Apr 27, 2009

The Ties That Bind



Spotted at the Mid-Valley Quilt Show yesterday...three lovely ladies (and sisters) wearing necktie skirts and bags.......well, ok, two of them remembered their bags. They were delightful and highly entertaining....and even gave me permission to post their photo on my blog.

After a flight home from Juneau to Salem, where I was again surrounded by TSA agents....even my ID Wallet (All My Bags are Packed...I'm Ready to Go!) couldn't save me from this one...and the discovery that my two antique rosaries set off major 'heavy metal' alarms in their 6 rides through the x-ray machine and the final acceptance that my husband might just be right...I bring drama to any flight I take.

Whether, it's the TSA agents and their intensely staring surround sound, or my seat already taken ( and no room whatsoever for even one carry-on bag) or my daughter being searched for a bomb (because I packed leftover Brie and Polenta in her carry-on....it glows orange just like plastique for a bomb) or having my family spend Christmas in different airports all over Alaska ....pdx/sea-tac airports:weather delays and cancellations... or my having to move through 3 different airplanes on one run-way as warning lights went off, of my unexpected high speed landing Failed Wheel Flaps and Quick Landings that created hearing loss for 3 months afterwards.....it's always something with me when I travel.

Suffering from almost total exhaustion as I'm both Looking Forward/ Looking Back, I made myself go to my guild's quilt show's final day, yesterday...and yes, I had to call my husband for directions as I drove.......again! I barely remembered my guild badge at the show and couldn't follow the program...at all. When my energy spikes...whether up or down...I come close to acting like either a zombie or a maniac....and my energy follows suit.

Since I carry large amounts of bio-magnetic electric energy as a 'natural energy healer', this means I'm no longer 'grounded' and break every mechanical thing that has moving or magnetic parts. My camera shut off repeatedly, brand new batteries refused to work, and I got lost (repeatedly, I might add) in a simple quilt show. I've never been able to wear a watch (hands either spin around or stop) and I'm directionally challenged beyond belief. My kids say that I can't find my way out of a paperbag but actually, it's the plastic ones with handles that cause me confusion.

I'm not sure I saw all of the quilts, and I tried to take photos of all of them but after 5 complete sets of batteries in 45 minutes and many photos as unreadable, I'll have to post what I have later on and scour the Internet for fill-ins ;) I just want those of you who only like 'quilty' posts to know that I tried.

Meanwhile, these scrappy ladies remind me of the 'ties that bind'...me to my parents, to Alaska, to all of my Bear Tales and other interesting experiences and to all of the crazy patch pieces of the jigsaw puzzle as I am perpetually Walking the Line on the edges of a very interesting life.

Thanks, ladies...you brightened my day and reminded me that I'm not the only one who doesn't mind running with scissors in one hand and a fully-loaded rotary cutter in the other one. As long as they're color co-ordinated, I figured I belong where ever I am at the time...even if I forget who and where I am as I'm doing it!

Time for the first oxygen mask, de-programming, and learning to breathe again! It's good to be home....


8 comments:

Junie Moon said...

Wow, your travel experiences sound like mine. No matter what I try, I always set off the alarms. It's because I'm a bionic woman with lots of metal in my body, such as my knee replacement. I have even tried wearing simply a t-shirt, shorts, and flip-flops so they can see I've nothing to hide. But, inevitably, I have to endure the search for my pinging body parts.

Paula, the quilter said...

I have to be careful and 'discharge' before I touch computers, phones, etc. At least I don't go around haphazardly killing cameras and watches *smile*. Funny, the verification word is almost "handsome".

*karendianne. said...

Great post! You cracked me up!!!

Shelina (formerly known as Shasta) said...

Wow that would be frustrating to always have an adventure when traveling - good blog fodder though. Hope you got to keep the rosaries!

The tie skirts, and especially the bag are so cute. I have a bunch of neckties I got at a thrift store - was thinking of a quilt though whenever I get around to it.

Betty J in OKC said...

My thing is lightbulbs and batteries (camera). I can wear a watch. I've only got my first degree Reiki. I've had 2 of my cats pass within 10 days of each other and my heart's broken.

Michele Bilyeu said...

For Betty J,

I am so deeply sorry about your losses.If you read my post and my poem 'The Journey: Over the Rainbow Bridge' about the loss of my own beloved cat on February 20, then you know I know how you are feeling now. My heart is broken for you, believe me. I know that deep sorrow, too well.

To lose 2 cats within 10 days of one another is a huge loss. And these losses can last for a very long time. To help my own heart heal, I collected every single picture of my little Keira that I had anywhere on my camera. Every single one. I printed off some of them and placed them on a special little prayer altar with things that made me feel close to her.

On my computer, I looked at the photos...absolutely sobbing..over and over. I cried it out the best that I could Every time I thought of my loss, all of my other losses came flooding out...over and over and over....uncles, aunts, my very best friend of 20 years, her 12 year old daughter..who was like a daughter to me and my own daugher's very best friend...killed both at once in a car roll over. My only surviving uncle just died....another loss .

I know pain, and I know loss and I know crying until the face is swollen and the heart is a painful stabbing.

Because you do not have an email address tied into your blog name, I cannot email you...so I am writing here, in hopes you come back again to this spot.

Until then, I am sending you my loving energy and understandings in hopes that they will lessen your anguish and allow you to see the transcendent qualities of connections that are never truly gone nor broken.

((big hugs)) Michele

Ocean Dreams said...

Great post! You make me think every time I come here and I learn something new, fun, or interesting besides!!!

Quilt Junquee said...

I guess hubby needs to start wearing ties again...or maybe just give me the ones he used to wear VBG !