skip to main |
skip to sidebar
My first wish was to be Hugh Hefner, an icon of the day. I began to form an image in the fog that surrounded me.
When the fog lifted… I was a huge heifer in Texas, wearing a smoking jacket. I blamed my slight speech impediment. I spit out the pipe and, knowing I had two wishes left, quickly mooed….”I would be the biggest stud in America.”
When the fog lifted I was an integral part of a giant snow tire in Montana. I only had one wish left… I decided not to challenge fate again.
I would be who I was, where I was best suited to be, wearing what I deserved to wear, doing what I was qualified to do, accepting the challenges my decisions attracted, and the rewards that befell me… whether I deserved them or not.
… And that’s how I became a naked hillbilly ditch digger in the wilderness of the Ozarks. It was not something I would have thought to wish for… but I have sympathy for those who must be something else.
The journey is long, the path is winding…
There is Life in the seeking, but a death in the finding…
If only that the quest will cease when you stand on victory’s ground.
The riddles then have all been solved. The answers have been found.
We quickly heal from the blows we felt…
More slowly from the ones we dealt…
We have the treasure for which we fought…
And it’s more precious than the one we sought.
Yet, I’m still here, so there must be a task…
Opening doors for any who ask?
Will I catch the wind to help my brother?
Is adversity what I will bring to another?
Some may draw near to the light of my spark…
Others show fear that I can walk in the dark.
It was hot and I was very thirsty. I hid in the foliage and watched the water. I knew I could make it there and back with no effort… unless my return was delayed by claws and jaws.
The great cat crouched over the pool… lapping and watching. No sound was heard. No creature stirred… nor did I.
The large animal suddenly disappeared. I waited until smaller critters had successfully crept to the water and left unharmed.
My thirst was greater than my patience. I hastened to the edge of the pool and looked around. There was no obvious threat. I tasted the water.
The pool was clear and cool and inviting… I threw fear to the wind and threw myself into the refreshing oasis.
My feet thanked me when I hopped from the edge of the shallow clear glass bowl into the soothing water. I could feel the pressure on my underfeathers as the water sought to soothe me.
I shivered and ruffled and allowed the moisture in. Using my wings, I splashed and bathed and rinsed away the hot dust.
I perched on the edge of the bowl for a final shiver… and did a cat scan to make sure it wasn’t really final.
The wind was clean and cool beneath my feathers when I flew without the dust.
I glistened in the sunlight and slid keenly through my task.
My function was a source of pride.
My purpose? … I didn’t ask…
Until the day the parted way resisted what I insisted… I felt a sad.
But my substance was solid still… more than the matter I till…
Lack of challenge made the edge go bad.
Then came the stone. I stood alone. Bits of me were ripped away.
My edge returned… and gifts I’d earned… among them is this day
