Slow Walks in Paris Sept 27 - Oct 8

We arrived in Paris on Saturday morning September 27th having taken Continental’s red eye from Newark to Charles DeGaulle. I spent most of the trip watching movies with a few winks. Allie slept for large chunks of the time. From the airport we took the RER to Gare Norde and walked to Thyag’s apartment in Montmartre. Took us less than an hour - all uphill - suitcase on wheels- backpacks – in hindsight it was really too much for Allie’s hip.

Thyag had graciously offered us use of his apartment. In many ways the catalyst for our trip. We have both been to Paris before, Allie for long periods and me for a few vacations, but never together. So we had been talking about coming for many years. Doing it as part of her surgical recovery process (week 5+) seemed like the perfect time and it was.

I’ve never been to Paris in the Fall. The quality of sunlight, clouds, trees were magical, truly sensational. This Fall has felt that way at home as well. My bike rides have been visual color feasts. Maybe its just how I’m looking at life right now ( despite all the economic, environmental, political craziness out there!)

When asked what was best about the trip I’ve been saying, the slow walks together. We walked for long distances slowly almost every day. It provided a way of seeing and being together that were just plain wonderful. Often like a long slow dance, a new form of walking meditation. The first full day Sunday we walked (with periodic sits) for over 4 hours. A huge increase in Allie’s rehab program. That day she used two hiking sticks. By the third day she was using a cane. She caught a cold but kept on trucking most days. Through the daily walks and climbs (Montmartre and the Metro have lots of stairs) I could see her strengthening each day.

Since we didn’t know what her physical capacity we made very few plans with friends and professional colleagues. As it unfolded we were able to get together with Jon and Debbie who happened to also be wandering around France at the same time. I sometimes think I've seen more of them in Europe than in the State’s - although its been a long time since Tim and Laura's wedding. We had a great night of conversations with Maggie Tim Molly and Ruby over chef Dunne’s chicken fajitas, a french innovation. Too short a time and to be continued. Colette introduced us to Angelina’s wonderful desserts and a wonderful reconnection. Nick from my Coaching Supervision group and his SO, Kathyrn, met with us and introduced us to mint tea at the Mosque, a special and repeatable time. And with Libby, also from the Coaching Supervision group, I had a rich conversation about work and life over another incredible meal. Thank goodness for all the walks or I’d be coming back another pants size!

We were very much on the museum tourist path.
• Museum at Montparnesse – great show of Vera Pagava – Georgian artist from the 20’s – my favorite of all we saw.
• Musee Bordelle – repeatable
• Paris Museum 2 day pass
o L’Orangerie – Monet’s waterlilies – great environment
o Louvre – √ ok, did that – enjoyed watching people take pictures of the Mona Lisa. I thought it would be bigger.
o D’Orsay – impressionists – been here before – glad I went back
o Des Arts et Metiers – best I’ve seen on the history of technology
• Palais Royale – Emil Nolde show – few I’m drawn to. Rest very bizarre.
• Musee de la vie Romantique – Ingres drawings show –
• Institut Du Monde Arabe – Oum Kasloun show – the Elvis of Eqypt – fascinating – couple video were the most interesting. Next time we want to do the main museum but we got there too late.

When people think of Paris they often think of food and so do we. We ate many meals at the apartment, shopping at the local shops. Food is expensive there whether you eat in or out but obviously less in. I could just live on the bread and wine with a little cheese now and then. We had a few outstanding meals out. The best two right near Thyag’s apartment. The rolled octopus appetizer (see picture) at Piccola Strada was the best ceviche type dish I’ve had and I love ceviche. And the rabbit stew at Part des Anges was worth going back for. Next time we'll use Maggie's guide.

And the night life - We were there for Nuit Blanche, a series of happenings that ran til the wee hours of the night. We went to notre dame and listened to a small group of singers sing plainsong that filled the place nicely and then off to a series of happenings - marcel proust being read by thousands of people and videotaped. the crowds were incredible ( see pictures).

On the last full day before we had to prepare to leave we did the classic tourist trip - the double decker bus around to all the city's most famous sights. it was great to do. A bit clouded over but gave a context for the whole city. Worth doing we thought.

The pictures capture the feeling of the experience best so check our pixs at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/newell.eaton/SlowWalksInParisFall08#

After the Autumn Equinox

Lovely lunch and deep connection with Jackie yesterday in our back yard city garden sanctuary. Caroused with old adventure training buds at Gary and Melinda's on Saturday. Little Ronan growing up fast! Big walk with Newell in the Millbrook Chinese bowl garden, Innisfree on Sunday- big challenge to navigate the terrain, but very good to practice balance... such a glorious September afternoon...Martine, back from Nova Scotia wanting to go see the Peter Brook play coming to NYC in October. She must have a knee operation next week. New puppy stories there too.
MHACGC Pumpkin Walk postcards were put all over Dutchess and Albany counties last week too! Oct 18th at Olana- come one come all...

