Marin Tender Tracks Day 2, Sept. 14, 2011

The children came in fine spirits and Leo wanted to eat straight away under the shelter that is there at the picnic tables.  However, the yellow jackets were quite excited for a potential participation in their meals and, the children were NOT!  So they took a few bits and then off we went to find friendlier grounds to eat.  But first,  “Where is the sun?” I asked, and “Which way do we all wish to go?”.  The children closed their eyes, turned round and round and then pointed to the direction they felt their bodies, minds and hearts wished to go.  Most were in the same direction and off we went.  We only got a few paces when there was a very inviting Redwood tree that could be climbed in and up to and explored. Then there was another and then there were feathers found and interesting leaves. But oh my, what did our ears bring to us?  Some kind of graceful music and that we searched out only to find a beautiful little waterfall coming below another wonderful Redwood tree.  Up we went, past here and onto a trail.

We found ourselves at the dam part of the lake and watched the ducks and Comorants and discovered beautiful yellow buttercups and wild mint.   Singing along we went down the path until Ben discovered a beautiful opening with a bench that lured him into the thought of a great place to eat and Sedona remembered seeing frogs here with her family.

There we stayed very peacefully eating, telling stories, quietly, quietly trying to sneak up and/ or find frogs, discovering beautiful plants and hearing stories.  It was most peaceful, calm and unifying especially for that time of day.  Between 1 and 3 is what can be called the “Laying close to the Earth time.” It is a time when all of nature takes naps (2 to 4 typically but we were very close to that hour). So there we were, being very, natural.

They finally finished eating and our resting appeared complete so they ran up the hill and down the path to find other marvelous adventures.

Simone and I were in the back holding hands and noticing so many plants, while Leo, Sedona and Ben ran ahead.  There was a fork in the road and Sedona and Ben took the high road.  Simone and I caught up with Sedona and Leo and went down the lower road but, WHERE WAS BEN?!!!  He took the high road and I called him back.  There was a gentle conversation about having us stay together or at least within sight and hearing so back on the trail we went, together with more unity of this new group in place.

We didn’t get far when we came across another beautiful Redwood burnt out log of interest so we explored but then, “Can’t we go further??”” There was not much time but I said we could go for five more minutes to see what we will see.  We didn’t get very far here because we came across “Wish baby seeds” ( Thistles loosing their fluffy seeds.)  We made wishes, played with them and then they wanted to gather the dried Snake weed that they called “cacoons.”   Simone had a hard time gathering them so Sedona went to help but wasn’t too successful so I went to help and then they all had their “cacoons” and off we went.

I started to sing “you are my sunshine” in response to something that was said and Leo, Ben and Sedona thought that was stupid or babyish.  However Simone loved it and wanted to sing it so, with an honoring of their dislike yet a request to share their desires with gentleness, they agreed and Simone and I went ahead and sang quietly yet enthusiastically enough to satisfy all.

We had to figure out which way to get back and notice landmarks. Some were clear on this others not and mostly their was the challenge of working together to find our way.

We did, we came back, we had a good bye circle and thank you’s and then, off they went.

A very beautiful second day I believe.