who As I write to you I am listening to my dog Ceebee snore on an entirely white queen size bed of her own at a Nashville Super 8 motel.
We rise early to drive the remaining two hours plus to Jamestown, where the Pig Preserve is located, but more importantly, where lives the pig that changed my outlook on a great many things. His name is Abbie Christopher. My very first blog post was a tad less than a year ago, all in enormous caps because I couldn't figure out weebly yet. It read something to the effect of : HOW DOES THIS THING WORK? OH WELL. TOMORROW WE GO RESCUE A PIG. Now, ten months later, I've been dancing about the pig, talking about the pig, thinking about the pig, and finally even walking down a path of offering therapy inclusive of pigs. But the question remains: do I know even one thing about pigs? do I really? My marvelous professor Paul Smith, director of the Equine Assisted Mental Health concentration at Prescott College's Masters in Counseling program has given me a dandy of an assignment. I was looking to narrow down my paper about tomorrow's reunion and he offered the task of "bringing the individual alive on the page" by tracking three aspects of being: Body Speech Mind. I go armed with nothing more scientific than my body presence, attention, and sketchpad. And a barking walker hound observing from my little car. She's my pet; Abbie Christopher is not. Our relationship is... er... hard to define. Am still working on it. What is this all about? I don't know where to start except with my most recent thin slice of understanding. Imagine for a second that you have one rolodex (dated american word for personal or business address book file) that is supposed to contain all the names of anybody who's anybody to you. Anybody that matters. And all your life you thought you had x number of somebodies, and they all walk on two feet and use words to think and communicate. Then one day one name pops out: with a face not like yours; and not so bipedal. And tending to use sounds and body language to say what needs saying. Well, ok. One exception. Then another crops up: weird. But you make one more exception. Then all of a sudden all of these friends... you opened the door and it doesn't close. The door of your rolodex just opens, and opens, and opens, till it can't open anymore. All these snouts, feathers, wings, all these ways of Being in This World. It is so joyful to have friends who are so different than me. I don't think this particular friend will remember me, but I"m hoping we'll reconnect. I'm told he's now kind of awkward adolescent. Not hanging out with big boy Rufus anymore, preferring instead his pack of homies more near his size and social preferences. Am I cool enough to hang with him?
6 Comments
Erin walter
10/22/2015 09:04:56 am
Sarah, I'm looking forward to hearing how it goes with Abbie Christopher. I'm fascinated to know what it was about him that drew you to him. What did he do/say that opened your heart to him?
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Bethany Bak
10/22/2015 09:19:57 am
Going to see about a pig, seeking to reconnect: body, mind, and soul. Amen to THAT!
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Marianne Bell
10/22/2015 11:13:27 am
I love your description of finding new numbers in your Roladex that aren't human. Such a fantastic way to describe how you feel connected to Abbie Christopher and other animals. I can't wait to hear about your experience today!
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Marie Dennan
10/22/2015 11:57:44 am
10 months ago I would have never have expected a phone call from you to help re-direct a pig's destination in life. Your compassion towards Abbie Christopher, and your willful drive (literally!) to transport her to a new pasture was very inspiring to me. The experience of trying to find her a home locally also opened my eyes to the complexity of our food system, and our relationship, dependency, and the taking for granted of the land and earth's many creatures. Thank you Sarah, and A.C. I can't wait for you to share your experience. Love, Your Swine Sista!
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Marie Dennan
10/22/2015 11:58:56 am
I meant him...sorry!
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Erin D. H. Williams
10/22/2015 09:49:57 pm
I am very excited to hear about your reunion. Kindred spirits always find ways to connect and reconnect. I am curious to find out what language Abbie Christopher speaks in. Continue to feel through the poresness of your being, it's beautiful!
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