Warmest greetings from the stunning mountaintop world of our new, east coast production office!
It’s been 3 months since Luis and I arrived in western Maryland and began setting up our new home and office, while Sheila continues to masterfully helm the office and partnerships on the west coast.
We are ALL very grateful for this opportunity to spread our filmworks’ mission and message about military mental health — mental health overall — across the country now. Having a physical presence on both coasts has been an intention-in-the-pipeline for a while, and to have the new shingle finally hung is truly a dream come true.
We’ve received SO many gifts of kindness and help in getting to the new digs in western Maryland. One of the daily doses of assistance, goodness and mentorship received on our high-up porch — perch if you will — which overlooks the breathtaking Shenandoah/Appalachian ridge is from a source I never imagined. Hawks! These typically solo flyers frequently and majestically float through our mountainous vista. It’s a joy to watch the elegant air surfers glide effortlessly as they catch the mountain updrafts and currents. There’s such a beautiful playfulness coming from them, too. I take a major life lesson and many a deep breath from their wise energy visits.
AND if seeing one of them isn’t enough, what a gobsmacked sight and privilege it’s been to witness a kettle of them! Kettle (of hawks — look it up), synonymous with cauldron (for the bubbling up and down of their flight), is a collective of migrating hawks, who’ve stopped for a moment to float and play in good air-surfing space. “Dude, excellent drafts over here”, you can hear them calling to each other. More flap in and then let go and just ahhhh… ffllooaatt. In the heftier hawk migration period, since we’ve been here, I’ve seen a hundred of them at a time, from my front row perch seat, having a splendid community gathering — bubbling up and down, up and down in easeful gliding flight. Just the best to watch. And all for fun and for free — truly a gift of grace beyond measure.
I’ve made a special video for you (please see above), with some fantastic updates about the powerful impact of STRANGER AT HOME since its national PBS broadcast debut on Veteran’s Day 2023, where the film’s going in the coming year and our NEW documentary-in-the-works!
Let’s take a page from our Hawk friends — keep floating and gliding with the currents as best we can.
