Decades after a nearly unspeakable family tragedy, family members gain insight from what appears to be a chance encounter, later revealing itself as an auspicious message.
Episode #5: Owl Wisdom
“I could feel that early morning frost on my nose and I could see it on our bedroom windows. It was still dark and I didn’t want to get out of bed. I pulled the dubais up to my chin and closed my eyes. Art, who is always ahead of me, was already dressed and down the stairs. I heard the kettle. On New Years day we go down to the beach at sunrise. It is our family’s tradition. We talk about letting go of things from the past and then think about what we want to bring into the new year. At that moment, while still in bed, I had no idea how a collision in death, minutes after I work up, would change the course of that day and in some ways my life.”
Thank you to Cortes Community Radio Deep Roots Steering Committee and Staff.
I’d like to give a special word of thanks to David Rousseau and to Greg Osoba for their encouragement and support in bringing this story to life.
Grady Cooligan also made this story come alive with his sound expertise. Thank you for your support and your talent.
My MacKenzie family (whom I deeply love) generously gave me permission to tell all of this story.
Thank you to the many wise women on Cortes Island (including Naomi Hayter and Denise Gibbons) for continuing to show me the way to a richer and more meaningful life.
Top photo credit: Barn Owl by Matt Tillett via Flickr (CC BY SA, 2.0 License)
