From my friend Tai Pelli: 1st Winter Park Canine Memorial July 27th, 2013 The Winter Park Canine Memorial was truly an intense experience. Hundreds of people gathered at Baldwin Park (regardless of the weather), to honor their beloved pets now in Coabey (Spirit World). I saw people stop in their cars to ask what the lanterns were about and why people were walking towards that other side of the lake. The walk in itself was part of that healing process. I saw so many lanterns decorated with so much love and care, and as I, myself walked the trail with my son, carrying my own lantern, I felt truly blessed to be part of this incredible event that began because a mother and her daughters wanted to honor their furry family member named Brandon on the first anniversary of his passing and upon the realization that people needed to find an avenue to channel their loss. I saw tall big men open up their hearts and let the pain that still lingered within them, be released, streams of tears everywhere, deep breaths, smiles that still showed pain, and others that understood perhaps this was what was needed all along. As the volunteers in their kayaks and canoes, took the lanterns to bring them to the center of the lake, people waited by the shore. People of all ages and colors and races, people that at that moment did not see themselves as anything other than dog owners who have been enduring a great sense of loss. Interestingly, the heavy rain had stopped completely just before the walk. As the first few lanterns were placed in the center of the lake, it all became very real, the orangey lights over the water started creating their own designs. There were so many! We did not move, and I am sure many wished they had purchased a fancy camera just so that they could capture this powerful image. After being there in the silence of the moment, or perhaps trying to digest this all, people started leaving, the fine raindrops were now becoming heavy. Having sought shelter from the rain by the side of one of the restaurants at Baldwin Park, my son told me: “Hey, Ma’, I see Jannette and she is there all by herself. Who cares if it’s raining, let’s go with her.” So, we did. As I walked towards her, I saw her with both arms placed over the veranda, her head resting over them, observing the now dim lights on the lake, from this other side of the park, and I have no doubt, thinking of her beloved Brandon. A few people stopped by to share their thoughts and then came Lisa, eager to show Jannette the pictures she had taken. I assumed pictures like most of those that had been taken by the many families, but no, these pictures were different. You see, Baldwin Park is adjacent to Fleet Peeples Park, an 11 acre dog park where they can run freely and get into the lake and have a great time! So, back to Lisa’s pictures. She had stayed by Fleet’s still observing the lanterns. She started noticing that the lanterns, which had been placed in the center of the lake, started to sway towards Fleet Peeples Park! All of them!!! She continued taking pictures. She had the proof and I personally could not believe my eyes. All the lanterns literally ended up on the shore of Fleet Peeples Park, right where the dogs go in to play in the water! Jannette Matos approached me two months ago because she wanted to have the perspective from her own Indigenous Peoples, the Taíno, and I gladly accepted the invitation on behalf of the United Confederation of Taíno People. To me this entire thing had more to do with spirit, with harmony and respect, and Lisa’s pictures just confirmed what I had thought all along. Think about it, we know their essence was present. They followed their owner’s first, in those lanterns (imagine the love and emotion tied to what was written and/or drawn on those lanterns). After the tears, the smiles, the honoring, the awe of all those present, the dogs, as they would have in the physical world, then followed the essence of where dogs have fun, for that stays there, too. Everyone who has been close to a dog and understands their dynamics, know they connect to other dogs by smelling them. Rejoicing on the fact that they were such a huge group today, perhaps they felt like: “Hey! What do you say we go and play at Fleet’s?” Tai Pelli It was such an honor to be part of this experience. This shall be the beginning of an Official and Yearly Event!
Posted on: Sun, 28 Jul 2013 23:01:03 +0000
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