1000 Cranes

I was happy in my bubble.  

After being diagnosed and having a 12 month life expectancy hanging over me.  

I popped myself in a bubble.  

Our home was my safe bubble space.  

A place for me to look after myself, be me and just have my inner circle drop in and out.

I wasn’t open to visitors or entertaining.  

No-one seemed to ask, as there just seemed to be an unwritten rule that everyone knew… give me space, if I want to see you, I will let you know.

It did surprise me when at karate one day, I was asked if it was okay for a family to call in on Sunday, they simply said they had something for me.

I was reluctant, but said yes.

When they arrived, Glen was standing there with a white rectangle box.  

The kind  of thing you would imagine roses in the United States to be delivered in.  

I didn’t know what was in the box, what I did know was it was mine and I wanted it.

Glen and Tania had lived in Japan for years, they spoke Japanese and embraced the customs.

We had afternoon tea and chatted, it seemed like forever.

I was impatient whatever was in the box, was calling to me.

I wanted it, the only problem was I hadn’t been given it yet.

Finally (and I realize I sound like a brat, it’s mine and I want it now,  but anywoo that;s how I felt) 

Glen started telling me about the Japanese myth of a thousand cranes.  

The origami crane symbolizes honor, good fortune, loyalty, and longevity. 

These formidable characteristics give the crane special meaning and why the Japanese believed that anyone with the patience and commitment to fold 1,000 origami cranes would be given good fortune and granted a wish.  

This wish can be gifted, often for weddings, births or if someone is unwell.

As Glen finished up telling the story he lifted the lid and my cranes, all 1,000 of my brightly coloured cranes flew to me.  

I felt like I opened my arms and they flew to me.

They were home.

Not trying to be too rude, I wanted to be left alone with my cranes.  

I felt a pull to sit with them on my own and ponder my wish.

It took a few days for my wish to come to me.

When it did, it felt like it landed in every cell in my body.  

My wish is part of me, just like my cranes are.

With my wish, I hung my cranes outside under my camellia tree.  

The wind, sun, rain and snow they would deteriorate them over the coming years.

As they deteriorated they would detach from the string and the other cranes and fly away, floating through the garden, down the driveway, into the stream.  

And as they deteriorated and flew away it was a sign…

A sign that my wish was coming true.

My cranes stayed outside for years until they were no more than a bundle of twisted cotton thread with a few half cranes with little or no color. 

And my wish continues to live on, in each and every day.