From hot to cold, we wake up in the rain having to be back on the river by 9 a.m.
“This is my favourite type of rain!” exclaims Kaoli, “Rainy days are my favourite days.”
Despite the sunny perspective, the moral seems low. Like no one really wants to get out of bed. One or two cups of coffee later, and we are all huddled around the canoes packed and ready to go.
Rising above, Barry decides today is the day to introduce some spirit. He writes everyone’s name down on a piece of paper and throws it into his hat. The names we draw are to be the people we are to secretly act as an “angel” to throughout the day. Lucky for me, I have Barry!
Then Rachel, taking the mic, says it’s time she introduces her friend named Auntie Oova to the group. Before we know it, we are all flocking around in the mud singing this highly animated tune…
“AUNT OOVAAAAA! LOVES CHICKENS”
(At this point, we are dancing like chickens.)
Paddling with the tiny Kaoli today, what amazes me most is her ability to see and identify things I would absolutely miss otherwise. She stops to take note of the way moss is positioned on a tree. Or a singular tree growing out of the side of a giant mountain.
It is in this moment of realization, Steve and Jon paddle over to us. They notice our boat has more drag than it should. They move some things around.
“It’s about the small adjustments,” says Jon with a grin. I grin right back. I then see this as my opening to reevaluate where and how I can make small adjustments to areas in my own life.
Where am I experiencing some drag? Resistance? How can I increase my own flow?
While it’s different for everyone, for me, it’s always in staying on course. Referring to the map more often. Setting firm boundaries. But not being too hard on myself.
Is it time for a break yet?
To warm up, we decide to make our way to this seemingly abandoned cabin to take cover. We make tea. Eat biscuits. Jump around to stay warm. Barry dives into our hidden stash of funny looking clothes. He divides them up to share the warmth. I get a ridiculously funny looking hat. Barry does too.
Back on the water, as the secret angel acts continue to come down to earth, I watch how they grow the group even closer. Which is absolutely fitting. Because as we come out of a somewhat desolate area we call the “tree graveyard,” we enter the estuary and see where we are to make home for the evening.
It’s called Garnet Lodge, a cozy little cabin of bliss barley able to sleep us all…
But we make it work.
As the day turns to night and we’ve finished with our delicious quinoa dish, we gather inside around the fire to receive news from our angels.
First, we share and guess who was our respective angel for the day. I read a poem aloud I have written for Barry, my angel. But then, in an act of God, Barry tells us how…
Amy Flexman is pregnant!
As the angel to us all, she’s already a mother. She’s the reason we can call each other all family here tonight. And to think…
She doesn’t even know she’s having twins just yet!
It’s a story of a story of a story…
Here’s to my forever growing Family of Angels:
The Flexmans