From Sue deVeer, NH/ZOP Secretary-Treasurer Commenting On...

... her BFF Anastasia's words -- "Can I Stand In Place.."

"Anastasia, when you read me your words,  your way of expressing - "Can I Stand In Place" touched a place in me of hope for the world, as if standing in place was a problem solving option.

Immediately I thought -- Can I really stand still where I am? Even for a moment?

Not compelled to do?

No mantra running through my head, endlessly telling me - "Let's get busy and do this next thing! And do it -- right now!

Your words made me think of you as Meda Rose, your alter ego in Camelot Disrupted, both of YOU as social and political activist role models for me, talking to the trees, listening to their ancient wisdom for guidance, especially in troubled times.

From the 2 of YOU and your words I was taking up the notion that urgency,  busyness and making lots of noise and activity immediately might not be the only ways to go to solve our many crises. Some of us, at least, might do best with long range visioning and planning as you are doing.

Deep quiet and consideration might be wiser at times.

Meda's coined a phrase you often repeated to me this past year to help me through my personal struggles.

Meda Rose calls it her personal Yoda-ism.

"Be first. Do after be."

Anastasia, you and the developing community at our in-progress Black Bear Mountain Village have been trying to help me save my own life this past year, most particularly through our Truth Or Dare GAME and Pandemic Survivors' Support Groups, the former has brought me to look at some hard stuff in myself that I was doing to help create my life's unmanageability (i.e. turns out being a goody goody two shoes, my life script up until now, isn't truly as sweet deep down as it has looked) and the support groups have given me a consistent and secure place to feel safe, understood and cared for.

I had a heartbreak heart attack last year from the fear and consequent stress I was experiencing from family non-Covid medical emergencies, the complications multiplied over many times by the pandemic.

Through it all my Work Horse "survival script" was exacerbating my realities. My instantly activated hypervigilance turning my difficult circumstances plus my way of handling them into my life being unmanageable to the point that my heart gave out on me.

Hundreds of times you reminded me "Be first. Do after BE."

Now your words -- 

"Can I Stand In Place.. on my mountainside, looking down on the valley below" -- gives me a similar pause  -- and comfort. So -- like that old gnarled apple tree that once needed a lift, we are both now standing up straighter and stronger.

A touch of "Lost Hope Regained," the title of the book series we are presently working on with our writing team, with Book One -- Camelot Disrupted now in progress.

(Officially I am Anastasia's scribe and creative collaborator for Camelot Disrupted.)

Respectfully

Susan C. deVeer