During my transition from San Francisco to Australia, I have discovered so many things about myself, my culture and remembered so many things my siblings and parents said to me growing up. At the time when I was 7 or 8 years old, my Mother use to say that angels are all around us and there to guide us and protect us. I would say Mom, can I smell your breath for alcohol, but I never smelled anything and I felt her hand give me a little spank or shove to go and play.
Preparing for my major move, I could hear her whisper in my ear once again, but this time I believed it. Through every controversy, vicious attack or conflict I became more and more internally peaceful, humble and I must say protective of myself and those that I loved. My mirror showed an honest reflection of myself that actually frightened me. While working in Washington, DC, one of my closest friends taught me how to allow my body to armor up when in negative situations. It started with her lessons when riding the DC subway to never leave home without my dark glasses and my earplugs in my ears as if I was listening to music. It was a way to be able to listen and be aware without people talking to you. Initially it was odd, then it was out of control and finally I would feel the bullet proof suit coming on like in the movie Iron Man. During this period, and now it happens without much thought when needed or in a toxic situation. In the Bay Area vicious or insane people would come after me and stop in their steps and turn around to go another way once they looked into my eyes. Angels were protecting me and them from me.
The angels started to perform well. Being without a place to live for 3 months, I was shown who true friends were and I bounced from couch to couch at the homes of three friends. Only one night I slept in my little red Miata in a friends garage. Three friends lectured me so I never did it again. I had keys to all of their places which made me cry over their love for me. Not one of them asked for or would accept anything. One day an angel said, there may be a place in Berkeley. I thought Berkeley, that's too far, but I went to check it out. It looked familiar but I was in a crazed state. I asked how much it was and the owner of the house said to me, "You need to see it first." It was lovely with its own entrance and a patio. I thought, where is the hidden candid camera? It was completely set up with a beautifully made queen size bed, cabinets to put my clothes in, a desk for my computer, a flat screen television, 2 chairs, a small refrigerator, and a lovely bathroom with amazing products on the shelves. You will never guess the price quoted. She said, "The rent in $1 per month." I look bewildered and said are you joking. I negotiated up to give her a fair price. She looked surprised, but smiled and accepted my offer. She handed me the keys to my new home and a set of keys to her house and said "I will be leaving in a couple of days for a 3-week cruise, please make yourself at home." I am still loving and respect my angel with hidden wings.
During this time my little red Miata was smashed 3 times while it was parked. The first time was on a Sunday at work on a little alley near Van Ness Avenue and Oak Street. As I headed to my car I noticed my passenger side of the car had been smashed in by someone backing up. Nope, they didn't leave a note. Called my insurance company to start the process. Got it fixed and decided to leave my car in a different city an hour away with friends and take the train there on the weekends.
They were great at allowing me to stay there on the weekends; another set of angels. One weekend I arrived to a broken windshield. No emotion, I just drove it back into the city to my fourth angel, parked, had quesadillas and slept very well in his elaborate bed. He continues to be my guardian angel today and I am older than him by many years.
The next morning I was smiling, walked to my car and got a big shock. My front bumper was on the ground, the driver side door was smashed in completely and the fender on the driver side too. No emotion, after careful thought I pulled back the convertible top and placed the bumper in my little 2-seater with the help of a passing young man. There was a business card on the windshield but it was blank and probably placed there to show people that they had left a note when in fact they did not. Again, I felt no emotion and drove the car back to the auto garage for repairs and proceeded to work a full day. By now the owner and his son were family to me and teased me constantly making me laugh. I would take them exquisite chocolates from Christopher Elbow, the best handcrafted chocolate in San Francisco. I knew immediately that the old dad was another one of my angels by the look in his eyes and that he was teaching his son to also be an angel and to recognize goodness. It took 5 weeks to repair my little red mini-me.
When I picked it up and looked at the cost, I became weak in the knees. They were silent. When I got to the last page, the amount was zero so I said, "Sir, you forgot to add up the amounts, how much do I owe you" I read the invoice over and over again with confusion. The angel dad looked at me and laughed and said, "Boy, get out of here, you are special to us, you are family, and there is no cost." Didn't stop me from trying to pay. They were true angels and protectors of me
My mother was right. Some lessons you learn as a small child but you forget them because kids know more than their parents. My many angels without wings protected me every day, guided me, fed me, gave me a place to sleep and loved me unconditionally and continue to do so till this day. I am a better person because of paths all of my angels took me on during the most stressful time in my life. I send love to them all every single day and night. Today, I am with a family of angels and it's a joy.
Ask yourself who are your special angels? They can also be someone no longer alive that you were close to growing up. We all have them and they should be identified, listened to, and appreciated.
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