That summer morning, groggy, sleep deprived, I rented a boat at Big Bear Lake. I wanted a kayak but they were all out. I had no experience with
motor boats. But pressured into it, I was told anyone
could drive such a boat. Anyone. So of course I pulled on the throttle and the boat took off like a rocket headed
straight for the pier, with my three children in it.
I tried to stop the boat from certain collision, but the throttle jammed or maybe I panicked. Time froze and then, to my amazement, the boat circled the lake by itself, returning to the shore and then
the pier where I had originally started out.
A sailor who watched what happened said I did a good job steering, but I had done nothing!
That night, something fluttered into my bedroom around the ceiling’s edge.
I tried to see what it was
but its wings were beating too fast.
Was it a large insect, a lost bird or a bat?
Then the creature flew under my bed. I bent down and lifted the dust ruffle and
there, in a glowing halo of light, stood Pegasus, beating its white wings like a humming bird.
In a flash of spirit I understood that we were protected. I had been to Cuba that year, to spirit possession ceremonies, and come under the protection of Oshun, Afro-Cuban goddess of lakes, rivers, love and beauty.
Something said don’t try to figure this out. But it was time to ignore sensible advice. I trusted Oshun. I trembled in the light of day.