Posted by EcoAdmin on Sep 18, 2011 in Uncategorized | 1 comment
You are now seeing my first blog post which, maybe other than style, is the biggest change in this the third rendition of the Branches Ecological Landscapes website. The site changes have all occurred during our family’s annual summer trip to Reno NV. Typically these visits are a short mid-summer break from the wet heat of North Carolina, a blissful reunion with loved ones, and an opportunity to immerse myself into and learn from several very diverse natural ecosystems: high deserts of the great basin, alpine conifer forests of the Tahoe area, glacial meadows, and the lush mixed forests of the sierra foothills. This year’s visit was, if I can sum it all up in one word, “transformative” however I would like to add “shocking” and “tragic” to the list. My wife Hope delivered twins extremely prematurely during our seventh night in Reno. One twin, Abigail, died in the womb while the other twin, Zaria, lived and fought for 38 days in neonatal intensive care before she tragically left us. Our two week trip turned into a two month trip and we are just now returned to Raleigh.
The support we received from all corners of the country was immense. In Reno my brother Peter (website transformer)and his wife Kadie were there with us on our journey every step of the way and I thank them immensely for everything from crying with us to child care. My parents piled on the help as well with transportation, housing, child care, and hugs. In North Carolina we had to break our lease so Hope’s brother Stephen and his wife Victoria along with friends and members of our community gardens organized themselves to move and store literally all of our belongings including plants and chickens. And then there is the incalculable support from hundreds of people we don’t even know which you can read about here.
Priceless. I am laughing. I am mourning. Our path is unique but I am grateful that I am not alone. What comes next nobody knows. We do know that everything is connected and that there is tremendous resilience, tremendous potential for healing and rejuvenation in our interbeing.
I am also grateful to all of our clients who whole heartedly expressed their support and willingness to allow their gardens to wait for our return. So please be patient with us we establish a new rhythm as new people…again…and again…
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