The Little Lake Girl

The Little Lake Girl was two years old the first time she was admitted to hospital with a severe ear infection. Her lived experience carved out a 45-year career as a nurse. Her ancestral roots grounded her and she grew stronger over seven decades. Her lifelong passion for learning became the shawl that protected her from the winds of change. Over time she realized our bodies are in a certain place and time, but our minds can be anywhere at any time. In her memoir she likens life to making and eating a pie. The first one-third of the pie is the early years of selfdiscovery, living in your mind's eye, in the womb, and the school years, and before you know it, you're finished school, getting a job, starting relationships. It seems like there is still a lot of pie left. The second one-third is the middle years of making a commitment, working your way through career transitions, having and raising children. You're very busy and you tell yourself, "Don't worry, there is still lots of pie left." The last one-third is all about creating a legacy, retirement is looming, your children are having children. It is important to acknowledge that soon there will be no more pie. You realize the need to savour those last bites and share the recipe with your family, friends and anyone who cares to take a journey through the heart and mind to capture the essence of their soul.