Welcome to Kelli’s blog!

By way of bio, Kelli is a human being who likes similar things to many other human beings, such as eating delicious food or walking in sunshine.

She was born lucky but not rich, so she has to work hard at a career doing a job (which she likes, but it really has nothing to do with this blog).

If you care to define her by how she relates to others you could say she’s a sister, a daughter, a friend… She’s been married to Scott since 2010. But since we aren’t defined by our relationships alone, so what good is that information really? Does it tell the content of her soul or how she loves? 

Since this a blog, perhaps you want to know what it will be about. I cannot tell you, because it is just a wandering silly thing, only meant to be a place that is “other than” the usual places to put things. A spot to upload photos and mention memories without being beholden to likes or shares.

But I suppose you do want to know something about what to expect (or else why read this blog at all?), so I will give some guesses as to the upcoming contents…

I can tell you that Kelli is particularly happy whenever she finds herself holding a quirky and obsolete camera, or in a bookstore or a cat cafe, or with brunch on the table, or listening to live jazz, or surrounded by ancient or interesting buildings, or rearranging rocks in a creek, or paddling in a kayak, or perusing vintage jadeite, or waiting to ride a rollercoaster, or sitting on a rock near a waterfall.

But just as the categorized names of our external relationships say nothing in regards to the content of our souls, neither is our character defined by our likes and favorites. A taste (or distaste) for coffee says little about our ability to sort right from wrong.

In short? This bio is likely no help to you at all, and it’s a complete waste of your time to still be reading it.

But since you’re made it this far, I can (at least) tell you something about the rather enigmatic title of this blog.

The name “Unbidden Grace” is homage to a quote by Kelli’s favorite author, Oliver Sacks. In the autobiographical book ‘A Leg to Stand On‘, Dr. Sacks described his experience of re-learning how to walk after a severe accident….

The nerves and muscles in his leg were weak and damaged. He could not coordinate the movements needed to walk, instead standing shakily with nothing but spasms to show for his intentions. One day as he struggled to coordinate the movements of his leg and foot into something resembling taking a step, he suddenly heard a piece of music. And in that moment, he (quite literally) was moved by the music:

“Grace, unbidden, appeared on the scene, became its center, transformed the scene. Grace entered, at the very center of things, at its hidden innermost inaccessible center, and instantly coordinated, subordinated, all phenomena to itself. It made the next move obvious, certain, natural. Grace was the prerequisite and essence of all doing.”(Oliver Sacks, 1984, A Leg to Stand On)

Fluidity, coordination- and thus meaningful movement- became possible under the influence of a simple strain of music.

May we all hear the music when we need it, and find the grace that appears unbidden, the prerequisite and essence to all our ‘doing’.

If you’d like to see Kelli’s YouTube videos, please go here: https://youtube.com/user/BirdieandTheBear