Years prior to Riley's birth, I had a powerful dream. I was being whisked through the ocean waters by a little otter, whom I LOVED beyond description. It was such a blissful, amazing experience that I woke up and wrote it all down. I didn't know that kind of joy was even possible. I was single, living in DC at the time. I briefly referred to the dream in a piece that was published last year in Literary Mama.
In June of 2000, I had a very traumatic 26 hour labor experience with Riley. I wound up with a C-section, but the epidural didn't take on one side, and I felt them cut into me to get her out. It was hell. In the recovery room, the nurses were pressing on my stomach to contract the uterus back down, not realizing I wasn't numb. I was too weak to speak and they couldn't hear my whispery pleas. I could feel my spirit leaving my body. I was sure I was dying.
Two hours after her birth, when they gave her to me, all of that disappeared and I was flooded with the body memory of the sea otter dream.
It was her.
My friend Mary Ellen sent this today, completely unaware of its significance to me.
Watching it, I relive that day, certain Riley and I were aquainted long before June of 2000.
About Me
- Michelle O'Neil
- I've written for Literary Mama,The Imperfect Parent,Cool Cleveland,The Mad as Hell Club and the anthologies pictured below. I'm also a contributor to Hopeful Parents. In recent former lives, I worked in radio news and as a registered nurse. I blog about one Hot Toddy,two great kiddos,spirituality, autism and whatever else tickles me. Our daughter Riley is nine and has Asperger's,our son Seth is seven. Thanks for stopping! Make yourself at home.
Anthologies I've contributed to:
Countdown to Riley's Service Dog
I support gay marriage
Blog Roll
- 4 Paws for Ability
- 4 Paws for Kheira
- Author Mom With Dogs
- Carnal Zen
- Changing Trains
- Charlie the North Star Dog
- Courtney Sheinmel
- Creative Ink
- DC IMPACT
- Drama Mama
- Fully Caffeinated
- GMO-FREE SHOPPING GUIDE
- Healing and Preventing Autism
- Hopeful Parents
- Identity Crisis
- Incipient Turvy
- Indiebound.org
- Jennifer Lauck
- Jess Wilson
- Kario
- Kim Stagliano
- Laura Goodin
- Lend 4 Health
- Lessons from Liberty
- Lisa Romeo
- Literary Mama
- Look Me In The Eye
- Mad As Hell Club
- MB12
- Mercurious
- Normal Films
- Pixie Mama
- Real(tor) Thoughts
- Reflections on the Pond
- Roughly Speaking
- Teachings of Abraham
- TED Talks
- Teen Autism
- The Believing Soul
- The Daily Puppy
- The Pioneer Woman
- This Mom
- Working With Words
- Writer Unboxed
8 comments:
LOVE the otters. Thanks for sharing.
Know exactly what you mean about having you and Riley having each other in your sights. I believe my children and I were born to be family, even though we had to find each other down a long, long road.
So glad you guys found each other, too. It's good to hold hands.
This is so great! I love otters - there is just something so teddy-bearish about them. What a great connection. Hope you showed it to Riley!
No doubt about it.
Sisters, best friends, infinite connection. Love beyond description, sweet creatures holding hands floating on the gentle sea of emotion.
Synchronized swimming.
so sweet!
Oh, that is SO sweet!! Those two otters look so loving and peaceful, so completely at home with each other. What wonderful meaning it has for you and Riley.
Otters are so fun to watch in the ocean.
Awww....loved the video!! It was so cute. And not something you see everyday.
What a coincidence (about the otters and your dream and Riley.)
Thanks for sharing!! :)
That's the sweetest video. Yes, truly, the agreement and connection go so far and deep. Maybe one day we'll finally know and understand.
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