Tapestry unraveling
September 19, 2008Gertie and I were sitting on her back porch, relaxing, drinking iced mango tea and watching clouds form and pass on.
“Gertie?”
“Yes, Kezza?”
“Isn’t someone supposed to show me my life tapestry while I’m here in Mudjimba Island?”
“I think Enchanteur did mention that once.”
“Are you the one who will tell me what it all means?”
“What do you think, child?”
“I hate when you answer a question with question.”
“I know,” said Gertie, chuckling softly.
“I wonder where my tapestry is?” I said.
“It might be inside my house, in my old cedar chest.”
“Really? It’s been here all along? Can I see it now?”
Gertie sighed and took her time answering. “Yes, dear Kezza, you can see it whenever you want. But are you sure you want to? You might see something you don’t like.”
“Hmmm. I know, but I’d rather know, so I can deal with it. Even if it’s bad.”
“Sometimes we look for answers, and then find out we were happier just asking the questions.”
“You may be right, but I am a curious cat!”
“Like Here & Now?
“Why Not?”
The animals heard their names, slightly raised their heads, and went back to sleeping in their sunbeams.
“Wouldn’t it be nice to be content like them, not caring about the future?”
“Yes, but I’m not like that. Gertie, please show me my tapestry.”
“If you insist.”
I followed Gertie inside. She went to her old cedar chest, lifted the lid, and brought out the most beautiful tapestry I had ever seen.
“Oh! It’s lovely!” But I didn’t see any pictures, no clues about me or my future. “What does it mean?”
“You see that teensy bead right there, Kezza?”
“Yes.”
“That’s you. Everything else you see – those glorious colors and shapes and textures and patterns – that’s the whole of life.”
“And I’m just a little speck?”
“You are tiny, but you are a beautiful pearl, connected to the whole of life itself. You are part of the design.”
“Not a very big part.”
“You don’t have to be big to be part of something wonderful.”
“Oh,” I said quietly.
“You sound disappointed, Kezza.”
“I am. I thought my tapestry would tell me how I fit in, what to do, where to go next.”
“You’re here. That’s enough.”
“Is it?”
“What do you think?”
“You know how I hate when you answer a question with a question…”
“I know, I know. It’s part of the Wise Woman Creed – “Never give a straight answer when a mysterious one is more confusing.”
I looked at the beautiful tapestry – and my tiny part in it. It was beautiful. I was part of it. I tried to convince myself it was enough.
…But I still felt like no one would notice if one tiny seed pearl went missing…
Kerry Vincent © 2008
Wonderful! I can’t wait to find out what happens next. Only one little seed indeed…
steph
“Wise Woman Creed – “Never give a straight answer when a mysterious one is more confusing.” YES! I love this line. LOL!
what a beautiful story as well as a beautiful quilt. Reminds me of the popular story of a man walking along a seashore tossing (here the stories vary as to what living critter is being tossed) one at a time back into the ocean so each can live. Someone questions the actions saying there are so many, why bother? “It matters to this one,” he says as he tosses another back into life.
May be tiny or just one, but very important.
Oh I would notice if even the tiniest of seed pearls was missing and I would come looking for you
.
“You don’t have to be big to be part of something wonderful.”……beautifully said and I love the cryptic nature of Gertie and much more so her sense of humour. You shine through!
Oh and those quilts – gorgeous, so gorgeous they hurt my eyes – in a good way
Glorious and great wisdom here. Love the images, too.
Your authentic voice rings out in this piece Kerry, silencing all the song birds. Beautiful and very insightful.