All my sense of balance is now changing, it seems the hip rehab process is now beginning to take on some real momentum of its own. Healing is happening. It's not my imagination. Energy is really in motion and I attend as a conscious participant as much as I can. All the repetition, practice of walking, going to PT 3-4 times weekly (and my home exercises) begin to actually offer a new sense of gait, balance and confidence when I meet uneven ground. Yippee! Internal structural shifts allowing new movement patterns. Not an easy transition at times, as discomfort is still very present, yet I observe, attend and on most days, offer a positive intention and engage in my current craft (of rehab) with trust that healing is indeed happening. I see it, feel it, sense it and guess what, others comment; "oh you are walking so much better now.." My chronic need for results is getting some gratification, finally- aha- see Patience does pay off.....

So keep it up, Allie. Go slowly and engage Grace as this healing unfolds- do not rush it. Awakened Heart School meditations help - two inches below the navel and three inches in. What is arising now? Practice the inquiry.

Thank you Vandita for great Kripalu meeting, saw Kavi too, had great bodywork and intense meeting with Diane last week in garden - first solo day out.... whew!

Sad not to be present and provide yoga offerings at the NYAPRS conference this week in Ellenville, but my body's strength is just not up to it. Blessings to all involved and on on the proceedings. And thanks MHANYS friends for the flowers too!

F. Newell off in Chicago for some consulting work for a few days - I am reading some great books and articles, writing more, reorganizing some family photos and professional files. Good news that son Newell Christopher and family in Texas are digging out with much help after Ike- roof was blown off, many walls and floors now up - insurance adjuster comes today.

and now off to PT....

Remember to maintain positive vibrations in this time to engage the new possibilities, even as the political and economic scenes tussle and tumble al around.
Stay in Front – Awaiting the Shifting Presence

So Now What?

The Moving part is healing-
And Patience is the cure.
While curiosity distracts
Another Energy emerges.
Balancing…
What Now Then?
Is this my Heart courageously enveloping me
Whispering, “there is no more space for that pain?”
Yet a cool emptiness persists.
Whoosh…
Now Time ceases to Exist,
A new Pattern ignites,
Inviting a return to dances up and down;
Invoking visits from angels and messages from Above,
I begin again, uncovered, unclothed,
All around.

Peace

Allie - Albany, NY
23 September 2008

Hip singing

Mark Nepo's poem below is a certain representation of my moment-to-moment existence these days (except perhaps at night when my body can't seem (yet) to find a position of easy repose...)

Hip singing is a new sport some days, (no, not hip swinging...see reference below....:-)

(humm, makes me wonder what vibrations the titanium and steel parts in me have as possible harmonic tuning forks?

What energy from beyond can I draw toward me to help this process of harvesting all best results from this (series of) transformational events?

Everything helps, when invited from Divine Source!

Learning again and again to allow a peaceful acquiescence into my being- no forcing, let go of striving- inviting a sense of a delightful, restful, abundant healing space.




Breathing in ......and


Repeatedly, We are Asked


To embody or consume;
to be in kinship with everything larger
or to order and manage everything smaller.

We are asked, every day, to align or separate;
to coordinate our will with everything living
or to impose our will on everything we meet.

And not choosing is a choice. Acquiescence
is different from patience or surrender.

All this leaves us needing to know:
whether to better the song through practice
or to better ourselves through singing.

love, Allie - Albany - Monday 15 Sept 2008

Day 26 Sunday night

Hot muggy Sunday. the weatherman said rain but it never happened.
Heard from my son Newell down near Galveston. He stayed through hurricane Ike at work. He's working nights. Wife and kids evacuated to San Antonio a few days ago. Everybody is fine. He heard from his neighbors he lost shingles off a chunk of his roof. Not sure about water damage yet. No electricity expected for a while. He planned to get to the house today

Our favorite patient continues to work hard at her physical therapy exercises for more hours than I can imagine each day. Walks are getting longer and a bit faster. Can't remember if I'd written this before- she's dropped her crutches and moved over to using a cane. Had to saw an inch off the bottom of it per PT's instructions. It was too long. She enjoyed some nice short visits this week from a few friends including a sort of last minute evening visit with two of my sisters - Gail and Emelie. Emelie flew into Albany airport for a weekend visit with her husband and bunch of the rest of us. Its her 45th bday.
Allie has been sleeping better most nights. Still very uncomfortable.

We went out on a date Saturday night - went to the movies at the Colonie mall and saw the latest batman movies - the Dark Knight. We both live such low media stim lives these days that I'm not sure which overloaded us more the movie or a mall on Saturday night. We both needed recovery after that.

I went back to a full load of work last week - strategic plan writing, a day of coaching clients and prep for a training program this week. today did a 50 mile bike ride - fundraiser for Habitat for Humanities. Along the way stopped at sister Gail and her husband Franks house helped them move the boat. its called showing up at the right time!


