{"id":693,"date":"2016-07-26T15:32:32","date_gmt":"2016-07-26T15:32:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.noevenable.com\/singingcircles\/?p=693"},"modified":"2016-07-28T12:58:06","modified_gmt":"2016-07-28T12:58:06","slug":"songs-for-family-life-i-will-go-with-my-father-a-ploughing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.noevenable.com\/singingcircles\/songs-for-family-life-i-will-go-with-my-father-a-ploughing\/","title":{"rendered":"Impermanence"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about impermanence. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

May brought challenges for our family. \u00a0Our 3 \u00bd year old son had to have a medical procedure. \u00a0During the weeks of his recovery, we spent long days cooped up inside. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To make it easier to be home, we decided to create a garden. \u00a0At first, we weren’t sure whether we could do it, since we\u2019re not living in our own home. \u00a0When we moved back to the bay area, we settled in at the family homestead, an in-law apartment in the house I was raised in. \u00a0Knowing that we\u2019re transient here, I\u2019d held back from engaging too deeply with\u00a0the outdoor space, not wanting to start anything that we wouldn’t be able to tend long term.<\/span><\/p>\n

But many things lately\u00a0have made me feel the transience of life. \u00a0Tragic shootings in Orlando, South Carolina, so many other places\u2026 \u00a0Also the medical challenges we\u2019ve faced with my son. \u00a0Our son<\/span>\u00a0is and has always been healthy, so none of the medical issues have been life threatening. \u00a0However, he has had to have multiple\u00a0medical procedures under general anesthesia. \u00a0They are painful and difficult. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But as hard as the medical procedures themselves is the uncertainty. \u00a0We never know\u00a0when or whether we’ll be going back to the hospital. \u00a0Each time it happens, we\u00a0hope it will be the\u00a0last.<\/span><\/p>\n

But here’s the thing… \u00a0We have this medical condition to remind us of transience. \u00a0But it’s really just the same transience we all live with, to whatever extent we’re aware of it. \u00a0It’s easy to take life and health for granted. \u00a0But of course\u00a0we never know when we wake up what’s going to happen in a day. \u00a0I try to remember every day to cherish what is ours for a time. \u00a0My little ones, in all their moods. \u00a0Time spent with family and friends. \u00a0The joy of singing, on my own, and with others.<\/p>\n

As a parent, I strive to\u00a0meet my children in a space of loving presence. \u00a0I strive to meet myself there too. \u00a0 This moment truly is all we have. \u00a0I want to put down roots here.<\/span><\/p>\n

So now, we’re putting down some literal roots. \u00a0Maybe that will help us remember!<\/span><\/p>\n

Together, we planted seeds, succulents. \u00a0We made a sitting area, a bed of mint and other herbs, even laid down a lawn for the children to play on. \u00a0We were concerned about the water usage, but amazingly, we\u2019ll be able to irrigate the whole thing with grey water. \u00a0So it\u2019s a win all around.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s amazing how good it feels, even just that small patch of green space so close to home. \u00a0For however long we\u2019re here. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Now that we\u2019ve made space for this, who knows what other things we might be able to make space for? \u00a0<\/span>Each day, amongst the roots and shoots, I\u00a0listen. \u00a0Digging in the dirt, I listen. \u00a0I listen for what else is waiting\u00a0to begin.<\/p>\n

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Here’s another song. \u00a0One\u00a0for gardens, and gardening. \u00a0 If you have a little wooden flute, this is also a sweet song to pipe in the woods. \u00a0Many thanks to my mentor, Carol Kelly, for teaching it to me.<\/p>\n