6/29/11

Goddess of the Week: Abeona

Unknown woman as Ceres. Marble, Roman artwork,...Image via WikipediaAlexandria needs a goddess. Her son went with a high school group to France, and Air France lost the entire group's luggage! They both need the Roman goddess of travel Abeona.

Abeona started out as a goddess of baby steps. Literally. Her whole job was to help babies learn to walk. But she had to broaden her range because first steps always beget first steps. You know how it is. One day your baby's walking, the next day he's moving into a dorm with a guy named Sven who has a coffee table made out of beer kegs.

What is a mom to do?

Trust in Abeona. Trust that each step faces forward, that each foot holds steady, that each journey that takes us away from home finds us safe and warm and with a full change of clothes. Trust that when we lose our luggage (both physical and metaphorical), we will have the flexibility to adapt and the natural body chemistry not to smell. Finally, trust that the paths we follow change us just enough to open our minds, but not so much that we start dressing like Eurotrash posers.

Channel this goddess: when traveling, when trying something new, when watching people you love step out into the world, when Air France loses your luggage.

Need a goddess? I got goddesses! Post a comment explaining why you need or want a goddess. Check back in a week or two and see what I found you. It's fun! It's free! Why aren't posting already?
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16 comments:

Star said...

Love the parallels in this one (and having a few basic necessities in one's pockets isn't such a bad idea, either, though with the current airline regulations...).

Pearl said...

HA! I need Abeona, that's who I need!

Enjoyed your writing style. :-)

Pearl

TheChieftess said...

Hmmmm...I wonder where you can get a coffee table with beer kegs for legs???

Curly said...

"One day your baby's walking, the next day he's moving into a dorm with a guy named Sven who has a coffee table made out of beer kegs." Ahahahahahahahahahaahhahahahahahahha AHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAH
Well I can't relate with this subject yet, but I will keep it in mind for the future! ;-)

Cafe Pasadena said...

In Abeona you trust?
How do you pronounce her name?

Joanne said...

That poor high school group needs more than a goddess ... They need a miracle! I can't imagine the aggravation :/

Tony Van Helsing said...

Margaret, I've just had three weeks off work during which I climbed Mount Snowdon in Wales, cycled around Belgium, visited World War 1 war graves and attended the Graspop Rock Festival. Now I face four night shifts working on the front desk of an inner city police station. Can you find a goddess that can deal with this kind of culture clash?

Watson said...

Gosh! I thought only Air Canada could lose that much luggage! What a story he'll have to tell when he gets home!

Is there beer in Sven's coffee table or did they drink it all?

Pasadena Adjacent said...

I read your bits of wisdom that you weave into your narrative, and I think, that Margaret has got to be the greatest mother. Really, your daughters are so fortunate to have you as their guide

Shell Sherree said...

You've reinforced my notion that it's better to just travel with hand luggage, Margaret. Abeona sounds extremely handy.

Margaret said...

PA: Were that it were true. Alas, I am excellent at giving advice. Not so good at following it, even my own.

Tony: You're next.

Unknown said...

There's someone I know who desperately needs a goddess. My friend Elizabeth has Lyme disease. She didn't get diagnosed with it until after she was pregnant with her daughter, who tested positive for it at birth. Now her husband is losing his job due to a gov't shutdown in MN. I'm wanting good things to come their way so they can pull through this. Here's a link to her caringbridge site: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/elizabethfadling When you have time, please send a goddess or 12 her way! Thanks!

Petrea Burchard said...

My neighbor's daughter just left on a school trip to France the other day. I hope it wasn't the same one.

It seems a lot of people need goddesses, Margaret. Thank goddess we have you.

Anonymous said...

Add me to the list of your Sven-line fans.

Bec said...

Me too . . . the Sven-line fan club. Great one - I'm a little freaking out about kindergarten (a year from now), knowing that middle school and college & a boyfriend named Sven are right around the corner.

Susan Campisi said...

Alexandria's son is going to have many stories to tell from this trip, maybe even one about hanging with Eurotrash posers. And with Abeona, she doesn't have to worry about him borrowing their clothes.