My Story and I’m Sticking to it....
I moved here, to Lot 16, PEI on November 28, 2003 after a broken
marriage and a whole life spent in Alberta. My kids were grown and living on their own. My son Justin, was in Lethbridge Alberta doing a Journalism/Broadcasting diploma, my daughter Melissa, was in Halifax, Nova Scotia, doing her International Development-Political Science Degree. We, the children and I, after much discussion , thought it was a great time for me to finally acquaint myself with the Maritimes of which I had yearned for and dreamt of most of my life. So the move happened and Lot 16 is where I plunked myself.
My first meeting with my neighbour Ellyn was the day I took possession of the house. The realtor and his lovely wife, who had housed me and the cat overnite while the dogs were safe in a kennel brought me to my new home after we spent the allotted time with the lawyer and did the final paperwork. I assessed the house again as the only time I had checked it out was a month ago when I flew out, looked at homes and picked this one, knowing it was "the one".
I was having some stuff delivered by Sears and was outside showing them the 3 possible doors when Ellyn yelled across the lawn, a brief introduction and an invite to join her later for lasagna and lemon tarts, which she had prepared for my arrival. I thought immediately, "What am I? In the middle of an Anne of Green Gables tale or something? Is this my new bosom buddy"? I didn’t quite know what to make of it other than it was awesome to find such hospitality and recognition already???
My first hour with Ellyn was mesmerizing, not only was she a true blue islander, the second one I met after Wayne the realtor, but as well a wife, Mother , accomplished teacher, and writer working on her Masters Degree. .During that first visit, she noticed my boots. I had a long hippy skirt on with my "Laredo" cowboy boots as this is very comfortable plane travel wear, and she recognized the boots. This tweaked my interest as I had assumed that my "cowboy life" was left in Alberta. I’m now in fiddle, seafood and red dirt country, east coast, well ,an island for gosh sakes! There’s no cowboys here...Or are there? I acknowledged that Ellyn in fact not only "knew" the boot brand but, went further to describe the two horses she owned out back in the pasture.
You can imagine my delight and the fast friendship which was to develop here with two horses; a mutual fondness for lemon tarts and lasagna and; an appreciation for intelligent conversation; a zero tolerance of husbands, and all of the above was seasoned with a glass of home made wine here and there.
Ellyn’s two horses are Jodi, a 13 year old black Morgan Mare, snotty with an attitude, loving the trail rides and is a prancy, dancer always needing to trot home. Navajo, is at this time a 3 year old Appaloosa Mare, just broke and ready for the miles. Ellyn needed a ride - mate, she had two horses and could only ride one at a time. I rode my whole life and never thought I’d get back on a horse in bloody PEI of all places, so off we went. We rode almost every weekend thru the year, in sunshine, rain, snow and wind. We talked and laughed and got to know each other. The horses were happy we were happy. The horses were different, we were different and everyone was "a" ok with this whole set-up. We redecorated my house, which she grew up in, we played cards, we got thru a few good snow days with blizzards and winds that wrecked my house. I witnessed and tried to help Ellyn through a marriage break up and unfortunately, a terminal illness that took her Father away early spring of 2005. Darryl, Ellyn’s Dad, was an honourable, decent, hardworking man, very loved and respected by our community. I had the pleasure to know him briefly and his presence was such that you would never forget meeting him. It was great fun to sip on some of his home made wine listening to his stories that carried such wisdom and humour. He loved life and those people that happened to be in it with him at that moment. He treated you as though you had been a family friend for centuries, he was all about "what did you need", "how are you settling", stuff like that. Watching his devotion to his family and to his community in the short time I knew him , it was clear that he was a person to adore, and I did. Ellyn called me soon after he had passed and I was so sorry for her and her family to have to go thru this and I didn’t know what to do. We only rode when we could and that always seemed to make things better, to silence the silence...
One month later I was hit with the death of my son, by suicide. I was approached by the RCMP who had the horrible task of coming out to my home to inform me of this event. My boyfriend , Darren was at work and on his way once the officer called him, but it was Ellyn, who heard the news second to myself and held me while I grappled with it. She was instrumental in my survival that day, that month , that year. Somehow the fact that she had just dealt with death very close to her heart and had dealt with death before, this prepared her to teach me, someone who had never lost anyone close yet, how to function.
Soon after the loss of Justin, we resumed our riding. I’m not sure exactly when but I know we rode, and we talked and we cried and we went everywhere, the woods, the shore, the water. We covered a lot of ground physically and emotionally.
