Christine Mason Miller‘s ART, Peach Tree Gallery Art Show, 28 Sept 2008.
Bella Wish jewelery, Peach Tree Gallery Art Show , 28 Sept 2008, photo by Christine.
I am still sparkling from my spontaneous trip down south to support these two lovelies in their sparkling gallery opening last Sunday. The gallery looked so inviting! There were inspiration quotes everywhere, lovely pottery with hope messages, vintage photographs hung across the walls, 3dimensional art pieces (including a mixed media bird cage and a mannequin bust), and several original paintings, nicely complemented by Stacy’s jewelery, which was displayed over a very special antique bottle collection. Absolutely charming!
As soon as I arrived, I spotted gorgeous Boho talking on the phone outside the gallery. Immediately, my heart was full. I knew right then, that I had made the right decision to buy that plane ticket. After reading Boho’s words for a few years, I already knew that she was pure grace and gentleness. But connecting her spirit with her presence was so reaffirming, because I could actually feel the warmth and calm she radiates. As we chatted, she patiently listened and looked deep into my eyes, with her big brown eyes, that are such a well of goodness! I swear that when you look into Boho’s eyes you just want to stay there, in that beautiful, soft, loving, Bohemian universe. You never want to look away… Boho is an amazing photographer! Boho is beauty and love. Boho is a soothing balm…
And then, Mccabe showed up. Oh my! I’d been reading her blog for a while and we had exchanged some soulful emails from which I knew we were going to be friends for life. Mermie (a nick name I think I borrowed from Boho for her) is my colorful and playful muse. She shares my childlike spirit. I see it in her… That pure and almost naive energy that comes through for me, when I open my own heart. When I think Mermie, I think of rolls of craft paper spread across the floor, colorful crayons, paints, glitter jars, stars… Mermie is creativity and possibility. Mermie is an artist, a healer, a teacher and a fairy. She ain’t called “dancing mermaid” for nothing! She enchants with her lighthearted wisdom and her magic tokens. Just so you know that I’m not exaggerating… When we met, she handed me a care package that she had prepared specially for me. Oh! Shucks. She is sweet too? YES! Some incense and one of her rocks wrapped in white cotton and blue tulle… Very gypsy of her, no? The word on the rock: “Wings”. See… She is indeed magic!
Right along, inside the gallery, the love fest continued…
I’d been looking fwd to meet Stacy Anne de la Rosa and this was such a perfect day to do so. What a beautiful name, don’t you think? It sounds so powerful and romantic… And that is how she is too! Stacy was hosting her very first gallery show and she also had her husband and her baby Bella by her side. Such a lovely family! Stacy has the most friendly and kind eyes, and a smile that is contagious to say the least. She glows! I feel a special connection with Stacy, because before she started her business, she worked in the same Industry I do now. It is really important for me to have someone in this community, who can relate to that side of my life, and completely understand the two worlds colliding inside of me at the moment. Sometimes when I hear other people’s stories, I give myself plenty of excuses for why, in my case, things would be different and harder… So, Stacy is that perfect kick in the butt for me. Looking at her, I am reminded: “What is your excuse now, Miss Gypsy?”. Stacy is inspiration and hope. I am wearing this beautiful jewel she made for me, with handpicked stones! She chose labradorite, for springing forth new ideas, and moonstone, for new beginnings and feminine energy. Aren’t I blessed?
Last, but not least, the extraordinary, Christine. Christine has been such a virtual mentor for me over the years and I am still processing our new friendship. Our teary eyes and our embrace say it all, though. I feel so connected to her, in deeper ways that I can express… And that is why I dropped everything to go support her in her show. She represents to me, that artists can be “down to earth professionals”! She is also that pal I want to go on road trips with! I can see us riding the “pink RV with stars on the ceiling”… (Okay. Yes. Jen and Mari need to come along too! Heck! We need to rent a giant bus and bring you all!). Christine is a traveler, a writer, a painter, an observer of life and a true friend. Christine is an expression of what happens when you seriously commit to being your most authentic self. She is life abundant! She is audacity without arrogance. She is an ocean filled with dreams, ideas, projects, inspiration and wisdom. You just want to dive in and try it all, see it all… And she makes it easy for you to do so, because she shares each drop of it (READ THIS POST) with so much openness and generosity. I want to be Christine when I grow up!
And if you got this far, you understand why I am walking on air these days…
This post just inspired me to expand a bit more in my writing and share more details about all the wonderful experiences I’ve had meeting amazing women (who are now, dear friends) through this blog. We have a fascinating community here. It’s one with a big heart!
You keep me going…
You keep me inspired…
I love you all ~
*** Stay tuned for some exciting creative news in my life! I’ll post words and photos soon.
Archive for September, 2008
Extraordinary Sparkling Friends ~
Owning your Wings ~
Spread Eagle, Burning Man 2008. (photo by hubby Richard Cave)
Thank you friends, for all the positive mojo! It really really meant the world to us.
I wish I could tell you that my green card was approved in the interview. But not so easy. Not for this gypsy. Not yet. On the other hand, our interview went really well and I know that it will all work out eventually. The hold up is related to a previous application I had in progress, via my employment sponsorship. Although everything is squared away with that application as well, Immigration still needs to put both applications together in order to make a decision on my case.
