West Meets East©

By Caroline Patrick

The Good Ole Days

Recently I received an email from my high school graduating class about a classmate I attended grade school and high school with. It seems impossible we are all older now and retiring. The class is having a Picture Reunion this coming fall, so many of us are writing in to say if we will be able to attend the gathering in the Midwest. With my daughter visiting, it has brought many memories to mind. As an adult she is asking many questions about my childhood, her Dad’s and other relatives. I’m sure this is happening to many of you also as summer brings families together. You may not think this is Feng Shui-related, think again, as life is Feng Shui in action. If you are having good relationships, that is great; but if you are having any problems with Family, then look to your Family sector in the middle left side of the house, inside and outside, and also to Children and Creativity Gua on the middle right side of the house or yard to see what is blocking your relationships. Dead trees, bushes, or overgrown plants can cause problems. Look inside for dirty or blocked rooms on both sides of the floor plan. If your childhood was a major problem, send me the floor plan and I will help you determine why many things occurred! Here is the email about my early friend’s retirement.

Thanks for the piece on Sally Baird. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the pictures and how her personality is still bright, perky and infectious!

My daughter was visiting me in Washington when I received the recent email about Sally’s retirement. My daughter had been asking questions about Joplin, Missouri, her birthplace, her Grandparents and relatives in the four-state area of Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. We left Joplin, with our small family of four, relocating to Arizona in 1969, when she was seven. Her memory is a vague of our houses in Joplin, but happy about Grand Lake, Oklahoma (where my parents retired), swimming, boating and the ever-present chiggers. We did return last summer, 2006, for three weeks with the whole family and grandchildren to attend two family reunions, one in Kansas City and one in Grove, Oklahoma, where I reluctantly spent my senior year of high school when my parents moved to the lake.

Anyway, when “the Sally” emailed arrived, I began to remember a lively little girl with a huge smile, bright eyes and her hair sticking out every direction from her head, when she ran – never slowly, but always in high gear – she couldn’t even stand still when asked to stand in line for lunch, recess or the bathroom. Sally wanted to see, hear and check everything out at the same moment, which resulted in her tiny body leaning sideways out of line at a tilt, checking to see if everyone was in line.

Racing was a favorite sport at Columbia Grade School, as the playground equipment had been removed, I am assuming due to some child’s previous injury, or there was no money available for such frivolous things for our school. We made our own entertainment according to the season and weather conditions. So racing was deemed an all-season sport. Usually I teamed up with Ann Blair, as she was the fastest runner and we could outrun most everyone on a consistent basis. Sally ran fast, but erratic. She could be identified by her dress sashes. Both untied and flying behind her miniature waist, the wind wasn’t able to encircle her body when she continually broke stride looking backward to see who was after her. This made the undone dress bows bounce up and down instead of flowing straight behind. Her racing partner was unable to grab hold of the sashes and keep up with Sally, dashing and darting over the playground, like a pony at brake speed. Thus, Ann and I crossed over the imaginary finish line easily beating “Sally the Greatest”!

Interested in everyone and everything, her cute little face could be seen in any huddle of conversation, non-threatening, as she gathered facts and figures, storing them away like a chipmunk scurrying around quickly to each group in an intent manner. Sally didn’t gossip, as I remember (as I deplore this behavior, even today), there was so much to do and too little time to care who did what to who, and why. I could see then at a young age that her mission would be of the world, not content to stay in one place very long, but someone who could juggle her life in a very productive manner.

Grade school faded into high school, where Sally seemed more reserved but still smart as ever, and we became separated. With activities, boys, studies and the hassle of trying to fit in socially, the Columbia Grade School kids faded into the system. There were over one thousand freshmen at Joplin High School, and we silently and quickly had to follow the rules and regulations of school life. Those of us who grew up at Columbia were family in an odd way, and it was a bit scary to make new friends. Though separated for many years, I still can remember those moments in time that formed how we interact today.

So congratulations to Sally for a job well done. I celebrate her life up to this point, and say thank you for your service to mankind. I say this point, because I can predict without any doubt, Sally is just gathering her breath, ready for another run across the world to see where to use the information she has gathered so far within that “inner-computer” of hers, which I’m sure never shuts down.

Watch out world – she is only taking a break!

Caroline lives in the Northwest Region of the US, called The Puget Sound in Washington State. She is a Feng Shui Practitioner, writer, author and artist. She gives workshops in Feng Shui, Elements of Art, private mentoring for serious students, lectures and writes for newspapers. She combines teaching and traveling to other locations, here and abroad. Her 2007 schedule includes workshop and classes in the Northwest, Southwest, Midwest and Alaska. She is available speaking, teaching and consultations.

Please consult your physician for physical problems as this article only gives ideas and suggestions. Caroline is not responsible for anyone using these suggestions as information in treating the body, home, business, land and or properties.

Caroline Patrick Caroline's Feng Shui Concepts Mt. Vernon, WA 360-424-1501

caroline@fengshuiartistry.com www.fengshuiartistry.com www.moongateschool.com