Stock taking Time

Image from pininterest - to the anonymous donor- my thanks

A friend wrote to me today speaking about focus and direction in life.

It is the time of year when we turn naturally to stock taking, assessing what we wish to pursue in the future and what we would do well to leave behind.

As I read my friend's letter I saw in my mind the symbol of  a lightening bolt - and thought of the great connection between earth and sky. 

Symbolically this refers to that inner world and the ideal marriage of the masculine and feminine qualities in each of us, regardless of our physical gender. 

In setting our goals there is a tendency to rely on the driving power and analytical clarity of the Lord. Yet the Lady too has her contribution to make. The inner landscape is arid without the nourishment she offers - the passionate emotional connection to a vision, the abundance and beauty of a joyous engagement with life.

Drawing from Life

Chapter 13 continues:

The afternoon shoot was in a warm sheltered setting. Justin had chosen the quiet end of the beach at Russell, well away from the activity where the ferry docked at regular intervals. The trailer and the two vans had been moved up and the area roped off. Even so, quite a crowd of passersby had gathered to watch the proceedings. As they stood waiting Rhona teased Joe, saying the whole female population of Russell would be down on them in a minute. Two girls even nipped past the ropes to ask for his autograph and capture the moment on their phone cameras.

Rhona noticed Justin was much more active this afternoon. He had explained to her earlier that special occasion wear was his particular forte. There were six gowns, she knew that much. As they got underway she observed the stylist, Tracey, was working with Justin at her shoulder. Everything her team did was scrutinised and double checked. Joe was also subjected to the same perfectionism. Every change of suit was inspected and adjusted by the maestro.

For the first two changes they used the frontage and verandah of a two storey commercial building on the beach front. It was an old colonial weatherboard place, painted white. The extras all had to be dressed and arranged in settings. Rhona saw Anna was everywhere at once. Mickey had started making sarcastic remarks and throwing his arms about. Before they had finished the first three sets Rhona could feel the tension crackling around her.

Returning to the trailer for her fourth change Rhona heard Tracey reading the riot act to her team, asking the girls to pull out their very best.  Gracie was standing near the door and Rhona gave her a quick kiss as she passed. “You OK?” she whispered

“Yeah, good Mum.”
 “Do you think you could find these girls a round of cold drinks Gracie? They are all working so hard.”

Gracie nodded. “I’ll do it myself. Anna’s busy.”

“Good for you. See what you can rustle up.”

Tracey turned to her as she stepped in and grabbed her elbow.  “Oh, Rhona, good. Justin was just in here saying we have to do the plum gown next or we’ll miss the tide. We thought it was last but…” She released Rhona to be undressed but stood close by as she continued. “Now do you know what you’re doing with that one? There is a dinghy – Mickey will explain. Just try to keep the dress dry will you?”

Emerging a little later Rhona caught sight of Gracie coming towards the trailer with slow deliberate steps and intense concentration. She was carrying an enormous tray with rows of cold soft drink bottles on it.

She called out “Well done Gracie. Did you raid the vans?”

“Yep. Good luck Mum” Gracie called back, looking very pleased with herself.

 Rhona waved and remembered to lift her dress before she stepped out. “Right”, she muttered under her breath. “Let’s hope the water’s warm.”

As she came onto the grass verge, beside the trees, she saw Mickey was pacing up and down, still waving his arms about. Justin was standing nearby with Joe. Mickey’s voice carried clearly up to her. “Christ Justin. I want this to work. She’s really not up to it.” Rhona paused to listen, but Justin’s answer was inaudible. She saw a dinghy was wedged in the sand and two of the crew were standing nearby giggling over it. They were obviously supposed to hold it steady. Her stomach tripped and settled. They had a plank ready for her to walk up with dry feet at least. She forced her chin up and her shoulders back and walked down to join them. As she approached Joe was saying. “I hope you don’t intend to use this one in New Zealand. The press would hang you.”

As she reached the group Rhona noticed a collection of old style tea chests and wooden boxes, with oars and nets, had been arranged on the sand. Three of the extras were dressed in the costume of nineteenth century sailors. She nodded to Justin who, for the first time all weekend, was looking seriously displeased. Joe was in formal evening attire. He was standing with his hands on his hips facing Mickey. No one appeared to notice her until she said quietly “So was this your idea Mickey?”

The photographer just sneered at her, but Justin said in a frigid voice “Mickey thought a stage setting would show off the gown. It’s rather more than I had intended.”

She looked at Joe “and you agreed to it?” When he shrugged and looked away into the distance she said “Well. Interesting” in a voice which implied it was all tedious in the extreme. “I can see it doesn’t need much more than an enthusiastic Australian to come up with such an appalling pastiche of colonial iconography. Can I assume a long view of the European frontier architecture behind will be included, in case the viewer fails to interpret the props intended to replicate the First Landing?”  It was her longest speech all weekend and her first rhetorical question. Perhaps it was the effect of the queenly dress, she thought, but the whole scenario really did disgust her.

She swept her arm out in a wide circle “Unbelievable. I must say I am all amazement.” In the ensuing silence she looked about, incredulous at the stupidity of the situation. Justin finally said “Now hang on Rhona I haven’t…” He had taken her arm but she turned to Mickey, who was looking at her with loathing. In what she hoped was a business-like way, she said “Mickey, I have great respect for your creativity but unfortunately we have strayed into bad taste here. Taking your excellent concept of a Landing, perhaps we could simply change the theme.” He started to object but Justin had just encouraged her with a gentle pressure on her elbow, so she swept on. “How about a little old fashioned romance? We can keep the dinghy, lose the jolly sailors and the long view, and bring in your extra bodies dressed as wedding guests. What do you say?”

