Some things are meant to be

Well, Christmas is over and the family are all but one gone, giving me time to return to my writing.

I mentioned in the last blog that I would disclose Stephen’s Christmas present.

I was lying on the couch three weeks before the big day, lamenting the fact that I had absolutely no idea what I would buy him. As I scrolled through my phone, I found myself on Trade Me and then in the book section. It wasn’t an intentional search, but somehow that is where I found myself. And before long, out popped a post advertising a collection of Native American books. The blurb said they belonged to a parent who had recently passed over. There were a couple of photos depicting interesting books, a buy now price of $20 for the lot, and a stipulation that they must be picked up from Papakura in Auckland.

I immediately knew these would make the perfect Christmas present for Stephen. He already has a handful of this type of book, which he treasures, plus I would also have an interest in them. However, the pick-up was an issue. I sent the buyer a message asking if he would consider posting them if I paid the costs. It was an anxious wait, a couple of days I think, before he replied. ‘’If I can find a box big enough,’’ were his words. I heard nothing for a few more days but noticed that the post had been removed, not looking good for me. Then on the Sunday night I received a message. ‘’Books are boxed if you are still interested.’’

‘’Yes please,’’ was my quick reply. And two days later, there they were, dropped off by the rural delivery lady. Fortunately, we had visitors at the time so I was able to run out and take them away before Stephen got wind of the contents. When he asked me later what the boxes were, I brushed it off as extra copies of my children’s book.

I was not disappointed. A collection of 26 books. They look amazing. I still have a lot of questions about my own Native American life. Where was I living, for example? I had searched once before, a number of years ago, but I had been searching for the wrong thing. At the time, I believed our tribe had been slaughtered because I killed two settlers and that is what I had searched for. As I uncovered more information from that life, I realised our tribe was slaughtered because a large number of white settlers had been killed by another Indian and I was falsely blamed for it. I had not looked for the slaughtering of the larger number of settlers. I am sure these books will give me the information I am seeking. I did have another Indian life where I was female, but I have received very little on that life and certainly not enough information to identify it.

I have come across two people of Native American descent in New Zealand, but I found them both quite hostile when I voiced my own memories from that life. I don’t think I would ever share my memories again if I was to come across another. I am sure the world would be a much more peaceful place if people accepted they have lived before, and often in situations and countries that they now perceive negatively.

I found the smallest book amongst the collection, about 6cm square, titled North American Wisdom, and wrapped that up in Christmas paper. We had Genevieve and Willow with us on Christmas morning and I carried the presents up from the treatment room, where they had been stored. I handed Stephen his small book and he was delighted with it. Then I brought in the remaining two boxes. ‘’I would have been just as happy with this one,’’ he exclaimed.

Some things are meant to be and I am sure this collection was meant to come into our household. I am convinced the now-deceased man whose books they were and my own Indian Spirit guides would have been pushing to make me go onto the internet that evening and also pushing for the son to oblige when I asked if he would post them to me. I am very grateful for the extra work that was put in to getting these books to me. And I look forward to reading some of them myself.