So my dear friend Christine is preparing for a surgery.  The uterus has to go, and because we are women of substance, we decided to send that organ off in fine style with a big ole party.  Donna was in charge of the fire, Michelle supplied the "uterus", and Lynn sent along juniper.  Throwing juniper on ashes is apparently a Buddhist tradition, and creates a clear pathway to heaven for the deceased.  So Christine chucked the uterus in the fire and each of us grabbed a handful of the juniper and danced around the flames.  Christine was given an "urn" in which to store the precious ashes.  The aroma created by the juniper was absolutely divine.

 

I was speaking to my friend Anna prior to the party, and she stated that Western "Christian" society, unlike other faiths, fails to acknowledge rites of passage in any significant way.  I agree.  After all, for a woman to lose such a piece of herself - it must be grieved.  And her life should be celebrated.  My friend Christine is a strong, intelligent, and sexy woman.  And now a piece of her has been released into the world.