It was one of those runs
where you feel like you are flying

Friday 25th April. Lake Wānaka

Small Big joys are everywhere and they lift me to the point
that while my pounding feet feel the earth beneath,
some part of me feels that I am high,
high in the sky, high on drugs, high on the wonder of Life.

It was one of those runs
where you know that you are in heaven already
when everyone smiles at you
and you later realise its because you are smiling at everyone.

20th April Lake Wānaka.

It was one of those runs
where I had immersed myself into the biting cold cheek weather.
The type that makes you feel like you have had a face lift,
not that I ever have, but I can imagine this tightness is how it feels,
but so much better, because, well just because
how can you beat getting a face lift for free in nature?
I had smiled with joy upon leaving my tiny house for the run
to see a homely twirl of smoke puffing out of the tiny house chimney.
That’s my place I thought. That’s my home.
And even if the future is uncertain I will take this moment and say,
look Jo, look at what you have created.
It was the first morning that I had lit my tiny house tiny Roaring Meg wood burner
thinking surely its not yet morning fire weather but after realising that
mittens don’t work on the keyboard.
Oh how a fire makes a home. The glow itself warms my heart.

20th April. The Wānaka Tree. A tree which has become quite famous which I reckon she really resents because there are so many people and tourist buses and fumes and cameras and poses happening around her these days. I wish her a few words of thanks for putting up with it all so gracefully as I pass her by.

It was one of those runs
when children run around
in delighted circles
Looking up, hands outstretched
Catching the gold
Gathering the gold
and I am one of those children
Hands open up to the heavens
allowing the gold to float down
Receiving the gifts.

20th April. The Path. I am not sure where it’s going but I am putting one foot in front of the other. Breathing in the gold as I continue on the Journey.

It was one of those runs
when you laugh out loud
as a labradoodle gallops past
wearing a pair of red ski goggles
and I have no idea why
but why does the why matter?
Look at the joy
Tongue out with glee
Just because
Life feels good
For both the dog and me.

25th April, The Millennium Track, Lake Wānaka

It was one of those runs
when you see the unexpected
like a bra pad, (don’t get me started on those damn things. It takes me longer to reinsert the bra pad into the bra after it extracts itself in the spin cycle than doing the whole load of washing and pegging it all on the line. And besides, why the f..k do we need to hide the nipple under a triangle of ugly foam????
Long live the nipple. Do not hide the nipple! )
a bra pad lying on the ground, all beige and forlorn, on the quiet suburban street as I near my home.
I pat my breasts just in case.
And everything is in place.
Everything is perfectly in place.

20th April, The Millennium Track, Lake Wānaka

It was one of those runs
where I return to my daughter,
delightfully home from University for the Easter break,
who informs me
that my eyebrows need a tidy up.
I don’t really have time or inclination to look in the mirror much these days. So I did appreciate her observation.
Brace for impact
she says, as she gets a determined look upon her sweet darling face and places a graceful little hand upon my own face, cupping my nose so as to steady herself for the work ahead.
I breathe in the moment of absolute pleasure in the close proximity.
Where I can stare into her lioness eyes as she
takes great delight in plucking those painful hairs on the side of the brow.
”Ouch” I say.
“Suffer” she responds, with not a hint of irony.
I laugh and laugh. Sit still she orders. Sit up she demands. Do not laugh she says. You are snorting into my hand she says.
Upon observing her work, at the end of our beautifully intimate time, she says
They’re a little less wild I guess.

22nd April Arrowtown. Harry.

It was one of those runs
where later I sit amongst my children
All glowing
as they catch up on some study from
lectures missed so they could return home early for Easter.
”Interesting content” I observe, as Eva’s philosophy lecturer
Tries to Explain Consciousness.
I add in my two cents worth.
”No mum you don’t understand.
Its not a spiritual thing. You are so woo wee.”
But I say… But… And then I decide some things are best left for us to discover ourselves on our golden life path.
I later send her a link to Eckhart Tolle. I just can’t help myself can I.

Son is listening to a lecture on Property Law.
I observe that the lecturer speaks so fast I can’t understand.
I am fast forwarding her mum.
Oh, we couldn’t have even imagined fast forwarding a lecturer in my day.
Possibly that also could be called Heaven.

Later the kids go out to buy an EMERGENCY !!!!!!!!!!
stock of alcohol
because
at Easter
we are
Not Allowed
to buy alcohol
because someone reckons
Jesus said that.
Which is, of course, more disinformation and misinformation and manipulation but who cares really
because I am happy with a cup of tea
as I sit here and listen to my daughter joyfully tell me that the owner of the bottle store remembered her from before she went away to University.
He said “hi Eva, hows the psychology course going?”
I try not to be concerned and how can I be
when I am so filled up
with the Gold.

2004 Harry and me. He turned 21 this week. I need to go now to try and reduce and re edit my 500 page speech which is due for delivery at 3pm this afternoon.

With much love
May you find the gold no matter what else is going on.
Jo xx