Saturday With Fred

I want to get a big ‘ol super warm robe so when it starts to get colder out, I can just bundle up and sit outside in the mornings on the weekend.  My pink blanket and black blanket are doing the trick right now.  I think my robe will need gloves.  My hands are cold.  Maybe I’ll buy this cheetah suit!

Yesterday was a full day of absolute awesomeness and intentional relaxing.

Woke up at 6:35 and headed to CrossFit to get a workout in.  It was tough and refreshing.  Man-makers suck.  Instead of jumping rope, I did box step ups and switched to sit-ups the last round.  My stomach hurt a little from an injection yesterday and my boobs are sore.  I thought maybe this would go away, like they’d only hurt for a bit, but the more I read, the more I’m convinced that’s not going away.  My boobs hurt, my ass hurts from injections, my stomach hurts from injections and I couldn’t be happier.

After CrossFit, I headed to The Kettle to relax.  This is probably one of my favorite things to do on a Saturday morning. Go workout, get some coffee and breakfast, people watch or talk to other patrons.  Some I know…some I don’t.  I pulled out my iPad to work on my blog.  I’m not real impressed with the WordPress app.  I could’ve been way more efficient posting from a computer.  The thought crossed my mind that I was wasting time by going the inefficient route, but then I thought “What else do I have to do today?”.  I tried it from my phone and found it easier, so I worked from there.  A friend came in with two children and a pregnant belly and asked if I was writing today.  I giggled on the inside a little as I said yes, knowing the big news I was about to share with the world!

Finally I had it all ready to go.  I proofed it, though that’s hard to do from a device.  I never get out all of the spelling or grammatical errors.  Oh well.  Publish.

I set my phone down and set my timer for 20 minutes.  I was not going to look at my phone for 20 minutes and enjoy the anticipation.  I think I made it 10 minutes.  Likes, loves and comments started pouring in.  I find the blogging thing a little addicting.  I post something and then I’m a ball of anxiousness awaiting responses.  I should really figure out a counter to that.

During that 15-20 minutes, I picked up a book.  Local Wonders by Ted Kooser, given to me by a friend.  After reading just the preface, I can see why Fred spoke so highly of this book.  It’s not something I’d typically pick out for myself, but I was instantly drawn toward it.  A man’s short descriptions and stories of life in Nebraska.  I thought of Fred and wondered if he was around today.  Last time I saw him, he briefly told me about his recent trip to Colorado and said if I ever wanted to come out, just to let him know.  We decided to meet in the shack at 1:30.  

I headed to the grocery store and headed home.  Fulfilling my to-do list for the day, I had just enough time for a short nap.  I was proud of my Saturday to-do list.

• Work out
• Read
• Write
• Post
• Nap

It was time to nap!   Opie, Abby and I snuggled up on the couch while Drew watched football!  The best!

I headed out to the farm and Fred greeted me with a big hug and congratulations!  He made zen tea and we headed to the shack.  He’d brought some pillows out for me so I could arrange myself properly for our meditating session.  Cross-legged with knees below the hips.  He showed my his bells/bowls. Bowl/bells? (insert proper name here).  I feel like I should be taking notes when he talks, yet I just want to relax in it.  Fred’s voice is so calm, peaceful.  It seems sometimes the actual information or content that he is saying skips my brain completely and goes straight to my heart and calms me.  I almost just want to close my eyes and listen when he’s talking.  Take it all in.   Huh. That would be weird…having a conversation with someone who never opens their eyes! HA!  I can feel that he enjoys having someone teach.  After a little chatting, we got started.  He said that poetry is the language of the heart and read The Journey by David Whyte.

Fred explained to me the 5 Faculties: Faith, Persistance, Mindfulness, Concentration, Wisdom

With the soft ding of the bell, we started the meditation.  My first time meditating with another person.  Fred sat him his chair with perfect posture.  Me on an old couch cushion and two pillows with my bare feet resting on the dirty floor.  He starts with a body scan to relax the body and mind.  Moving from the tips of the toes all the way up to the top of the head.  Recognizing and relaxing the toes, feet, ankles, calves, knees.  Feeling the warmth where my hands rest on my knees.  Thighs, hips, pelvis, stomach, chest, shoulders, arms, elbows, forearms, wrists, hands, fingers, neck, head, ears, forehead, top of the head.  Then we sat in silence.  Me with my eyes closed.  Him with eyes open.  I tried to follow my breath and clear any thoughts that passed by.  I’ve known the feeling.  The feeling when your thoughts are cleared.  I haven’t been there in a while.  Though we were in silence, the birds were loud and I giggled at the flies that were pestering me.  This isn’t the first time flies or mosquitoes have pestered me while trying to meditate and it’s like I see them as the thoughts that are trying to creep into my mind and I want to swat them out!  The bell rang.  

Fred’s soft, relaxing voice shifted into prayer.  I listened with an open heart as he gave Praise, voiced Regret, Asked and Yearned. PRAY.  I couldn’t stop my relaxed face from forming a smile.  I opened my eyes, stretched my arms toward the sky, took in a big deep breath, and let it out.

He poured Zen tea into small Japanese tea cups which were rather delightful to hold.  The weight and texture of them was soothing.  I moved from the floor to the chair.  We sat, drank tea, talked about life and purpose.