I hope you felt the power...you were with me in a very special place on Saturday...

I dare say CypressCynthia will forgive me for copying and pasting part of my response to a question she asked me. ( won't you, CC?) With all of the Pink Bus rides,Kindreds walking, tests, news both good and bad, new ones, and long-timers~ I just wanted to share what was a beautiful, spiritual experience. And I hope all of you are encouraged~ we fight and we are STRONG!!!! Love you all, Kindreds!

Something so incredible happened on Saturday!!! I think you recall that once a year I go with Reggie as he makes his annual Tribal ocean voyage with his fellow traditional paddlers. I always camp starting Thursday, and on Saturday afternoon Reggie and the paddlers arrive on their ancestral home island. There are usually about 200 of us waiting~ we have such a wonderful reunion, and it is a powerful, emotional, spiritual ceremony.
This year, for the FIRST time in over 150 years, two tomols ( Chumash word for plank canoe)
made the journey together!
They leave the harbor at 3AM and paddle through the dark waters, and Reggie says this is the most spiritual part of the entire 10 hour journey through the ocean. This year was the first year I did NOT camp~ and it broke my heart not to be able to. But, my lungs in particular, and my health in general just wouldn't allow it. There is however, a park services day boat which goes to the Island, and Siobhan and I booked seats for the day of the crossing. The morning started out beautifully~ I had a hotel room close to the harbor and Reggie and the other captains paddled up the channel to my balcony so I could see them depart for the open waters which was in the opposite direction. Native American singers were at the waterfront singing beautiful songs...I could hear them from my vantage point.
We caught up with the paddlers when they were 6 hours into the paddle...the park services boat left at 9AM and we came up to them at 9:30...the canoes are 24 and 31 feet respectively, with 12 foot paddles. The held the paddles in the air as an honor salute to us ...and we sang to them from the front of the boat! I was so proud of my Reggie! We arrived on the island at 10~ and the canoes got there about 12:30.
The walk from the dock to the campgrounds is almost 1/2 mile one way~ and that's where my friends were...so I had to walk to find them. OMG~ being as most know I am not so healthy, and especially as I wasn't there on Thursday, it was assumed I wsn't able to make it this year. Evidently, people were really saddened by that assumption. When I walked into the campground with Siobhan~ you would have thought I was a rock star! People started crying and holding me and touching me and crying some more! It was incredible!! Some have been keeping up with me on Facebook and LOVE the Kindred Spirits and the online relationship we have!!! One of the women went so far as to say that I am a blessing to the world~ Ok, that was a bit over the top, but wow! I had the best day re-connecting with my friends!
When Reggie and the paddlers came ashore, we all entered the fire/prayer circle. We were all blessed with the smoke of sage, and then the 5 tomol captains addressed us all~ and OMG~ Reggie, after saying what an honor it was to pull water with these amazing paddlers, started crying and said he was there to honor his wife because he loves her! Again...WHAT????
Ok, as awesome as all of that was ( and it was, believe me!!!) for me the BEST part of the day was that I walked back and forth so many times that I know that I walked OVER 4 miles yesterday! Lungs and all!!!!! It was as if I was embued with the love an energy of my friends on the island...before we left for home, I took tobacco which is always there as part of the blessings, said a prayer of thanksgiving and special well-wishes for all of the Kindred Spirits, tossed the tobacco into the fire, and made my way to the boat.

We made it a day trip only~we got home at 7PM...and the grandbaby came to spend the night at 7:30!!! When we pack things into a day, we don't mess around! LOL