“How do you attract all those ‘off the wall ‘ people?” my friend
Ann asked.
I was conducting Friday evening discussion groups at my
Center at the time. The topics ranged from current research on
alternative healing techniques, books, movies and TV programs that
a member found interesting and wanted to share with us.
I never knew who would appear at these meetings. It
was ‘ word of mouth,’ occasionally a regular brought a guest and
sometimes I would get a phone call out of the blue from a stranger
that read or heard something about my self-awareness Center that is
located in Alvarado, Texas. That’s how Kathleen came into my life.
She called on a Thursday morning to “get to know you better,” in a
high scratchy voice that made me pull the phone away from my ear.
“Never heard of Alvarado,” she informed me. “But I’ve got
to meet you. Is there a place close by where I can spend the
night?” she asked after I told her that I was hosting a discussion
group the next evening and that she was welcome to come. “There
is a dormitory on my property for students,” I informed her. She
accepted and told me she would be here by noon on Friday.
After I hung up the phone I somehow knew that Kathleen
would be an interesting study. And I wasn’t disappointed. The
moment she walked through the door the following day, she took
complete charge. She not only was in a Power Mode, she also had a
Compulsive Disorder.
She carried a pouch with a small harp that never left her side.
It was always handy when she bottled up too much “Joy in her Heart
that had to be released,” as she explained.
The first occasion that I became aware of her ‘Joy’ was when
we were sitting on the couch getting acquainted shortly after she
arrived. In mid-sentence she suddenly reached over, pulled out the
harp, stood up on her 5 foot 10 inch wiry frame, closed her eyes
and began running her fingers over the strings. Suddenly she began
belting out with a loud harsh resonance, “Hallelujah! Hallelujah!”
After repeating it five time, she opened her eyes, put the harp back
in the pouch and sat back down to continue our conversation in a
normal fashion.
During the course of the afternoon the ‘Joy in her heart’ was
released several times. That evening when the study group gathered
I had no time to explain the ‘compulsive disorder’ that Kathleen was
compelled to release. I sat back and waited for her ‘moment on
stage’ to surface. Ann was in charge of the program that evening. I
introduced Kathleen and told them that she played the harp.
After about five minutes while Ann was sharing information
about a book she was reading, it happened. Kathleen stood up, harp
in hand as she belted out her five Hallelujahs with gusto then sat
back down. She looked at Ann nodding her head as if prompting her
to continue her discussion.
The entire group turned to me looking for an explanation. I
ignored them as I sat trying to keep a straight face. It was during
the break when Ann cornered me and demanded, “What was that all
about?”
“She told me that she has so much joy in her heart, she had
to release it,” I casually explained. “It’s your fault. You triggered
something that set her off,” I added.
“Well, you could have at least warned me. I thought she was
joking at first until I noticed how serious she was.”
“Haven’t I told you repeatedly that when you are around me to
expect the unexpected, and that includes people.”
The reason I am sharing this experience with you today is
because I got a call from Kathleen this morning. She reminded me
that it has been seven years since we last had contact.
“I have so much to tell you,” she rattled on and on about her
trip to Egypt and how she was writing her experiences and wanted
me to read about it.
“Of course you can come. I’m anxious to hear all about it,” I
invited her and she accepted. She will be here for the weekend. No,
I didn’t ask her if she would bring her harp. I love surprises.
For you who know me are well aware that for me ‘Life is Either
a Daring Experience Or Nothing’ and it continues to also be ‘One
Darn Thing After Another.”