The turtle met the owl at a very young age while still living in the river’s bend. The Owl, having the wonderful gift of flight, was able to come and go as she pleased and was never affected by the boundaries containing the turtle. For all of his years of growth, the Owl was viewed as source of great wisdom as gained by a long life of scanning the Ground from the sky… Which was quite a different angle than the world as seen from the water. The young turtle would enjoy the times when the Owl and her family would make their way to the river’s bend. He would listen intently as she told stories and shared thoughts that were gained from the highest perches. The turtle loved the Owl and she him. When the turtle started his journey, the Owl, having the time and space, invited the turtle to pass through her her home at the peak of the giant spruce. There she spent her time aligned with with the world above and the world below… It was from this place that she was able to work toward the lifelong discipline of achieving balance with all aspects of the beautiful universe around her. The turtle, who’s home was far from top of the understood world,  found his way to the peak of the tree and was instantly at home and at peace. As time went on, the turtle found that the Owl’s ways were very similar to his, though always with a flair that was distinctive only to flight. The two of them spent many hours talking about the turtle’s journey, about the known and unknown world around them, about life’s difficult obstacles, and how those obstacles were actually just steps to a new level of exsistance. They talked of the future, the past, and the present… They worked on many projects together and became lifelong friends, peers, and confidants. From the Owl’s perch, the turtle could see in all directions of the world without obstruction… And he loved it so… And he loved her. At the end of their time together, he found it very difficult to climb back down to the Ground. As with all aspects of the world, though, there is awakening, discovery, learning, sharing, and then there is a crossing… And so he slowly made his way down from the peak of the giant spruce to resume his walk down the path toward discovery. Not far down the path and feeling sad, he turned around and noticed that the Owl was flying high above him and laughing her distinctive joyful laugh… And he smiled. It was then that he knew that for the rest of his time in this place, he need only climb out of the obstructions of life to clearly see and learn from the past, to gain perspective on tomorrow’s heading, and to send love to his beloved Owl… Who may be perched right next to him.