Another brilliant piece from a GUNNAS WRITING MASTERCLASS WRITER
The Japanese have a saying – “Life is Like an Orange Ribbon That Floats on the Breeze”.
Where it comes from and when it ends up, is all up to you. Many people live their whole life and never see it. Others feel its thread from the moment they take their first breath.
Despite this, we all live our lives at our own pace and in the company of spirits, either visible or invisible. I like to think that my spirits are with me always. They pop in and out of my life when I need them or sometimes when I don’t. I guess that is when I probably need them the most.
What I had forgotten about this magical orange ribbon was that it also affected those around me and sometimes to their detriment. The orange thread might be silky and comforting to me but sharp and prickly to others.
It was the learning of this fact that took me on a journey that would change my life in an instant. I had spent my life floating freely, wrapped in my soft, nurturing ribbon.
The purpose of travel to Japan seemed abundantly clear to me. I needed to find a way to bring everything together but how?
“That cake looks good” crackled through that PA. I’m sure the flight attendant didn’t mean to have the mike open, but she did and we all heard it. Now we all wanted cake! I quickly pressed my call button as did everyone else in turn.
“Please may I have some of that delicious cake”, I could hear everyone in their various languages asking the same question. All the flight attendants sprang into action and brought the morsel to each of us in turn. Each piece of cake was exquisitely wrapped in a delicate thread of supple orange ribbon.
Finally, as I devoured my second piece, I could see that it wasn’t the type of ribbon that was important, but the things that the ribbon brought to each of us. It was simply the ribbon that was the thread that held us together.
Today I was joined with everyone on QF 762, tomorrow, who knew.