What a great privelege it was to pass this way with you both and have so much time with Darby while you flew.  I never knew such a beautifully present dog, listening to your voice on the unicom, or climbing and bouncing along the poofy top of the flight lounge sofas while watching you taxi out and back, always back.  Throwing her head firmly back down to wait some more when some other plane passed and it wasn't you! Thank you for letting me be with her and give her treats. What an unspeakably great good at work the animals were - thank you for bringing her every day!  With so much love for you both. Always, Rose, always!

Namaste, I love you Rose, I love you little Darby. Godspeed in freedom and peace, while we old pals wait to catch you on the flip side.  Your laughter and stories, commraderie every day at work, the long hours walking s l o w l y around the building sniffing every blade of grass and watching as you, Miss Darby, perched half airborne from sofa top to counter-sugar laden food top...oh, what wishful thinking to sneak a snack that had no seaweed...  your whole being an expression of being alive with purpose, joy and focused intention/attention. I have missed your delightful, protective and nurturing presence and our long long introspective talks and I will hold you both and Peregrine forever in loving prayer, joy of remembrance and our shared presence in the universe. 

Rose came into my life when I was floundering and without direction. She not only told me about the wondrous profession of coaching, she lived it out loud. After lunch with her, I knew that's what I wanted to do and I pursued coach training and a coaching career.

I hadn't contacted Rose for a bit because I was finishing the book she encouraged me to write and I wanted to get it published and present it to her on a visit to Portland in a few weeks. It was going to be a surprise and a time for me to thank her for helping me discover the courage to write.

I'm so sorry I didn't get to talk with her and tell her what she meant to me and how she changed my life with her encouragement, belief, positivity and brilliance. I hope she knows.

Yesterday was my birthday. Rose was the first person (besides my mom) to call me in the morning and wish me a Happy Birthday every single year.  If I was on the phone or with a client she wouldn't leave a message, she would call back until she was able to speak to me in person.  Always said "Happy Birthday miss Angela, what special thing are you going to do today just for yourself?"  For 15 years she didn't miss even one of them.  Always treated me to lunch which I looked forward to weeks in advance.  Chevy's...Margarita in the middle of the day, Guacamole and Chips and some other dish.  Then in the next 2 weeks I would reciprocate.  Heart was empty yesterday, I missed you so much my friend.

I met Rose for the first time…. about a little over year ago at Hand to Heart stables. She was busy preparing a most luscious meal for her horse Peregrine. She had her hands deep in that feeding bowl mixing fresh blueberries, carrots and grains…. What a concoction I thought that was!  It was that very first moment that I thought I'm really going to like this gal!

I explained to Rose that my husband recently rescued a quarter horse and that I was looking to find my very first horse as well. As baby boomers and having very little experience riding horses I told her I was feeling pretty nervous but yet somehow driven to connect with just the perfect equine partner. That lit a spark in Rose!  She introduced me to a book called The Tao of Equus by Linda Kohanov.  And so my spiritual journey with horses began.

It wasn’t too long that I found my 14 year old Morgan mare. I was so excited to tell Rose!  I told her that I was thinking of changing my horses name. I liked the name Kachina Doll because it is a Native American doll that has been used over centuries to teach children about their ancestor’s life journeys. Kachina Doll was going to be my teacher. Rose’s response was “Way cool.”

Later that day as my husband and I were leaving the stable Rose yelled out to me “When you get her and name her Kachina Doll, you can expect Auntie Rose to be calling her "KD". 

Thanks to Rose I call my horse by her nick name “KD.”

Rose - our time together was short… but your impact on my life has been forever life changing and life giving!  I am eternally grateful.   

Nai'a Magic Retreat Prayer March 2008 (and many before)

From The East, House Of Light                                                                               May Wisdom Dawn in Us                                                                                          So We May See All Things In Clarity

From The North, House Of Night                                                                               May Wisdom Ripen In Us                                                                                           So We May Know All From Within

From The West, House Of Transformation                                                                   May Wisdom Be Transformed                                                                                 Into Right Action                                                                                                    So We May Do What Must Be Done

From The South, House of The Eternal Sun                                                              May Right Action Reap The Harvest                                                                          So We May Enjoy The Fruits Of Planetary Being

From Above, House Of Heaven                                                                            Where Star People And Ancestors Gather                                                                 May Their Blessings Come To Us Now

From Below, House Of Earth                                                                                  May The Heartbeat Of Her Crystal Core                                                                 Bless Us With Harmonies To End All War

From The Center, Galactic Source                                                                      Which Is Everywhere At Once                                                                                May Everything Be Known                                                                                        As The Light Of Mutual Love

"and so it is......."

