Last Volunteer Musings

My travel home was smooth and easy, also long and tiring. I made all my connections and I was not stopped at customs. There has been plenty of time to think about the adventure I just had. Lots of Iona thoughts filtered through my head as I made my way to California.

I was not sure what to expect when I got home. I knew it would be great to see Rod. Hug Rod. Catch up with Rod. Laugh with Rod. If there was one thing I missed while I was gone it was Rod. I did without chicken, sushi, popcorn, dark nights, drying my clothes, grocery shopping, paying bills, driving, television and many other things. But I missed my man. This part of my homecoming was very good.

The part of being back home that has caught me by surprise is trying shift into my schedule again. It think it’s hard because I don’t remember what my schedule was. For three months my days were all planned. Each day had it’s individual make up but every Sunday or Wednesday followed the same pattern as every other Sunday or Wednesday. If it was Friday I woke went to service (several times lead service), waved the guests off at the jetty, went to the weekly huddle, deep cleaned the kitchen, put out staff lunch, cleaned some more, took a nap, went back to the abbey for whatever volley silliness we were doing for dinner, and then fell asleep after reading a little.

This is not to say that the days were boring because they were predictable, far from it. There were always surprises. The menu of food changed. The guests we served changed. The music at services changed. The weather really changed. And I have changed. I lived in community with all the fun and hassle that brings. It was a very good discipline.

What I am finding now that I am home is I have to plan all my own time. There are many things I want to do: organize my art room, try lots of abbey recipes on a smaller scale, reconnect with friends, join yoga class again, write letters to friends I’ve made, etc. The list goes on and on. Where do I start? Is there a plan? Not really. I want to do it all at once. Many days i get stuck and just read a book. There are too many decisions to make.

I am being gentle with myself and searching for a new rhythm. It will come. Right now, only having been home a week, I am still in limbo. I think of Iona daily and I know just what they are all up to…see paragraph three, predictable days, remember. But I am not a part of their days anymore. I am inching toward home and a new balance.

So what of the crazy collection of pictures on this page. My last musings of volunteer time.

The roasted butternut squash is a tasty reminder of what can be for dinner. It also nudges my memory of the many choppers (guests) who helped in the kitchen over the weeks. I am also reminded that I got to the point where I could chop an onion without crying. And it was a lot of onion chopping!

And the rhubarb photo? I loved to be asked to go harvest some rhubarb. It was nice to be outside. It was fun to yank the plants and chop off the huge leaves. And it was really fun to wash, chop, and make the compote. Rhubarb season is waning so I’ll have to wait till next year to make compote at home but you KNOW I will. The taste is sure to bring back fond memories.

The cross picture is from the Abbey Museum. I did finally get to do the audio tour. I passed the crosses in front of the abbey every day. But these in the museum were the older ones and somehow feel more precious. I often thought while I was walking the grounds of the monks who lived on Iona before me. I wondered if I was having memories or maybe just feelings of what it was like to illustrate the scriptures they were working on.

Purple hair again at last! I missed Rod. I also missed getting my haircut! The first morning I was home I had an appointment to get cut and colored. Ahhh, that’s better. Business opportunity for anyone willing to try: hair salon on Iona! You’d make a mint.

The veg photos are from the Thursday farmers’ market at home. I haven’t been much since the pandemic. But I was back and delighted. I bought fresh eggs! Iona has ruined me for many store bought things. I also am happy to be calling courgette zucchini again. Sheesh.

Finally there is that foggy picture of the abbey. This was taken my last week on Iona. I was on my way into work in the morning. I loved foggy mornings, very Scottish. I hope the memories and good things I hold in my heart will not become foggy too fast. I am happy I took the leap of faith to go to Iona for three months. I am still discovering the good things that have come from my time away. I’m sure to share more in the future.