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| photo by sh33na via flickr |
On the back of a breeze
With a flutter to your wind chimes,
Was me
Whispering to you
Tickling you with joys
as I travelled across country…
with my beautiful daughter
and you,
always you,
in my heart….
Did you smile when we drove through Wallace, Idaho? Did you
like how the evergreens hugged the houses, cradling them like little boxy treasures?
Did they know they were loving the people huts? Or were they just being trees?
And what about Sundance, Wyoming? Did you smile like I did
when I pointed it out to you? Didn’t you love how the rolling green hills
begged us to run as fast as we could until we were out of breath, giving us no choice but to fall into a messy silly goose pile of laughter? And oops, did I open the windows too much? Or was the wild
wind in your eyes a yes? A YAY yes? I thought so. And little girl…she made us
laugh with her giggles, her hair a whirlwind mess. Just like always. Ok, maybe
a little more. In Sundance.
Those long stretches through South Dakota and Minnesota … you
were such a good listener. Forgive me…I couldn’t help myself. As little girl
slept, the movie just wouldn’t stop playing. So I shared it with you. Like a lullaby,
the lyrics spilled from me. My second novel. A book of gifts. Of the gifts we
are all born with and often forget to discover. Did you, maybe a little, feel some
new fluffs of discovery tickle you inside? Did a thought-beam suddenly light up
a forgotten unexpected dream? Ooo…I dream you’re nodding. Again. With a deep smile upon your
face. Yes, yes, I do.
And when we drove through Pennsylvania did your legs hurt,
too? Why was that? Is it like they said, that some of us sense the pains of the
land? Or was it something silly? Like the grease from the french fries not belonging
in our bellies. Even so, with achy legs, we still smiled at the trees. They
weren’t cradling people huts like the trees in Idaho or Montana, but they did
wave hellos. And they seemed happy to see us passing through. Didn’t you think?
And wasn’t New York lush, rich, filled with more green than
you ever imagined? Did your belly do loop-de-loops like mine did when we rode
those hills? Good thing we didn’t eat french fries that day. Phew. Twice.
We talked about the kindness we met in every State. The eyes
and the smiles. The friendly waves and the speedometer differences. The warmth and the gentleness. We spoke of the personalities of the
landscapes and how the country seemed to move from Light to Rich. From Bright
to Deep. Yes, as we travelled from West to
East, we watched and felt. And smiled. Over and again. At the beauty of life. When we just decide to see it. To discover and expand...into it.
So here we are, days and days later…in rural Maine. Are you
barefoot too? Do you feel the grass carpet under your feet? Do you hear it tell
you how happy it is that you are Home? And do you hear the birdies twitter
their happies too, the happy freedoms that are borne of wings? Do they remind
you of your own wings, the tufts of fluff you try to keep hidden beneath your skin? They do me. And you are right here beside me. Still. In case you forgot.
I know because I feel you near…
yes,
I do.
You see,
the scent of your smile
is still
pure
happy.
I know because I feel you near…
yes,
I do.
You see,
the scent of your smile
is still
pure
happy.
* * *
Explore.
Taste new.
Discover.
Journey in.
Journey out.
Expand…. yourSelf.
Ride an adventure into the wind….
And discover more of what living is really all about.
Discover your Home.
And discover more of what living is really all about.
Discover your Home.
6 comments:
It's hard to even begin to comment. And that's not a cop out or attempt at avoidance. It's true. So much here, so much. But as I read, I felt the wind, the trip, the laughter. Even the perhaps-unfriendly gurgle of french fries as they struggled on their way. Discovering home... I wonder sometimes where it is. Then I look around and think maybe I know. Maybe.
Home is truly where the Heart is!! You have an incredible sense of adventure. Thank you so much for sharing it with us along your way. Along all our ways as we journey closer to our Heart:).
Sept 2011 we drove with G, then 2, to RI to see G'ma. I drew. I don't draw. But I did. And I cherish that little book. John drove. I got to draw. Your words are so eloquent, I can relate, but can't communicate (in drawing either), like you do, but I can simply say, USA rest areas are one of the greatest overlooked resources of the world. You can pee, see art, get your bearings, meet people, run, get coffee, play, rest. A 2 year old found a simple sign, sculpture, sticker, map, rock, his greatest treasures of the trip. Yes, found at rest areas, a appreciation for a pee stop I never knew I had. Thanks for your blog & reminding us...these moments don't need to be reserved just for a 'vacation'...but breathe look around, every day ... "How do we keep these experiences from becoming anecdotes"(my often quoted line from "6 degrees of separation")love you! xoxx- Jessie
You were with me, Michael. So glad you felt that and now know that, too. And the Home part? Your Love lives within...the only place Home could be, my dear dear friend.:)
Miss you...hope to hug you in person again soon!
I am sooo glad you came with me, dear Tim. Your laughter brightened everything! And your whispers kept me feeling so safe, soo safe!:) Thank you!
Ohhh Jessie...! The thought of you drawing when you didn't usually...if I sit with that, I'll weep. It says soo much! It's as if your heart stopped speaking with words, and broke out into song! And the symbolism of the rest stops! We all need Rest Stops in our every days, don't we?! Places where we can stop to just Be, time to look around and breathe, as you say...every day. And then..then...we 'keep our experiences from becoming anecdotes' And maybe best of all...we begin to truly live. Thank you for your gifts today, dear Jessie! You are with me, you know...:) love you!!
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