Oh well. As Rich said, it was all very anti climatic. Something we did not expect. We were both very anxious to get an approval on the spot and be done with this chapter… But alas, it wasn’t in the cards for us. I’m kind of used to the fact that with me, it is always the long way around. I am good at it. I have the patience and the determination. It’s also true that I burst into tears now and then, in disappointment. But in the end, it all works out for the best. So we’ll see what happens. We are supposed to hear back within the next 60 days. I know… 60 more days? However, the big picture is that I have been here for 13 years, always legally… And always in some sort of process… Which means I’ve waited many rounds of 60 days and that wait has never stopped me from living my dreams. I went from graduate school to a job in the film industry. I went from East to West, around the globe and back. I am still here. I own my wings no matter what. My freedom is within. If anyone had whined to me 15 years ago that it was going to be this hard to create a life abroad, I would have whined back and stayed home. I would have passed on the chance to live this crazy beautiful life that is mine now.
I’m telling you, friends. I have been unleashed!
Two serendipitous lessons knocked on my door on the day of the interview, with the same message: Freedom is within.
First, I opened Anthea Paul’s oracle book on the following quote:
“On the other side of FEAR is FREEDOM. Only when you feel that you are truly free you can be creative, happy and fulfilled in life. The process of understanding your own heart is the process of moving through fear into the freedom of unconditional love and happiness”.
No joke!
And second, “from the universe”, I got the following note:
“There are really only two conditions of the human mind: Very, very happy. Or about to become very, very happy. Which one are you today, Gypsy?”
I thought. Holy shit! YES! I’m about to become very very happy. Of course, I’m going to get my visa.
Boooooo. Wrong Answer.
Now I know. Now that I didn’t get what I thought I would… Now I get it.
I get that we should always ALWAYS let go of expectations.
I get that, regardless, I am still very very happy anyway. Just as is.
I get that not having this “thing” has never stopped me in any way.
I get that I have wings and they’ve taken me places. And they always will.
And I get that my freedom really is in the way I lead my life.
With my heart open ~
****
How about you? Is it time for you to own your wings and spread them open?
****
For more wing talk go…
Here
&
Here
& to check out Tango Baby spreading her wings, go here and buy her new book!
True love
True Love, Mexico, April 2008. *updated*
oh yes! I was going to post some Burning Man photos! And I will. I will.
And there is also the Power to the Peaceful… And photos of me practicing yoga to the live music and soothing voice of Michael Franti… I do want to share it all with you… I really do.
However, another deadline suddenly came upon us:
It is finally time for our green card interview this coming Friday!
For those of you who are not familiar with the immigration process, this is the time when life gets just like the movies. Remember Gerard Depardie and Andie MacDowell in “Green Card”?
Yep. Only Rich and I really met 5 years ago and really got married this year. But I can’t help having butterflies in my stomach right now!!! What if they ask us tricky questions? What if Rich doesn’t remember the name of my latest moisturizer? Or my newest shampoo? Oh well… At least I know he will remember my favorite ice cream these days! I hope that counts! :)
Anyhow… The last couple of days have indeed been all about gathering cards, love letters, emails, plane tickets, phone bills, and any other supporting documentation that can prove that our life together is completely legit. It is sort of insane to have to go through this, but I must say there is also great enjoyment in going through all of our historic evidence! I feel like a love archaeologist. Only I’m more emotional than scientific on matters of the heart… I cried all over again as I went through pictures of our wedding week in Mexico and our elopement at City Hall. My eyes welled up when I reread the first valentine’s card he wrote to me, all in Portuguese, telling me how he hoped we would live our dreams together, traveling around the globe and swimming in salty ocean water… And the card he gave me for my 33rd birthday, telling me that having a birthday didn’t mean that I had to grow up… That he wanted us to always be crazy kids and keep having fun together for many years to come. It’s ridiculous how much Rich gets me. He always has… I love him so.
And then, there is the picture of today. We spent the day mostly indoors, in our sweats, listening to music and going through old memories. We didn’t make the bed, we skipped meals and we actually finally ended up snacking on ‘day-old’ Indian food in our kitchen nuke, just moments ago… Now we’re exhausted and we both feel kind of yucky. The weekend has gone by so quickly, and we aren’t nearly ready nor recharged, to begin another 50h work week with the pressure of this interview hovering above our heads. It also hasn’t been sunny nor full of romantic kisses. But still… I wouldn’t want to spend this day with anyone else in the entire world. This day has been so much about us and our great team work. We are so freaking good together. We have differences, but we work through them. We do a good job at it. And if this day is not enough to show how intimate, how perfect and how real our life really is, then I don’t know what else is…
If you don’t mind me asking, friends… Would you be so kind to send us your positive mojo this week? It’s sort of nerve wracking to go through this process…
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
From the bottom of my gypsy heart!
In exchange, I want to share this fun video of Michael Franti in Rio – Brazil! Go ahead. Shake your booties until I come back!
Smooches~
