Issue #1 Article#13
Is That All There Is by Anita McHarg
At the Final Five Day ARC Graduating Class of August 2004, (yes, all those
words need capitalizing) there were three of us, Marnie, Gwen and me, Anita.
Also there were JoAnn, Melanie, and Pietro. The class was held at Pietro and
Melanie’s new house in Qualicum Beach. It is a beautiful spot, right across from
the ocean, a sheltered little cove of driftwood, large flat rocks, and lovely
warm water. Their house seems small from the outside but inside there are tall,
timbered roof lines, skylights, lots of airy space and that indefinable magic
touch of Melanie and Pietro. The living room is comfortable with a deep
overstuffed couch and loveseat and a friendly little black potbellied stove.
With an open floor plan adjoining the kitchen, living room and dining room, the
French doors open out to a wood deck that travels around to Melanie and
Pietro’s private bedroom entrance. The garden is planted with an intriguing
variety of green, all different shapes, shades and textures with a fun little
gate opening onto the driveway. The backyard is like a little oasis of timbered
deck, inviting hot tub, green, green grass, a friendly little greenhouse, and a
picturesque shed. Is that all there is?
Most of our
classes were held outdoors as we sipped tea in the lawn chairs, lazily watching
the insects buzzing among the flowers. We took the massage table outside and
practiced techniques under the tree. Spirit felt very close outside in that
quiet Eleusinian spot. I had two personal breakthroughs during those outside
sessions. Is that all there is?
The evenings
were devoted to fun and laughter and eating. We sat up talking around the
dining room table or outside lolling in the hot tub. Melanie showed her
audacious sense of humor, asking round robin questions such as, “Where was the
most interesting place you’ve ever had sex?” Too bad there’s not enough space
for me to tell the answers…Gwen and Marni opted to sleep outside in tents so
they could be assured of having their own space. The first night, Gwen was out
like a light and slept right through until daylight, needing a wake up call.
Marni had a more exciting time. When I got up in the morning, she was stretched
out on the couch. Marni explained, as only Marni can, how a great herd of deer,
raccoons, wolves and mice leaped over the fence and had a rowdy party right
outside her tent.
Marni’s tent
wasn’t put up again. Is that all there is? Then it was the last night. Maybe
some of you know about JoAnn. There is an unrestrained alter ego lurking in
that competent, reliable and very talented ARC practitioner. Melanie and JoAnn
holed up all of the night before the final evening and a good part of the day
to discuss the final night’s program. JoAnn announcing that she had brought
“the dress” in case it was needed. Gwen, Marni, and I went out, ostensibly to
sit in the hot tub and chat but really trying to overhear what kind of fate was
awaiting us. Unfortunately JoAnn saw us, closed the window and pulled the
blinds. It’s just as well.
The evening arrived. JoAnn disappeared but was replaced by an awesome creature called Galactica Godiva, attired in a slinky, black, shimmery sheath dress with a pink chiffon scarf, hair piled high on her head and dramatic make-up. Galactica entertained us with song and monologue. An important number was a description of ARC and the amazing stand Melanie and Pietro take for us all teaching, mentoring, and supporting us through the classes and our personal challenges. The chorus of the number was the Peggy Lee song:
Is That’s All There Is
Is that all there is/Is that all there is
Is that’s all there is my friend
Then let’s keep dancing,
Let’s bring out the booze and have a ball
If that’s all there is
It was a
memorable evening, I laughed till I ached. Melanie and JoAnn put on some skits
of possible ARC sessions with famous people as the practitioner such as: Dolly
Parton, leaning over to ask her client, “What do you notice?”, and Clinton
Eastwood demanding, “Come on
Defense, make my day!”, and Pietro as a client, eventually taking over
as practitioner. Marni led us in a game of
Balderdash—ARC practitioners are very skilled in the art of fabrication,
making up incredible definitions for esoteric words. I told the story of The Gunniwolf (author Wilhelmina Harper)
by candlelight—a story that delightfully scares my preschool classes. Then
Pietro brought out his guitar and he played request after request as we listened
and sang, drinking shandys’ (beer mixed with lemon soda—Pietro’s recipe) until
the wee hours. Is that all there is?
The final
morning, Diana Mongeau came and did a beautiful drumming ceremony for each
person. I could feel the beat of the drum pounding through my whole body and by
the end of my turn tears were streaming down my face, it was so powerful. We
ended with sharing and acknowledgments words that reached deep into my soul and
nestled there resonating deeply with my belief that this is my chosen Path and
the ARC family will all be there to support me along the way. Yes, that’s ALL
there is.