Immediately Mickey shook his head. “No way” He shoved his face into hers “That’s just old tat. I…” Rhona smiled beatifically and held her physical space. She noticed Joe had cowardly removed himself to stand chatting with the boys by the boxes. She turned bodily to Justin so that Mickey was obscured. “Man gets his woman is a better seller than old world meets new, don’t you think?”

Justin looked past her to speak his reply to Mickey. “Yes I do think so. I’m not comfortable with the other option. We could…”

“Yes of course we could.” Rhona made a brittle smile and turned to back to Mickey. “Don’t worry you can still make me walk the plank. We’d better hurry though, the tide’s turned.”

Justin, with his hand on her back, took control. He told Mickey to work with Joe and Rhona while he organized the crowd scene. Assuming that was the end of the matter, he walked quickly up towards the trailer, calling for Tracey to join him.

Mickey breathed into her face. “You are not going to get the better of me woman.”   She set a pleasant smile on her lips and was saved from having to answer by Joe coming up to ask them what was happening.

Mickey just scowled but Rhona said briskly “What’s happening is I start throwing my weight around in the air instead. You have to stand your ground and catch me OK?” She looked a challenge at him.

Joe buried his head in his shoulders comically “Ouch that was blunt.” 

Mickey snorted. There was a silence before the photographer pushed his sleeves up. “OK.  Get in the bloody boat Rhona.”

Joe went down to the water before her and checked the dinghy was wedged firmly in the sand. The assistants crouched down in the water to steady it, grimacing at the cool temperature. Rhona quipped about joining them soon and walked up the provided board, holding her hems clear of the water. Joe came and stood ankle deep looking anxious.

“It’s not warm is it Joe?” she asked playfully.

“No but you are. You’re very impressive when you’re provoked.”

“You wait buddy. If I take a swim doing this, look out.” She smiled angelically and stood waiting for Mickey’s signal. She saw Justin had come back onto the beach, looking more like his composed self. She noticed the photographer coming towards them now.

“Right Joe” she said, focusing on his dark, worried eyes. “I would hate to give the little ferret an excuse to go back to his original plan so we have to make this look convincing. You’re an actor. Act like you’re passionately in love with me, OK?

Joe nodded, a smile starting at the corners of his mouth, “Right, shouldn’t be hard.”

The helpers beside her were chortling.

“Not funny Romeo,” she quipped. “Whatever the other guy says I go when you’re ready and not before.”

Mickey came to the water’s edge and called to her “Try to look the part Rhona. We need some excitement, some energy. When I signal you jump.”

Rhona shook her head. “No. When Joe calls I jump and you capture the moment. That’s the deal.”

He gave her the fingers and marched further up the beach to their right. Joe cleared his throat and the boys beside her were silent. He said quietly “Remind me not to get on your bad side. You’ve upset him now.”

“Too bad.” Rhona took a deep slow breath. “Now where were we?”

“Um, in love?”  He was frowning as if he was really trying to remember.

“Right.”  She started to giggle. “This is such a farce.”

“Yeah I know”, he was laughing now. “Jump” he added casually.

“What?”

“Jump” 

“Hey that’s so unfair. Mickey can’t hear you and I’m not ready.”

He snorted. “When is a woman ever ready?”

“Oh-you’re just as bad.”  Louder she called “Catch” and jumped towards him. Joe caught her smoothly and swung her around on to the sand, dropping her lightly. The train of the dress was damp but she didn’t care. She clung onto him, breathing hard. “Perfect” she whispered.

“No not perfect. The man is supposed to lead.” Their eyes locked and they grinned at each other. Rhona heard someone call her name and looked up to see Justin coming over to them.

“Rhona. That was perfect.” He was beaming and she looked triumphantly at Joe. “How about one more for luck – we have the crowd here now look.”

So she marched back up the provided plank for the second time and stood in the boat waiting for Mickey to signal he was ready. As she scanned the beach she said quietly

“OK. There’s the all clear. You call it this time.”

“Sure?” Joe asked, teasing.

She looked at him with a demure face “Sure.”

 “Come on then,” he said matter-of- factly

“Now?”

He threw his head back and laughed “You are still arguing Rhona.” He held out his arms in front of him and yelled at the top of his voice “NOW”.

She sprang toward him. It was clear from the line of her body that she relished the sensation. Joe caught her higher this time and twirled her faster, but they kept their footing. Once more she landed breathless, but dry, on the beach. They heard applause from behind them and she smiled confidently up at him.  “My you are a romantic after all.”

He just looked steadily down at her with laughing eyes and said nothing. Suddenly he picked her up, bride-like over his arm, and carried her up the beach to where Justin was standing. She submitted without fuss, despite her initial surprise. She noticed Mickey caught that moment as well.

Depositing her gently on her feet, Joe said to Justin. “There. I’ve fixed her now, she’s speechless. Next change?” She could tell Justin was well pleased. He looked a question at her.  By way of an answer she curtseyed theatrically before picking up her hems and scurrying back to the trailer with a broad grin on her face.