Soon, an eagle started to join us. I remember the exact day. We were riding down our usual road where we boarded the horses and I spotted two things in the pasture ahead of us that looked like large skunks or eagles on the ground. I said "Ellyn, what is that". She thought it was a pair of skunks but I kept looking and the closer we got the more we realized they were eagles. Ellyn and I were surprised to see these eagles on the ground. Thinking one was hurt we attempted to ride closer but they eventually flew up, proving they were indeed eagles and they were "just fine, thank you very much" and disappeared into a nearby tree. From then on we would see the eagle, just one, soar above us and around us when we rode. Sometimes there would be not much going on, just the usual chit chat and all of a sudden , here the eagle would appear. It was awesome to see him swoop and soar over us in his majestic way. We would just stop talking, mid sentence, and watch him, amazed and with smiles and a nod to each other in the comfort of his presence. We started to look for him after that and 96% of the time he would make an appearance.
Then, the year anniversary approached. March -April 2006 the losses, our losses, her Dad ,my son. My Justin’s birthday, my birthday, Ellyn’s birthday, Mother’s day in May. The eagle was there for every one of them, in front of our eyes, witnesses to each other. I had a real hard time then at year number one and in the time period of these family events I found myself slipping lower then I ever had. My boyfriend begged me to see the Doctor and try to get some help before I made any decisions. After that discussion that morning we noticed a big kafuffle with birds had been going on most of the past 15 minutes in the massive trees over at the neighbours. We could see a bunch of crows or ravens attacking or swooping at another, much larger bird sitting in the bare tree branch. We got out the binos and found it was the eagle sitting in the tree putting up with the crow nonsense. It was really strange. An hour or so later as I drove past the tree the eagle was still there watching me as I drove past all alone now. It was strange.
We decided this eagle was Justin. He was watching over the situation some how. I always told my children, if I ever died I would love to come back as an eagle. Like the First Nation People beliefs in reincarnation, I assumed this must be what Justin has done. To comfort me and to show me that he is still here with me, he is soaring around here on his birthday, my birthday, his deathday, Mother’s day and any other time that I’m having a "rough go".
I bought Jodi from Ellyn shortly after Justin’s death as I knew I needed her and Ellyn couldn’t justify having two horses when she only rode one. The eagle soared through Jodi’s stuff too, her pregnancy and the loss of her foal a few months later. Stuff going on, eagle flying above....
Another year has gone by and Ellyn and I mourn our losses still, but with some growth along with. We are stronger and healthier but completely aware that the friendship has played a huge part in our recovery.
I’ve recently put my home up for sale and am hoping to find a new place, more land ,less house so that I can enjoy horses, dogs, gardening more animals like a hobby farm and perhaps the presence of some eagles. This, I know will help me grow and help me carry on. Ellyn understands this and is sad, to see me leave the neighbourhood, but is comforted as well in my progress as a human being. She knows a friend is a friend is a friend, no matter where they are, and she knows, as I do, this friendship is solid and it will endure.
I haven’t seen the eagle much lately. I went for a 3 hour ride on Justin’s birthday but , though looked and longed for him, did not spy the eagle. Ellyn tells me later that weekend, that the eagle was with her on her ride on Justin’s birthday. Then it occurs to me, like a jolt of understanding, not of pain; but of wonder and excitement, this beloved eagle of ours, perhaps he is to do with Darryl, Ellyn’s Dad. He’s been watching over Ellyn, I’ve only been riding along with her, he’s flying over Lot 16 and resides here as always, making sure the people of Lot 16 and his family, the Lyles and the McLaurins are ok. I am savouring the beauty of this as I am living in the home he had, I am friends with his beautiful daughter, I embrace his grandchild often......Of course he’s flying around us when we ride. This is his domain. Maybe that why I don’t see him anymore because he is now with Ellyn, she needs him.
