I am forgoing today’s usual Wisdom Wednesday post to celebrate something special. Anna has just arrived home from Sweden. She’s been gone for three weeks, visiting her homeland for the first time in fifteen years. And I’m so happy she’s back! But I’m also very glad she had the opportunity to go see old friends and family; to swim in her ocean and stay in her family’s summer home on the island where she grew up.
She came to the gallery to see me, so fresh off the plane she was still jet lagged. But she had enough energy to share a margarita. Welcome to New Mexico, right?
And the most amazing thing happened. A woman named Michelle Mosser and her friend, Diane Doolan, came to the gallery with Michelle’s white wolf, Grace (Grace was, of course, in the car). For those of you who don’t know, when Anna first moved to Truchas nearly 8 years ago, she came with a red wolf named Sheba (see previous post The Old Adobe Church, the Wolf and Survival). Sheba passed away some years back and I never met her. But Anna’s stories about her are truly amazing and I feel like I knew her.
And here it is, Anna’s first day back, and a white wolf comes to the gallery (probably not something you’d see in NYC or Paris). So we invited Grace in, of course. She’s a very restless creature, still finding her way in a domesticated world—learning to be more dog-like, as Michelle puts it. We were asked if we’d mind sitting on the floor to seem less huge and intimidating. No problem.
And in she came, gorgeous, nervous, sensitive, pacing. It was very difficult to get any good shots of her because she was constantly moving. But Anna lit up. I saw her remembering Sheba and all the years the two of them shared. She definitely recognized Grace.
And it occurred to me that this was some very special magic going on. I know, as much as Anna loves her life here in New Mexico, it had been very hard for her to leave Sweden, not knowing when she would go back again. So I think Spirit sent Grace to welcome Anna back—to remind her that there is heritage and history that belongs to her in this place, too. That there is something wild and engaging in this new world, this western frontier she now calls home.
Grace and Michelle live in Santa Fe so they have an open invitation to come back to the gallery any time they feel like taking a trip up the High Road. And I’ll tell you a secret: I’m thinking it might be cool for Grace and Kelee to meet (see previous post A Three-Legged Man of the West). There is so much of him that is still wolf-like. Perhaps these two could learn a little something from each other. Grace could witness how a “still wildish one” functions in a domesticated world, and Kelee could taste a bit more of that wolf nature that I know still lingers within him.
But for now, Anna is back. And for all my wanting to welcome her home in some special way, I just never, ever, could have planned this!
Welcome back, Anna!
Love to you all,
Jeane
What a special treat and a special ‘Welcome Home’! Thank you for sharing Grace with us.
Yes, it really was. And Grace was someone who just had to be shared! Glad you liked meeting her.
Again, what a beautiful spirit. I’m glad you got some shots of her eyes…I love the almond
shape. They are Egyptian in a way. Very deep.
Linda
I never did get a straight on portrait. She was too nervous for that kind of “eye contact.” So I’m glad you can see those almond eyes. They were more pronounced than these photos show. And she also had a little ruff around her neck that these pics don’t show. When she came at me, straight on, she looked exactly like the photos on the Defenders of Wildlife postcards.
Thank you so much for sharing these photos.
It’s my pleasure, literally!
From one Grace to another…I’d say she’s Glorious. I love the welcome back she gave to Anna and the reminder of times with her friend the wolf as well. Memories are recognition of the lack of linear time in my opinion:) I am so happy to be named after a wolf:) Like I said…time is just a figment of our imagination…silly humans:) We mean well, even if ignorance makes us appear downright awful at times…forgive us Mother earth, the collective WE will try harder to listen to you today, this I say daily with fervor.
I adore you Jeane.XOXOXGrace
Two glorious Graces in my life! Am I lucky or what?
What a beautiful post. Spirit certainly did have a beautiful surprise for your friend Anna.
I found your blog through Sheri Ann’s blog…so glad I did! I use to live in NM and also had a wolf hybrid. The beautiful pictures on your blog brought happy-memory tears to my eyes!
I love how we all find each other through these connections. And I’m so happy that Grace’s visit brought back happy memories for you. The wolves and hybrids need our love and care. Bless you for giving a home to one of the wildish ones.
I really love the thought of Spirit sending this lovely wolf to Anna…to welcome her back. My father used to say that if you are where you are supposed to be, good things happen. It seems to me that this is a sign that Anna is well she is supposed to be.
Yes, I thought it was a very special gift–as I said, something I never could have orchestrated myself. It made for a very beautiful day.