Audrey & the Rose Parade

This is Audrey and I'm so impressed with her.

Audrey showed up on a spiritual journey in Teotihuacan, Mexico about 15 (or so) years ago. She ended up in a break-out group I was leading through the pyramid grounds and my "mother hen" instinct instantly kicked in. Audrey was in the throes of trying to come to terms with a heartbreakingly difficult up-bringing. She walked through the grounds barefooted, just to feel grounded in some way. She had a great tendency (like a lot of us) to disconnect and go AWOL, but what she wanted more than anything was to really be here and sort out the pieces, and get over all the beliefs that kept her feeling powerless in her life.

I was fortunate to participate as one of Audrey's mentors for about a five year period and feel privileged to have witnessed her process. Eventually, she decided to study psychology. Last year, Ted and I went to San Francisco to see her Oral Review in which she presented her dissertation and was awarded a Doctorate with Distinction (not sure I have the wording right, but it's a very high honor). Audrey now is so grounded, and honest, and loving, and in her power. She has a thriving therapy practice and is a testament to anyone who thinks they can't make it in the world.

And yes, I am sentimental about her and would give her a marching band if I could ... oh, and here comes one now ...

Okay, that was rather a clunky segue into later that day, after Audrey left to drive home to Oregon, but oh well.

Santa Rosa really is a city of roses. Roses grow like weeds up here, wild, and cultivated, and every kind of rose you can think of, and right now they're bloomin' like crazy. So in honor of our fair city, we went to the annual Santa Rosa Rose Parade (has it been a year already since the last one?) and let me tell you how much we LOVE the grass roots, homegrown quality of this event!

This ain't your Hollywood-style, grandiose Pasadena production, but more like the whole town turning out to celebrate itself in the most heartfelt way.

Shriners, and Keystone Cops, and singing Girl Scouts, and Firetrucks, and Aztec dancers, and Taiko drummers, and dancing horses ... no really, they were dancing! (Or "hoofin' it" if you want to get technical.)

And yes Virginia, Flower Power is still alive and well in Santa Rosa ...