Pam Bustin
creator, editor, story tender
being seen… “It’s bigger on the inside.”
Romper, stomper, bomper boo.Tell me, tell me tell me do. Magic Mirror, tell me today, did all my friends have fun at play? I see Kathryn and Jennifer and Laura and Johnny, SisterCoyote and Judith and Bethani and Mary and Jalene and Kathleen and Robert and Anne and Mary Jo… And I see YOU, too.
Anybody out there remember Romper Room? I do. I especially remember sitting there at the end of the show when Miss Nancy picked up the Magic Mirror and looked out at alllllll the children who had gathered that morning to watch the show.
I’d press up as close as I could to the television without getting heck from my mother. I’d press up and sometimes I would wave but mostly I just hoped….and hoped…. and hoped that this would be the day that Miss Nancy saw me.
She never did.
I bet a lot of you have a similar story.
When I was grown and talking about Miss Nancy and her magic mirror with a pal, she said, “Did you ever write in?”
I didn’t know that writing in was part of the deal. You could write a letter and say hello and tell Miss Nancy your name and then… the Magic Mirror could see you.
I never flipped the switch by making CONTACT.
And, apparently, no other Pams did either. Heh heh.
As some of you know, I spend my Friday mornings over at The Oasis with Jennifer Louden and a great bunch of women (and men). Last week, Jen asked us to drop her a line on that week’s forum about How and When we Oasis.
I hadn’t been hanging out on the Oasis forums much for a few weeks and I was missing it. A big part of why I joined the Oasis and why I am playing this year in NaNoLand is that I really enjoy the feeling of being IN COMMUNITY – even if the community is online.
I decided to slip on down to the Oasis and respond to Jennifer’s request.
I wrote:
I Oasis each Friday from 10-11 AM. I like having a certain time that I come to the call each week. I’ve found that it is much easier for me to show up for things like – live calls / webinars / classes than it is to just… sit myself down to do the things that I KNOW will feed me.
Over the summer, I actually invented a 5 week class for myself, led by ME. Heh heh.
Each Wednesday from 7-8:30, I would retreat to my “writing burrow” (a wee trailer in the back yard), following a basic format much like the Oasis:
– a short meditation
– an invocation
– writing/drawing prompts
– a gratitude practice
– a closingI decided to gift The Oasis to myself this year as a way to strengthen this weekly practice IN COMMUNITY and with Jennifer.
Each Friday, I make a cup of tea and settle myself into the Oasis with a sense of being in a cozy cabin with you all — scribbling, giggling, and sometimes weeping together.
For the past few weeks, I haven’t spent much time on here online. But I want to drop in more often throughout the week. Just to keep in touch and strengthen this sense of community/connection that I so yearn for.
Thank you all for your beauty and wisdom.
Go easy~p
Each Oasis features a call/recording — that I experience as time spent with Jennifer and the rest of the gang. I love this time.
Jennifer started a new thing, last week, where she gave Shout Outs to members of the community who have posted on the forum. Things that tickle her, move her, members who might need some extra support in the coming week.
This morning….. I GOT A SHOUT OUT!
Can you believe it?
Jennifer talked about how she liked the image of all of us inside the Burrow together. That it made her think of Mary Poppins’ handbag – so much bigger on the inside…
I felt… so warm and wrapped round with love and then it REALLY REALLY did feel like everyone was here with me, sharing the warmth of the wood fire, sipping tea and coffee, meditating together. Ahhhhh. Lovely.
Even as I attempted to let the love ooze into my body, my brain-monster started yelling, “Well don’t get USED to it, Missy! Don’t go trying to garner attention all the time. That isn’t…nice.”
Sigh.
Throughout the call, Jen had us working through various writing prompts with the following in mind…
Knowing I am seen and loved for what I am…. [insert question to explore]
It was…. wonderful and thrilling for me.
I shan’t go on…I must go on… I shan’t go on… about it. Other than to say how grateful I am that I decided to give myself the gift of the Oasis this year.
As for my NaNoLand adventure today…. yes, it had to do with Romper Room and places that are “bigger on the inside.”
Some Fun Links:
Creating The Writing Burrow: https://pambustin.com/2013/07/04/creative-spaces-my-studio-trailer-revamp/
The Oasis: http://jenniferlouden.com/the-oasis/
A very cool blog by an Oasis compatriot who is on a two year motorcycle trip with her beloved: http://www.jalenecase.com/knowingourselves/
And last but not least… The Lovely Miss Nancy:
Have a great day everyone!
go easy ~p
4 Comments on “being seen… “It’s bigger on the inside.””
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Places I read
some places i hang out
Pam Bustin 
Yes, I remember Romper Room very well. I never wrote in though, and somehow I remember that you had to in order to hear your name. The only time I saw my name on TV was when I won a contest on Video Hits. I was so excited. It was a sweatshirt and I was over the moon. Last year, I won a trip to Palm Springs, a legitimate free week and flight with my husband. My reaction was no where near the one 25 years ago. Not too sure what it would take for me to be that excited again.
Nice to be visiting here with you again. Sorry about the lack of comments though, I sometimes forget that people are looking for socialization. I know I am.
Have a great week 😊
Andrea
Hey Andrea – love the story about the sweatshirt and how excited you were to win it.
I wish we could recapture that feeling more and more instead of less and less.
It’s interesting coming out of my long period of….running silent… for the last year or so. I pull so inward.
I am also returning to reading blogs, not sure why I stopped checking in with everyone… just let it happen.
Thanks for stopping by and dropping a line.
go easy~p
Hahahaha. I’m a little creeper out that wordpress knows me so well it recommended this to me today!
Wild! Brought me back here to re-read the post. #BlogsAreFun
And yeah…. the interwebs can be creepy – or cool depending on our Perspective. Brings me back ’round to your post today on your blog:
https://renpowell.com/2021/01/05/turning-over/
You are so right!