Greetings from Orange County. How was your month of January? Ours had some highs and lows.
The biggest milestone was being able to pass the torch of our house to new owners. We were hoping to find someone who would take our beloved home's legacy forward and add positive energy to our neighborhood. When we reviewed all the offers and possible buyer candidates, this offer from a retired couple who had their young grandchildren in the neighboring city stood out. We knew it was meant to be. I could picture them enjoying their time on the deck, chatting with our dear neighbor, and their grandchildren running around the backyard while getting muddy. We are so grateful and positively relieved that this phase of our relocation has concluded with a beautiful high note.
Simultaneously, one of the lowest points was losing Starlight, a plump, fluffy, and cuddly pet chicken of ours. We have no idea what actually happened to her as she vanished in the late afternoon. We searched for her all through the property and neighboring streets to find nothing visible left of her. We suspect it was an aerial predator, a large hawk, or a falcon, which we have seen before, soaring above us. Our chickens have been a huge part of our family life since last May. Girls often work on their virtual learning with them as trusted sidekicks, and they are cuddling with them every chance they can find. Our chickens, lovingly called "chickies," have been their dear friends. So accepting Starlight's indefinite absence was a heartbreaking truth for them. As a mom, I wished I could keep them away from the sadness of losing someone so special, yet I knew that we needed to ride the wave of grief together. By observing our kids go through the grieving process closely and feeling and acknowledging all of their feelings, I am learning a lot about life.
I appreciated reading A.C.'s story "Back and Forth" and their approach to the 5-year journal, which was also about the polarity of the intentions they put into facing the same notebook for five years. In Trina's story, Solitude and the Company of Others, she introduced us to an incredible opportunity to join the global virtual writing community, "The Writer's Hour" hosted by London Writers' Salon. Being able to tap into the energy of writers all over the world, focused on creating from within. People might be joining opportunities like this to replace physical activities they used to enjoy, yet, I feel it might be a completely new creative and energizing experience that can complement the physical "cafe" experience even when we go back to a less social-distancing world.
It's so easy to say "everything happens for a reason" when everything "is" going well. But there is always a certain dose of uncertainties in life. Some things turn out more desirable than others. Unexpected twists of events happen. And occasionally, life throws a lemon. This month was a reminder to me that how we journey through the dualities in life leads us to unique paths.
-wakako
always a work in progress...
Orange County, California // February 2nd, 2021
**This is from our BK Love Letter for February 2021. If you would like to see the entire love letter we sent to our community, you can browse it via this link.
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