Newell

Day 21 - the work begins

Uh-oh, Now the work begins, I'm afraid - outpatient physical therapy began yesterday. Tom is a low key, wry guy, all business despite the acerbic humor. No chance to get away with any monkey business here. He even knows yoga. He has a great big office and lots of equipment, across the park, so I will be able to walk there in a few weeks myself. Newell, a great chauffeur, however the walk serves as good PT.

The old psoas and L3 will now be officially relaxed and stretched to allow the gait to become straight. My desire is strong, but, what is this tiredness? Takes a lot of energy to heal, doing PT exercises or not. And yes, the long wound on my side reminds me every day, as do the nerves in my leg, that we are still in the beginning. Muscles need re training, rest and recovery , this was a BIG surgery.

Reminded that matters of scale were always hard for me- nothing was ever too difficult, too complex, to impossible-seeming. Now, however, the real deal is to get down and just do this repetitive work of PT. "Yes we can" is the motto and Repeat! Whew. A new adventure.

Also wandered over to our neighborhood YMCA where we are members to try some upper body strengtheners. Gotta keep the balance now...

New lebanese place had a warm moussaka ready for the post training recovery. Continuing to savor all that is.....

Now Newell is going out to vote- and I will rest.....

a sweet rain today -
in appreciative amazement, I remain Allie

Walking Harmony Meditation- Allie

So the former musings about savoring were really the beginnings of the deeper, wider appreciation of the moment-by-moment existence that this type of surgical recovery requires. Nothing is the same as before. The famous 'hip precautions' require a 6 month (minimum) period of: No Bending, keep torso at least 90% angle from lower body at ALL times, do a series of 100 straight leg lifts to front, side and back -both legs. Increase walking distance each day. And 3 x week physical therapy. This is work, tiring, yet the progress is wonderful to experience. My re-learning of a proper gait will take time, the Dr. as well as my PT said.

Take it S-L-O-W (L-Y!)

Savoring this current reality and letting the other pressures slip aside ( I hope I prepared well...) work mates and friends very attentive with cards and emails and requests for visits, yet somehow, I am relishing the singular healing space of our Albany home, garden and various rooms 'holding' me as I move through mundane tasks, sit here, exercise there, prepare a snack there, etc. The voices of children and dogs are music, as well as the many birds singing in the back yards in the city neighborhood. Weather has been amazingly beautiful. Nice support there. Washington Park walks a daily - my walking meditation- I visit the Moses statue each late afternoon, sit and watch the light dance over the tops of the late sumer blooms- so divine!

Pain diminishing somewhat -actually easier without the meds. Sleeping still a problem, as comfort doesn't come easy..yet. (Is that a false belief..?) Have permission to shower now, pressure of the water was a surprise. And my toes enjoyed the wet soapiness. Mind able to drift, read some good fiction, muse, write and, thanks to Andrea, who brought pastels, do some drawing! Yoga poses emerging also as part of daily routine- breathing (pranayama) a very big help- essential to move the energy. Music variations also key, as well a playing the tibetan bowls - I actually danced a litte this am after a nice leg and foot massage from my beloved Newell. ( He went out to a great jazz concert last night with friends- I passed- too much stim: NG)

Today we savored luncheon with Thyag, Kate and Lara on State Street, after running into an OMH pal on the street. Good food and conversation about the complexity of our times and the importance of building communities that help create meaning and thriving for all folks. This is what we do, Newell and I, or at least strive to. So thankful for Paris experience coming up thanks to Thyag's generous offer to
share his space near Montmartre with us. Newell and I have yet to be there together. Family bond very deep with Thyag, Kate and Lara, I feel.

Gave some Save the Date cards for Lara to put at the Olana restaurant in NYC- for fundraiser at work Oct 18th. Imagine: 150 jack o'lanterns carved by by children and adults in MHA programs- sprinkled every few feet down a forest walk at dusk - to an amazing view of the Hudson River - the watershed view overlooking the Rip Van Winkle bridge! Check out this website for the details on joining us: http://www.mhacg.org/whoWeAre/events.htm

My savoring of the learning to walk again is like imagining again as I did as a child- the Native Americans walked so as not to leave any imprint on the earth, or make any sound, so as not to disturb the great magnificence- in my meditations this afternoon I ask: "can we learn again to savor each moment, return to a quiet inside, so our steps and words and actions and thoughts and feelings all combine to create a harmony? The distress all around is so unwieldy that I am really pulled to the life of simplicity again. Not too much, but just enough- don't not express, just BE Present, Go With the Flow, Enjoy Life and Share your Gifts!"

love, Allie- Blog posting Sunday afternoon Sept 7th 2008

Day 18 - Saturday

The muggy spell has finally turned into rain.
Allie stopping the heavy duty painkillers - switch to Aleve.

Awakening Heart workshop today.