by Robin Fried
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The fierce rain subsided
The clouds began to dissolve, disperse, disappear
The bright golden glow of the sun warmed the air
as an eagle soared through a sparkling sky.
Paddles up!
Should I wear my rain pants?
An extra layer on top?
Dressing for this first day of paddling in over two years felt daunting.
I had my breast cancer pink life vest to keep me safe
Memories of a photo of a young me in a huge proper English pram,
Tethered to the rim with a strap from a cloth ‘vest’.
It was not ‘till I was invited to join a novice dragon boat crew of survivors with Abreast in a Boat
that I began to transform my fury,
my feelings of being trapped in a severely controlled childhood.
I now reflect that last Saturday,
Sitting in row 7 on the left side of a dragon boat with 21 other survivors,
all with our bright pink life vests that I felt free
Still stunned that I am in this boat
A totally unique life experience for me
Paddling!
Feeling the rhythm of the boat
Moving in sync in community
Panting with exhaustion
Breathing with exhilaration
Growing younger
Experiencing a new dimension of freedom
The thrill of aliveness penetrating my being
A vest of entrapment transforms
into a symbol and reality
of one that is life-saving.
Paddles up!
Robin Fried arrived for her first retreat in April 2006. She was at the beginning of her chemo treatments, completely bald, and feeling very tender and vulnerable. Yet she knew she was on a healing journey with the unique, magical and miraculous
compassionate expertise that emerged from the hearts of Janie, MaryLiz, Gretchen, Kathy, Tessa, and Daphne. She instantly trusted
them... and gradually herself. Her life was transformed. Callanish continues to anchor and inspire Robin as she is now focusing on
Eldering as a Transformative Phase of Life.