Finding the way home

Now it been 2 days since Susan, Gloria and I arrived back in Ontario via Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, from Colorado. I figured it is time to write the final post to my blog, although I am sure that the "adventure to Colorado to study equine massage" is far from over!

The last week of school was as expected, difficult, fun and surreal -- all of us were excited for friends and/or family to arrive (and some of my classmates created their own "family structure" with each other.) Here is a photo of me and my roommates, with our "caps" and tassles after the "formal" graduation. What a fun group of people. The "ceremony" consisted of brunch at one of the ranches where we worked, followed by nice comments from the faculty and some classmates (of course, I said something) and the presentation of the formal certificates.

As a class, we had class-shirts made (thanks to Stefanie's dad for facilitating and transporting them!) which you see us wearing in that photo. The pictures was a drawing by Elisa (who is from Italy) and the acronym (FIGJAM) was imported from Australia. As Cat explained to the wide-age-range crowd, FIGJAM means "Ffffar out I'm Good, Just Ask Me". Even as I type this, I am remembering the laughter of my friends and colleagues on this day that was exciting (it was what we were all working for, right?) and sad ("does it have to come to an end?") After the ceremony people dispersed, some taking off directly from the ranch (Kimi and Ken had the truck loaded from the apartment before heading to grad) and others back to various apartments, hotels or wherever -- to pack, show friends and family the "classrooms" around Loveland, visit or just nap. (Jess left after a brief dip in the pool and then a shoe-horn-manuver to get her stuff and her sister and cousin into the Tiburon for the 27 hour drive to North Bay.)

On Sunday morning, we were up bright and early to get the car loaded up, and say "good bye" to Heidi. Sue joined us for a caravan back to Ontario (on her way to Halifax), so we pointed our three cars toward Maxwell, Nebraska and drove. The goal was to meet Mom and Dad at the farm (or Boxelder Canyon Stock Farm, depending on how optimistic one is feeling at the time) for lunch. We did eventually get there, and over lunch, Dad asked if Sue and I would be interested and/or willing to work on a horse after lunch. Of course! So, the day after graduation, we had our first official client and customer! Here are a couple of pictures, one of us working on Cody (pointtour head to 9 o'clock to have correct picture orientation) and the other with our first payment. :)
















The whole trip sounded a bit like a narrated version of my life, as we drove by (and sometimes into) the landscapes of my formative years including, (from west to east)

• "....these are the mountains I visited on family vacations and youth work camps..."
• "..this is the farm that my Grandparents lived on while I was growing up..."
  
• "...this is the spot on the road up The Hill that was really scary when we were riding in the back of the pick-up..." (as it was where the banks fell away and there weren't any sides on the road above the canyon -- here is a picture of the canyon, albeit from a different spot)
• "....this is the pasture that I lost the tailgate of the truck...." (If you don't know the story, you'll have to ask my sisters. My Grandpa loved to tell the story, and now I am sure they'll assume the mantel.)
• "....this is where I went to undergraduate....."
• "....this is the town I grew up in..."
• "....this is where Carin went to college...."
• "...this is where Lynette lived while we were dating...."
• "....this is the road I would go on to drive to graduate school...."
• "....this is where I worked/lived at .Western Michigan University.."
• "....this is the exit that Gloria took to visit me in Kalamazoo for the first time..."
  
• "....this is where I taught Faith to drive standard...."
• "...this is the gas station I like to stop at before going over the bridge into Canada...."

....and so on....as we got into Canada, the stories were shared amongst all of the Canadians, so I did less narrating (and we were almost "home" so we didn't stop!) And, we arrived safely in Waterloo on Tuesday night.

And so the adventure continues, and as I write this, I know that I had opportunities of "finding quiet" and experiences of grounded and centred connection with myself, the horses, my classmates and colleagues. I believe that life is about process, and the "finding" continues. So, I'll leave you with this picture and begin my reflections on "finding home"......
Welcome to 35 West Street (yes, I have now seen our house!)....when you get to this point, you know you can ring the bell and be welcomed!

Thanks for following my blog and my adventures.

Cheers,
Liw