A sad day, with a gift of comfort and opportunity

#lunarwinds #sad 

On the bus ride home, once I got on the last bus, I remembered I would be passing my secret favourite place that was recently destroyed. The place with the windows-esque Green Hill, silver and pine trees, a bit of staghorn sumac, and wild flowers and grasses across the manufacturing plant 

Here isy experience in messages to two dear friends:

"They destroyed my secret place. Idk if I want to go and collect sticks and leaves, or not see it the way it is

(at least not from inside where I used to be)

I think I will go just far enough to get a bit from the trees that have been cut, to bury in other places"

And after:

"My favourite secret place got destroyed. Went to say goodbye today, most of it was fenced off

I considered run-jumping it, and then found this on the ground. [The slab of wood, the perfect size for me to carry back.]

This slice of wood just outside the fencing had a couple slugs, beetles, and tiny snails living on it.

Took it with me to take away from the site (naturally), while I picked up some other things to put in my garden.

And then I realized there were three slugs... And they were all pregnant and kept changing their minds between opening their ports to give birth and trying to jump on the bottom of or off the log 😅😅😅

Without the timing of the jumping preggo slugs idk how I'd been able to tear myself away, but them and their neighbours have now been successfully relocated [somewhere else special]."

~~

I was already crying. I let myself. I had to cry and go alone, walking along this place where I went alone and found comfort on so many of my saddest days before.

I had to say goodbye. I had to thank you.

I had to do this alone. And my opportunity to do this, turned into even more.

My heart hurts, but this day means so much.

The wood slice, the opportunity to save the slugs and their neighbours, and the way it helped me continue to interact and walk with purpose, and act as three slow, slimey, living hourglasses to help me go home, and the fact they were relocated safely... 

... all these things are just things. But the physical pieces are beautiful, more than I even dared hope to find, and the opportunity I had was even more.

What perfect presents for until the time comes when this place is restored 🤎