Well, you cannot say we didn’t do our best, in the end, we got them all floating (incoming tide under a full moon), but the candles would not stay alight because of the breeze. We could not do it from the reserve as there was no place to access the water without going in. Far too cold at our ages for getting wet feet. Our first attempt was from the boat ramp, this would have worked fine only there was a log in the way of their progress. Like the intrepid determined women we are, we went to plan b. A carefully thought out one in which we tried to move the log. Now we all know we have to go to the mountain the mountain will not come to us. Nor would a log. Cynthia’s determination was fearless.
I jokingly said oh Em’s probably sitting on the log laughing at us. It was not until we got back home did we see all the orbs and we have an unexplainable light in one photo which I have not shared. There is a particularly nice one with the blue boat surrounded by orbs. Emma’s favourite colour is blue!
So then we decided after being so well prepared for the dark without a torch, we would go to the steps, which we could vaguely see. So off we go after retrieving the boats. Tried lighting them again that was just not going to work, so we sent them off. They worked beautifully, the last photo I took all boats were floating in a line up the mighty river. Now lest you think my photography appalling (you are partly right) my little camera picked up these photos in the pitch black with me aiming at around about the general direction in which they were. So considering the circumstances my little point and shoot did well.
I thank Jenny so much for the hardiness with which she made Em’s boats; you did well Jen thank you. The determination of Debra was evident in the photos which I have in her interests edited out. One does not like to have some things broadcast, but the determination was given to us by Debra’s unceasing insistence on trying to get a boat to the water with a lighted candle. Thanks to Cynthia’s belief that a log is just a log and can be moved, her positivity unshakeable Cynthia put muscle to the log insisting we could move it, it most likely has been there a hundred or so years and has a well-developed sense of being in its place for eternity. We respected that and moved along to a more congenial set of steps.
I like to think Em and her spirit pals were laughing their heads off and creating too much wind.
I hope that I have helped you to share in our little night at the river celebrating Ems forever 15 Earthday. We do not think we are quite to the standard of the Buddhist Floating Lantern Ceremony, but one has to start small before one can run (or keep a candle lit on a floating boat)
We returned home to share Em’s chocolate Earthday cake, safe in the knowledge that we had done a pretty good job, okay not perfect, and okay photos are a bit how you are going, but at least we gave it a go. The best part of all was we had a great night. Maybe next year we will do something a bit easier like jumping from a plane.
Thank you to all of you, beautiful friends who in some way helped me get through the day, bless you all.
Love & Light
Karyn
emkarblog 