Maybe’s and what if’s... the world keeps going around. I have no explanation for this but I do know the facts, and what I saw and experienced was often witnessed. The second last time I saw the eagle was on my last birthday, March 24, 2007. Ellyn and I were riding and I wasn’t talking much. That seems to be the hardest day in the year for me. Part of it is because that was one of the last times I had chatted with Justin on the phone. We had a long conversation the nite before my birthday about taxes and stuff in our lives and he had stated his good wishes for tomorrow then, but he called again on my birthday to say "Happy Birthday" again. I laughed and told him he didn’t need to call again but we had a bit of a chat anyway and well; I only spoke with my son once more after that which was March 30th, 2005. He died April 3rd a few days later. This birthday ride was chilly and glum but we persevered knowing it was for a good cause. Ellyn was being her usual perky self, not necessarily because she was in a "chipper" mood but because she gets bound and determined that I should be, especially on my birthday. We were chatting about something when ahead of us in the sky there was a bird getting harassed by some ravens/crows and making a heck of a racket. We kept talking and as we got closer Ellyn had said to me, Is that your Eagle? I said you mean our Eagle as I stopped to look. Ellyn was speaking still, Or is that a hawk? What is that, it doesn’t look like the usual eagle...silence. I can not speak the lump in my throat is blocking my voice my eyes and face are full of tears. Ellyn now has stopped her horse and is gazing skyward as well. The massive Golden Eagle flew over us slow and steady. His wing span was as wide as my Santa Fe truck. He was so close to us we could see his eyes. He soars around us over us and slowly away. We don’t take our eyes off him until he disappears. I managed now to speak. "Yes, Ellyn it’s an Eagle. It’s a Golden Eagle. I’ve only seen them in books". Now she smiles at me with her soppy tear-filled face and says," Well, he knows it’s your birthday today". I will never forget that magical, mystical moment for as long as I live.
I did see the awesome creature once more and that was on April 3rd, the anniversary of Justin’s death. I did not ride that day for whatever reason but did stay home from work. The eagle flew over my home nice and slow and obvious around supper time showing me that he had not forgotten what day is was. Funny thing, but I have not seen an eagle since then. When I ride though I see other amazing creatures such as the Great Blue Heron on the beach when Jodi and I tiptoe through the sand. I have also seen some very unique butterflies, the massive monarch and once a large black butterfly with white dots and swirls. He looked like he had on a "Raiders jersey".
What I have learned from this experience is ; I probably believe more in reincarnation then I ever did before, I believe in the strength of a friendship and how it can empower one to believe in the unbelievable; and most of all I have learned that we have a power in our souls that can conquer and survive nearly anything. We only need to observe and learn from our fellow creatures, Eagles and others.
I moved here, to Lot 16, PEI on November 28, 2003 after a broken
marriage and a whole life spent in Alberta. My kids were grown and living on their own. My son Justin, was in Lethbridge Alberta doing a Journalism/Broadcasting diploma, my daughter Melissa, was in Halifax, Nova Scotia, doing her International Development-Political Science Degree. We, the children and I, after much discussion , thought it was a great time for me to finally acquaint myself with the Maritimes of which I had yearned for and dreamt of most of my life. So the move happened and Lot 16 is where I plunked myself.
My first meeting with my neighbour Ellyn was the day I took possession of the house. The realtor and his lovely wife, who had housed me and the cat overnite while the dogs were safe in a kennel brought me to my new home after we spent the allotted time with the lawyer and did the final paperwork. I assessed the house again as the only time I had checked it out was a month ago when I flew out, looked at homes and picked this one, knowing it was "the one".
I was having some stuff delivered by Sears and was outside showing them the 3 possible doors when Ellyn yelled across the lawn, a brief introduction and an invite to join her later for lasagna and lemon tarts, which she had prepared for my arrival. I thought immediately, "What am I? In the middle of an Anne of Green Gables tale or something? Is this my new bosom buddy"? I didn’t quite know what to make of it other than it was awesome to find such hospitality and recognition already???
My first hour with Ellyn was mesmerizing, not only was she a true blue islander, the second one I met after Wayne the realtor, but as well a wife, Mother , accomplished teacher, and writer working on her Masters Degree. .During that first visit, she noticed my boots. I had a long hippy skirt on with my "Laredo" cowboy boots as this is very comfortable plane travel wear, and she recognized the boots. This tweaked my interest as I had assumed that my "cowboy life" was left in Alberta. I’m now in fiddle, seafood and red dirt country, east coast, well ,an island for gosh sakes! There’s no cowboys here...Or are there? I acknowledged that Ellyn in fact not only "knew" the boot brand but, went further to describe the two horses she owned out back in the pasture.
You can imagine my delight and the fast friendship which was to develop here with two horses; a mutual fondness for lemon tarts and lasagna and; an appreciation for intelligent conversation; a zero tolerance of husbands, and all of the above was seasoned with a glass of home made wine here and there.
