5/12/2022 0 Comments ANCESTORS: Because Of YouRecently, Catherine and I were on a plane going for our 8th time to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. From our door to the sanctuary, the trip took 15 hours including two planes and a 2-hour car ride. I have always viewed our week-long volunteering at Best Friends, which began in 2006 and every 2 years following (except for a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic), as a retreat. Each time has been a bit different and I was wondering how to prepare myself for this year. I had brought the latest copy of Parabola (Spring, 2022), my favorite magazine, to keep me company and perhaps provide the inspiration I was seeking. Their theme for this issue was Ancestors. The magazine opened with a two-page photo from the Hubble Space telescope showing deep space. It was accompanied by the following quote from Thich Nhat Hanh, one of the beloved teachers of our time. “Breathing in, I see all my ancestors in me: my mineral ancestors, plant ancestors, mammal ancestors, and human ancestors. My ancestors are always present, alive in every cell of my body, and I play a part in their immortality.” I love this sense of deep inter-connection with everything. To some extent, this is how I try to live my life these days. On the spot, I decided that the focus for my week at Best Friends was to live this quote as deeply as possible. I settled in to what was to be a six-hour plane ride to Phoenix. The stories in Parabola explored “Ancestors” from many viewpoints. One focused on the teachings of grandparents, another on our connections with trees and yet another on the possibility of one “Eve” for all humanity. Connections One article entitled “Because of You” whispered to me and offered me a practical way to connect and possibly heal my ancestors, both known and unknown. I chose to use this title as a silent mantra throughout the week. I am aware that progeny can dramatically influence us. Without a doubt, my relationship with my daughter has changed me in innumerable positive ways. As a bonus, she came with her boyfriend and his teenage daughter, so we were all together. A couple from the State of Washington, with whom we are deeply connected also joined us. It was their first visit to Best Friends. To round out the reunion, we re-connected with a few of the founders that we had first met in 2006. Jewish Roots While on the plane to Phoenix, I thought about my human ancestors. My genetic profile is 98% Eastern European Jewish, 2% African. It appears that almost all my relatives came from that part of Europe now called either Russia, Ukraine, or Poland. I imagined Henry Louis Gates on his TV show, “Finding Your Roots”, asking me to turn the page of my “book of life” to meet my famous relative and it is Mr. Zelenskyy. He and his country men and women are now in the crosshairs of the human story – horrific violence and destruction, and at the same time courage, kindness and compassion. In a nutshell, this is the story of my species that I carry within me. Best Friends Animal Sanctuary / Volunteering (www.bestfriends.org) Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is the largest no-kill animal sanctuary in the United States caring for about 1,700 animals on a daily basis. We already had reservations for a cottage on their 3,500+ acre site located in Angel Canyon, less than 1/2 hour from Zion National Park. We had signed up for Pigs, Horses, Goats and Dogs. Each session involved animal care and maintenance such as feeding and mucking (cleaning up poop). There was also enough time for hanging out, grooming, and simply being with the animals. “Piggy Paradise” I sat on a platform in “Piggy Paradise” and one of the pigs came over to visit, laid down on my feet, and rolled over exposing her soft belly. She looked at me with soft eyes that said “a belly rub would be nice”. I obliged. She made sweet little snorting sounds. If she was a cat, we would have called it purring. At another session, Catherine and I and one of the care-givers took two pigs for a walk. Question: How do you take two pigs for a walk with no leash or harness? Answer: Bring a little container of almonds and throw them in the direction you are going. We walked for about ½ mile with very happy pigs before turning around. No doubt a wondrous sight to behold. “Horse Haven” At this moment, Best Friends has 67 horses and has built a new, beautiful “Horse Haven” facility including an enormous indoor covered arena. They have been busy expanding and improving the animal facilities during the pandemic. We attended two different horse demonstrations. One demonstration was with a 22-year-old horse that had been used at a race track. The other was with a two-year old mustang, recently captured and removed from the wild lands of Western, USA. The trainer invited a horse to get used to a saddle. Her patience and sensitivity allowed us, the audience, to see when the horses “agreed” or pulled back from this new experience. Even the slightest hesitation on the horse’s part and the trainer would step back and start again. It was a dance of respect and trust. Quite the teaching to apply to all relationships. The trainer gave herself the necessary time to do this. It reminded me that grandparents often have the time to just be with their grandchildren and not be doing ten other things. Later in life, many grandchildren fondly remember their time with grandma and grandpa. Dog Town” Catherine and I walked many dogs including one named Trinity. We noticed that as we passed our car Trinity stopped and looked longingly at it. We asked the caregiver if we could take her off the property for a ride into town and get her an ice-cream as an “enrichment” activity. We bought a cup of vanilla ice cream with 3 spoons. Trinity was a “good eater.” While we were in town, we signed up for our next visit in 2024.There are only eight cottages on the Sanctuary grounds and we wished to make sure we could reserve one. “Rainbow Bridge Ceremony” At the end of the week, we attended a “crossing the rainbow bridge” ceremony in the newly created “gratitude garden” in Angel Canyon. It is for all the animals that have passed at Best Friends during the past month as well as other animals whose owners arranged for them to be buried there. As we entered, a baby rattlesnake with its tiny rattle “welcomed” us. I thought to myself – new life saying hello as the old forms pass on. All are my ancestors. The ceremony was on a high bluff and the wind was very strong. Hundreds of wind chimes in the cemetery were ringing. There was a bubbling fountain. Wind and water carved out Angel Canyon over millions of years ago. I looked across the canyon and saw the geological history of all the beings that had created the possibility for this moment. I told them it is “because of you” that I can be here. I sent them my deep appreciation. After the ceremony we wandered throughout the gardens and came upon a sculpture representing the source of all life – The inscription on the plaque nearby read : The Flame The Heart and Soul of Best Friends Animal Society is kindness for all life. We call this the Flame of Best Friends. Our gratitude is beyond measure for all people who help the flame grow and light the way to “Save Them All.” Perfect!
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David FeldmanDog walker, Dog Mediator, Father, Husband, Categories |