The Wooden Turtle on My Chest

August 31st, 2007 · No Comments

Just over a year ago I visited Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Prior to going, I did a whack of research on the area. I had read that the people down there were not well off (to say the least). I had been given some advice to bring goodies for the children of Punta Cana. So when it came time, I packed t-shirts I never wore, soaps I never used and crayons from the dollar store.

My Aunt, who lives in the most wealthy neighbour on the North Shore, was to be in a “neighbourhood garage sale”. Being the good niece, I assisted her for the day volunteering my time. At the end of the day…there was still a huge amount of “leftovers.” I asked if I could take some leftover toys and stuffed animals and give them to the children of Punta Cana.Wanting to get rid of her junk, she agreed.

Upon arriving in Dominican 1 month later, I went to pick up the 2 pieces of luggage I had brought - one was my own stuff, while the other was the box full of goodies for the children. They were nowhere to be found in the little airport…for a few of us it as going to be a very interesting week. Everyday since we arrived, we were told that out luggage would arrive Monday morning, Monday afternoon, no…wait Tuesday, Wednesday…you can just imagine our frustration. Thankfully, I wore my bikini down so I was able to swim, eat, sleep, lounge and do practically everything in my bathing suit. Everyday we hoped our luggage would come, and it never showed.

After 4 days, in the morning, an employee found me at the pool (they knew who I was by then - in fact the whole resort knew of the bride whose wedding dress got lost with her luggage) 1 piece of my luggage had arrived the day OF and was placed in my room. I went running up to my room, praying that it was the most important piece of luggage…I was disappointed when it turned out to be the box of toys.

If you are looking to read that my luggage showed up in the knick of time, I’m sorry to disappoint - it showed up 3 days after my big day. I look back on it now, and realize how OK I was with what happened. However, I was only OK after I finally let go of the vision of my perfect beach wedding. But this isn’t the point of this blog…

In the middle of the second week, we took a day trip into the “city.” Seeing this as the perfect opportunity to give away my box of goodies, I lifted the heavy box and trekked it all the way to the lobby and onto the back of the 2-benched trunk of a 10 year old truck. We loaded in and off we went.

We saw the way Dominican people live. They live simple lives. Their kitchens in different shacks than their living room/bedroom (due to live fire in the kitchen). Their idea of a corner store was trading coco beans for bananas. The way they spent their Sundays watching cock fights (the cocks fully protected in their gear) in the miniature outdoor stadium. Each Dominican we encountered welcomed us “white strangers” with open arms. They are wonderful people. They were always grateful for an authentic smile and a warm hug from perfect strangers. We met one lady who had 11 children and who thought she was 83 - her parents never lived to tell her when her birthday was and she changed homes so many times that no one kept track of her birthday. I wonder what she is doing right now…what a beautiful woman.

On our way back from the interior of the country, we finally had the opportunity to give away our gifts. Words can not express the experience - so I will not even try. Instead I ask you to view the photo below. Every single child was overly joyed to the point of tears about their gifts of soap, Micky Mouse stuffed animals and crayons. My heart changed on that warm, dusty day in the interior of Dominican.

One last stop…at a local bar/dance hall. That was when I given the gift. The gift of the hand carved wooden turtle on a string as a necklace. I accepted it (as it is rude to reject their gifts). I asked why he gave me this necklace. He understood, but could not speak enough English. He said, “beautiful” and did the Universal sign for smile. He said, “beautiful” and touched the spot on his chest where his heart beats.

I didn’t understand the chain of events until after I returned back to Canada.

You see, my wedding was about the things that we could feel and not the things that weren’t there to touch. The “important piece of luggage” DID arrive on time. The simple gifts of “junk” became a blessing (according to the children). And the gift given to me? It was a present from a new friend who saw the change in my heart and gifted me with the reminder that it was time to get connected to my most primal essence. Just as the turtle cannot separate itself from its shell, neither can we separate ourselves from what we can do on this earth.
I wear the turtle around my neck everyday…even if it doesn’t match what I’m wearing. Whenever I need reminding of what I am doing here, no I mean…what I’m REALLY doing here…I feel the weight on my chest of the little wooden turtle. I’m not here to spend my days worrying about whether a contract gets signed. I’m here to put out what good I can into the Universe and accept the response as a wonderful little gift from a perfect stranger.