Ellyn’s two horses are Jodi, a 13 year old black Morgan Mare, snotty with an attitude, loving the trail rides and is a prancy, dancer always needing to trot home. Navajo, is at this time a 3 year old Appaloosa Mare, just broke and ready for the miles. Ellyn needed a ride - mate, she had two horses and could only ride one at a time. I rode my whole life and never thought I’d get back on a horse in bloody PEI of all places, so off we went. We rode almost every weekend thru the year, in sunshine, rain, snow and wind. We talked and laughed and got to know each other. The horses were happy we were happy. The horses were different, we were different and everyone was "a" ok with this whole set-up. We redecorated my house, which she grew up in, we played cards, we got thru a few good snow days with blizzards and winds that wrecked my house. I witnessed and tried to help Ellyn through a marriage break up and unfortunately, a terminal illness that took her Father away early spring of 2005. Darryl, Ellyn’s Dad, was an honourable, decent, hardworking man, very loved and respected by our community. I had the pleasure to know him briefly and his presence was such that you would never forget meeting him. It was great fun to sip on some of his home made wine listening to his stories that carried such wisdom and humour. He loved life and those people that happened to be in it with him at that moment. He treated you as though you had been a family friend for centuries, he was all about "what did you need", "how are you settling", stuff like that. Watching his devotion to his family and to his community in the short time I knew him , it was clear that he was a person to adore, and I did. Ellyn called me soon after he had passed and I was so sorry for her and her family to have to go thru this and I didn’t know what to do. We only rode when we could and that always seemed to make things better, to silence the silence...
One month later I was hit with the death of my son, by suicide. I was approached by the RCMP who had the horrible task of coming out to my home to inform me of this event. My boyfriend , Darren was at work and on his way once the officer called him, but it was Ellyn, who heard the news second to myself and held me while I grappled with it. She was instrumental in my survival that day, that month , that year. Somehow the fact that she had just dealt with death very close to her heart and had dealt with death before, this prepared her to teach me, someone who had never lost anyone close yet, how to function.
Soon after the loss of Justin, we resumed our riding. I’m not sure exactly when but I know we rode, and we talked and we cried and we went everywhere, the woods, the shore, the water. We covered a lot of ground physically and emotionally.
Soon, an eagle started to join us. I remember the exact day. We were riding down our usual road where we boarded the horses and I spotted two things in the pasture ahead of us that looked like large skunks or eagles on the ground. I said "Ellyn, what is that". She thought it was a pair of skunks but I kept looking and the closer we got the more we realized they were eagles. Ellyn and I were surprised to see these eagles on the ground. Thinking one was hurt we attempted to ride closer but they eventually flew up, proving they were indeed eagles and they were "just fine, thank you very much" and disappeared into a nearby tree. From then on we would see the eagle, just one, soar above us and around us when we rode. Sometimes there would be not much going on, just the usual chit chat and all of a sudden , here the eagle would appear. It was awesome to see him swoop and soar over us in his majestic way. We would just stop talking, mid sentence, and watch him, amazed and with smiles and a nod to each other in the comfort of his presence. We started to look for him after that and 96% of the time he would make an appearance.
Then, the year anniversary approached. March -April 2006 the losses, our losses, her Dad ,my son. My Justin’s birthday, my birthday, Ellyn’s birthday, Mother’s day in May. The eagle was there for every one of them, in front of our eyes, witnesses to each other. I had a real hard time then at year number one and in the time period of these family events I found myself slipping lower then I ever had. My boyfriend begged me to see the Doctor and try to get some help before I made any decisions. After that discussion that morning we noticed a big kafuffle with birds had been going on most of the past 15 minutes in the massive trees over at the neighbours. We could see a bunch of crows or ravens attacking or swooping at another, much larger bird sitting in the bare tree branch. We got out the binos and found it was the eagle sitting in the tree putting up with the crow nonsense. It was really strange. An hour or so later as I drove past the tree the eagle was still there watching me as I drove past all alone now. It was strange.
We decided this eagle was Justin. He was watching over the situation some how. I always told my children, if I ever died I would love to come back as an eagle. Like the First Nation People beliefs in reincarnation, I assumed this must be what Justin has done. To comfort me and to show me that he is still here with me, he is soaring around here on his birthday, my birthday, his deathday, Mother’s day and any other time that I’m having a "rough go".
