life would have been different if she hadn't been adopted where she would have been raised in a Hogan without water. In this life she lived the society life in Washington, DC. So what makes a Real Person? There are parts of Rose that are Navajo even though she wasn't raised there. When I visualize the Rose I know and the Rose who would have stayed there would be a great difference.
It's been a very interesting stay being a guest in their home and it's been like having my files rebooted. At the end of "Wife Swap" they always hug and then it shows how their lives changed a few weeks later. My life changed a lot. A small example is how a big part of my identity had been as a cook and I've only had a small portion of kitchen space for 5 years. This is a silly example when there have been some kick-ass examples of how my Slate has been wiped clean.
So this is also part of the Experiment. What is true Identity?
What is even True?
I know that I am a different person. Before I came to live with Rose I was not a true person. I think that the split in my face from the Bells Palsy was a symptom of that split. Rose gave me the space to clean out the closets. Time to sew a new wardrobe.
Rose and her sister had been illegally adopted by 50 year old Mormon's from their Navajo mother so she rides a bi-cultural fence. Things like that were done then on the Reservations. Her story is in the book she wrote. We talked often about how her life would have been different if she hadn't been adopted where she would have been raised in a Hogan without water. In this life she lived the society life in Washington, DC. So what makes a Real Person? There are parts of Rose that are Navajo even though she wasn't raised there. When I visualize the Rose I know and the Rose who would have stayed there would be a great difference.
It's been a very interesting stay being a guest in their home and it's been like having my files rebooted. At the end of "Wife Swap" they always hug and then it shows how their lives changed a few weeks later. My life changed a lot. A small example is how a big part of my identity had been as a cook and I've only had a small portion of kitchen space for 5 years. This is a silly example when there have been some kick-ass examples of how my Slate has been wiped clean.
So this is also part of the Experiment. What is true Identity?
What is even True?
I know that I am a different person. Before I came to live with Rose I was not a true person. I think that the split in my face from the Bells Palsy was a symptom of that split. Rose gave me the space to clean out the closets. Time to sew a new wardrobe.
Experiment
While sitting in the sun with my coffee I was thinking about Why this is an experiment. On several levels cause I do things Just Because.
I don't plan to put deep roots here, and after a year will move closer to my family up north. In the mean time I put myself in the middle of some great art. One Friday night a month is the art crawl going from gallery to gallery to see the latest artist. I've given myself a year to just hang out and see what I can create. There are just some questions you have to ask yourself. Is there anything I would regret not doing? And this is it for me. What sort of art would I do if I hung out in this place?
Working for an art store I've gathered the supplies that I need. I want to explore that creative process.
The other aspect of this is allowing synchronicity. That stuff is building up and I want to see how far I can ride this out. What kind of bridle do I need to point this Energy in the direction I want to go?
And it's about silly stuff. I had someone ask for a particular box of tea candles which I had no clue about and no time to check it out or help and I felt bad. Then ALL afternoon people were bringing up boxes of the candles I needed. A silly amount. And that is just a silly example.
So part of the Experiment is too see how far I can allow Magic in my life.
And the third part is this Cocktail Party idea. I always liked that party game where you choose who you would want to spend a dinner party with. Any one from history. We can't do that but there are plenty of cool people here.
Movin' On Down the Road
I'm sitting with my coffee watching the sun come up. The weather is luscious. I have to get going in a bit to pick up my key for the new apartment and then be moved in a week from now. Everything is packed. This Experiment is supposed to be Transient so I didn't gather a lot of stuff. A big chunk are plants and art supplies. My Pine is as tall as me. I got it for Christmas when I first came here and just let it keep growing.
This move will be radical and it's put me in a weird state. With everything packed I'm not "here" anymore but not "there" either. LOL It's also the first time in my life I am not "beholden" to anyone. Life is good. Everyone is fine and Mom can do what she wants. LOL I don't know how much I hold astrology, but everyone in my family is a Leo and a Taurus leader. I'm a Fish. I didn't stand a chance. Everyone has an opinion on my life and for the peace of the family I have always tried to balance their wishes.
That no longer holds with this move. This shifts the Rules.
And because I see living downtown more as an Experiment for a year and it's more of a studio than a home, things can be playful. And a lot of people are looking forward to the Cocktail Parties. There are going to be some great chats. I love doing catering so making snacks for gathering is my idea of bliss. Everyone in my family cooks. Food is love. I grew up on my Grandparents farm that was surrounded by an orchard. Getting groceries for dinner meant walking down the path to the garden. I think that's why I'm pretty healthy and I worry for the kids being raised on fast food.
Well, Here Comes the Sun. I'm going to sit out with my coffee and Greet the Day
This move will be radical and it's put me in a weird state. With everything packed I'm not "here" anymore but not "there" either. LOL It's also the first time in my life I am not "beholden" to anyone. Life is good. Everyone is fine and Mom can do what she wants. LOL I don't know how much I hold astrology, but everyone in my family is a Leo and a Taurus leader. I'm a Fish. I didn't stand a chance. Everyone has an opinion on my life and for the peace of the family I have always tried to balance their wishes.
That no longer holds with this move. This shifts the Rules.
And because I see living downtown more as an Experiment for a year and it's more of a studio than a home, things can be playful. And a lot of people are looking forward to the Cocktail Parties. There are going to be some great chats. I love doing catering so making snacks for gathering is my idea of bliss. Everyone in my family cooks. Food is love. I grew up on my Grandparents farm that was surrounded by an orchard. Getting groceries for dinner meant walking down the path to the garden. I think that's why I'm pretty healthy and I worry for the kids being raised on fast food.
Well, Here Comes the Sun. I'm going to sit out with my coffee and Greet the Day
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