are! Turns out that the Indian Carver lives in Tobermory, not Cape Croker.”
“Oh!” was all she replied.
I could tell that Mom was becoming agitated and was starting to squirm in her seat. Nearly everything my mom does is based on logic. What we were doing that day had absolutely nothing to do with logic. I felt compelled to sell her on my notions and beliefs of intuition and simply following one’s gut instincts.
On the way there I spotted Cha Mao Zah. I pulled in the lane, but no one seemed to be around. Tobermory was only about three miles away now, so we drove up to the tip of the peninsula. It wasn’t long before we found a lovely little place called the Princess Hotel. Nearly as soon as I had Mom seated in the restaurant, I headed for the nearest phone. I dropped my coins in, dialed the number, and it rang. But no one answered. I left a message saying that I was currently at the Princess Motel in Tobermory. I said that my mother and I were planning to have brunch and that I would try once more after eating to reach them before departing.
Once Mom was served, I was much calmer. Knowing that she was enjoying the food and the restaurant, I began to relax because she was. For me, just being closer in proximity to the Indian Carver brought such a settled peace and comfort deep inside. Something wonderful was going to happen that day! I don’t know how I knew this, I did. That’s just the way I felt!
After brunch, Mom headed to the little girl’s room and I headed straight back to the phone on the wall. I dialed again and this time I made a voice to voice connection. I got the Indian Carver himself. He asked if we were staying over night at the hotel. I told him no, I was only up for the day and heading out very shortly to Cape Croker. He asked if I could be back at his shop for 3:00 p.m. He went on to explain that the shop isn’t opened up during the month of April. However, he was willing to meet me if I could be there! Of course, I immediately accepted his offer.
I know this sounds even stranger, but this man didn’t seem to be thrown off by anything that I said. It was as if he also strangely knew something bigger than the two of us was doing the steering!
It was shortly after 2:00 p.m. and it was a beautiful bright and sunny day. The wind off the water in front of us sure had a winter’s bite still in it, but ask me if I cared! Mom and I drove just a minute or two away and parked the car. We got out and went for a stroll and a talk. I had to walk down to the water’s edge and stick my hand directly into its icy waters, just so that I can say that I had touched it.
Mom’s enthusiasm for the cold icy waters ranked far below mine. She waited well back and up the bank. For a brief moment or two while squatted down with my hands submerged in the water. I prayed and gave thanks in silence for whatever was about to happen that day. I’m no Einstein, but I knew it was to be a profound day, and that it might be many years if ever again that something this wonderful would be gifted on me. I wanted to show my gratitude, even if I didn’t know what was about to happen. Even if I clearly understood my mother’s uneasiness of being there this day with me!
My heart was pounding after our walk. Getting back into my car meant that I was about to head south for three or so miles and meet a man, meet a great man!
Before going there that day, I had mentioned to a friend of mine that I hoped I would have the opportunity to meet with this man, to take his hand and simply to walk among the woods with him heavily engaged in wisdom and conversation. Little did I know this was more of a premonition than it ever was simply wishful thinking.
Three o’clock came and as I was pulling into one lane way leading to his shop, his vehicle pulled into another lane way, just a few yards away but parallel to me. My car was dark red. His van was dark red. From that moment on, until I left, I was pretty much oblivious to the fact that my mother or anyone else on mother earth existed.
I immediately got out of my car and walked towards him. He had already gotten out of his vehicle and was standing silently to the right of and next to the base of a tall tree in a wooded, yet cleared area. My mind instantly flashed to a panoramic picture that I had purchased only a week or so earlier that now hung directly above the headboard of my bedroom. It was a photo of a lone wolf, standing silently to the right of and next to the base of a tall tree, with nothing surrounding it but the base of other trees. I realized in this moment that photo I had at home had just transformed from a wolf and shaped-shifted into the human-life form that was standing before me. It was a grand confirmation that I had been purposely and divinely led there. No one anywhere could or ever will talk me into believing anything otherwise. I knew I had just witnessed a miracle!
As an extremely private person, it is not my nature to spontaneously open up to anyone, especially within a matter of moments. However, as I was still in movement and walking toward him, I asked him if it was all right if I hugged him. The words weren’t even out of my mouth as his arms reached up and extended openly toward me in welcome. I hugged him! I hugged him for dear life! I hugged him as if we had crossed many milleniums to be reunited! I hugged him like I had never hugged my own father! I hugged him as if I had finally found my lost way home!
I could not speak! I had no words! I had no voice! He asked me three times, “What is it my child, what is it?”
He did not let go of me, and I could not let go of him! I could only hug him longer and sob harder! Somehow I managed to pull myself together long enough to peel myself off his knitted sweater coat. Somehow I managed to reach up with one hand and wipe the tears that were seeping, steadily from under the bottom of my sunglasses and dripping from my jaw line. Somehow I had hit God’s target squarely and fairly, and I could now feel it in my heart, in my soul, and wetly on the cheeks of my face.
He clearly knew that I was no ordinary guest! Somehow he also knew that this was no ordinary greeting. Then, just as I had spoken of doing earlier to my friend, we instantly took one another’s hand and we walked together around his grounds. You could feel a great presence and peace there! It was walking and watching among us! The sun was filtering through the branches of the trees as we walked out into an open clearing. It was like no other moment in my life!
My speech was still broken. I could not recapture my voice. So he spoke for me. He gave me a guided tour of this sacred space that we walked upon. We never for a moment let go of each other’s hand.
After I had gained control of my overwhelming emotions, I began to ask many questions. There was synchronicity and harmony between us. There was pleasant humour and great wisdom dispensed from a forever youthful, quiet, and intelligent gentleman.
I asked questions that I’m sure were completely mundane on most accounts, but he showed no boredom. He offered up his answers with generosity and without hesitation. He instinctively seemed to understand my need and hunger to learn as much as possible in a short but given time. I was no regular visitor to this earthy camp-grounds and lands known as Cha Mao Zah!
In that short time, I had learned many things. A lot of Native ways and culture! A lot of this man whom I was stepping alongside! You see, in the course of our conversation, I had learned that he was strongly tied and connected to Cape Croker. He had been born and raised there. He had also been one of the longest running chiefs of Cape Croker. He had been their chief for fourteen years!
It was from that moment on, from that story on, that I continue to this day to refer to him as “The Chief.”
Now walk backwards, for a moment. From here you will find the words that originated my journey toward: “The Chief” — “Cape Croker, Cape Croker, Cape Croker!”
We spoke of many things, the Chief and I! We spoke of spiritual journeys. We spoke of the people. We spoke of the world. We spoke of the greater plan and the future. We spoke of the past. We spoke of the present. Whatever it was that