I bought Jodi from Ellyn shortly after Justin’s death as I knew I needed her and Ellyn couldn’t justify having two horses when she only rode one. The eagle soared through Jodi’s stuff too, her pregnancy and the loss of her foal a few months later. Stuff going on, eagle flying above....
Another year has gone by and Ellyn and I mourn our losses still, but with some growth along with. We are stronger and healthier but completely aware that the friendship has played a huge part in our recovery.
I’ve recently put my home up for sale and am hoping to find a new place, more land ,less house so that I can enjoy horses, dogs, gardening more animals like a hobby farm and perhaps the presence of some eagles. This, I know will help me grow and help me carry on. Ellyn understands this and is sad, to see me leave the neighbourhood, but is comforted as well in my progress as a human being. She knows a friend is a friend is a friend, no matter where they are, and she knows, as I do, this friendship is solid and it will endure.
I haven’t seen the eagle much lately. I went for a 3 hour ride on Justin’s birthday but , though looked and longed for him, did not spy the eagle. Ellyn tells me later that weekend, that the eagle was with her on her ride on Justin’s birthday. Then it occurs to me, like a jolt of understanding, not of pain; but of wonder and excitement, this beloved eagle of ours, perhaps he is to do with Darryl, Ellyn’s Dad. He’s been watching over Ellyn, I’ve only been riding along with her, he’s flying over Lot 16 and resides here as always, making sure the people of Lot 16 and his family, the Lyles and the McLaurins are ok. I am savouring the beauty of this as I am living in the home he had, I am friends with his beautiful daughter, I embrace his grandchild often......Of course he’s flying around us when we ride. This is his domain. Maybe that why I don’t see him anymore because he is now with Ellyn, she needs him.
Maybe’s and what if’s... the world keeps going around. I have no explanation for this but I do know the facts, and what I saw and experienced was often witnessed. The second last time I saw the eagle was on my last birthday, March 24, 2007. Ellyn and I were riding and I wasn’t talking much. That seems to be the hardest day in the year for me. Part of it is because that was one of the last times I had chatted with Justin on the phone. We had a long conversation the nite before my birthday about taxes and stuff in our lives and he had stated his good wishes for tomorrow then, but he called again on my birthday to say "Happy Birthday" again. I laughed and told him he didn’t need to call again but we had a bit of a chat anyway and well; I only spoke with my son once more after that which was March 30th, 2005. He died April 3rd a few days later. This birthday ride was chilly and glum but we persevered knowing it was for a good cause. Ellyn was being her usual perky self, not necessarily because she was in a "chipper" mood but because she gets bound and determined that I should be, especially on my birthday. We were chatting about something when ahead of us in the sky there was a bird getting harassed by some ravens/crows and making a heck of a racket. We kept talking and as we got closer Ellyn had said to me, Is that your Eagle? I said you mean our Eagle as I stopped to look. Ellyn was speaking still, Or is that a hawk? What is that, it doesn’t look like the usual eagle...silence. I can not speak the lump in my throat is blocking my voice my eyes and face are full of tears. Ellyn now has stopped her horse and is gazing skyward as well. The massive Golden Eagle flew over us slow and steady. His wing span was as wide as my Santa Fe truck. He was so close to us we could see his eyes. He soars around us over us and slowly away. We don’t take our eyes off him until he disappears. I managed now to speak. "Yes, Ellyn it’s an Eagle. It’s a Golden Eagle. I’ve only seen them in books". Now she smiles at me with her soppy tear-filled face and says," Well, he knows it’s your birthday today". I will never forget that magical, mystical moment for as long as I live.
I did see the awesome creature once more and that was on April 3rd, the anniversary of Justin’s death. I did not ride that day for whatever reason but did stay home from work. The eagle flew over my home nice and slow and obvious around supper time showing me that he had not forgotten what day is was. Funny thing, but I have not seen an eagle since then. When I ride though I see other amazing creatures such as the Great Blue Heron on the beach when Jodi and I tiptoe through the sand. I have also seen some very unique butterflies, the massive monarch and once a large black butterfly with white dots and swirls. He looked like he had on a "Raiders jersey".
What I have learned from this experience is ; I probably believe more in reincarnation then I ever did before, I believe in the strength of a friendship and how it can empower one to believe in the unbelievable; and most of all I have learned that we have a power in our souls that can conquer and survive nearly anything. We only need to observe and learn from our fellow creatures, Eagles and others.
No comments:
Post a Comment