This is one of my favorite stories that Rose told me.  Rose was flying somewhere and she used a mountain to mark the direction she was heading.  She pointed the plane toward that mountain and had been flying for quite a while when she realized that it was the wrong mountain.  She did the right thing and started circling and climbing while she got her plan together.  She didn't have a lot of fuel left.  As she climbed she was able to see a small runway in the middle of all of the trees.   She landed there and went to the small office where there were a couple of guys hanging out inside.  She walked in and said,"I'm lost!"  The men chuckled and said, "That is refreshing!  Most people who land here are lost but they come in and casually look at the bulletin boards and try to figure out where they are before eventually admitting that they are lost."  

I don't know why, but I love that story so much and smile every time I think of it.

Her life belonged to her and she was going to do it her way - even taking on Mount Hood as the photos show. What did that mean: no physical training, hiking nor conditioning of any sort prior to the start of the climb. I wonder if she even had brand new boots on? Woaaaaaaaa........ go woman! You bad and a little crazy.

I moved back to Portland in November 2009. Rose and I  connected immediately as if I had never been away. Our chats were always over food, out at a restaurant, or in my apartment. I'd cook, she'd listen and talk. I loved every opportunity to get her insight into the obvious. Rose could hear what I was saying out loud better than I could. She had a gift, and she was not shy about pointing out my inconsistencies and my hesitations. I loved that about her. She was my coach, and I was her massage therapist. We both wanted more joy in our lives and less responsibility. We talked about our should do lists and where we could stick them. We laughed, cried and listened to one another.

I wish with all my heart I could have somehow known more or done something to keep her healthy. I know in my heart this all played out as Rose wished. Rose used to tease me about all my time spent contemplating my navel. Her humorous way of poking fun at my daily meditation. Shortly after Rose passed she came to me in my morning meditation. She told me how free she was and how the last thing she wanted was for me to be  sad.  I feel her presence now when I am still, and feel  she is at peace. Darby is with her.

I collected many photos from my dolphin swims. I will get them posted soon. Thank you all for sharing. Thank you Angela for setting this site up.

Love,

Susie

 God knew what He was doing when He brought Rose into my life as my flight instructor.  I was very afraid to fly in general, but especially in small planes.  My husband loves flying and decided we should get a plane.  I decided I needed to learn how to fly so I could be a good co-pilot and land the plane if case anything happened to my husband while we were flying with our small kids in the back seat. Rose was so incredible.  So patient and kind.  We spend many hours together on the ground and in the air.  I got my license and even started instrument training with her.  I am a still a nervous flyer and never flew solo after my required solos.  I always had Rose in the right seat.  Always. I think my heart will break the next time I climb into the left seat. Rose talked about her own flight instructor that passed away and how she knew she was an angel for her. I know Rose will be that angel for me.  

Over many Quiznos salads she let me bend her ear about my struggles of owning a small business and how to handle different situations.  She taught me to always work from the perspective of using people's strengths.  As a veterinarian, I was amazed at how she kept Darby so healthy for so long.  She was so close to Darby that she knew exactly what to do with her care.  I am so glad that they are together right now.  

Rose was so wise and always gave me the right advice.  Because of Rose, I am stronger, better, smarter and wiser.  Because of Rose, I was able to fly!

Wonderfully cooked meal prepared by Susie Dahl. In this photo Rose, Kathy P, Susan, Susie D and Kathy Milbeck.

Rose invited me to do a test run of her ciriculum for the Flight Unlimited workshops. It had rained all week and on our planned fly day the weather opened up and we flew to Salishan, had lunch and flew back to the Aurora airport.  I don't have a fear of flying but I do have a fear of heights.  Rose was, as usual, calm, kept focused when I was making small talk - rambling nonsense I am sure - to ease my anxiety and before I knew it we were in the air and I was in control of the instruments. It was Breathtaking and a once in a lifetime experience. WOW

Green Light Sunset