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Our Story- Connection in the Stars Chpt 2

One day I was simultaneously talking to my mom while streaking bleach through my hair, giving myself highlights.  She was on a speaker phone and was asking if I had read that book about Astrological love signs my sister had given me to read. I giggled and told her that I had and it said the sign that would be most compatible with me, a Scorpio, was a Cancer.  It was all tongue and cheek as I really wasn't looking for anyone.  But my mom, being a mom, of course pressed.  Knowing her daughter was still a young lady coming out of her first marriage with much to still offer, she asked me what qualities I was looking for in a mate?  This was an interesting question, because in my first marriage, I really hadn't considered that.  So, in light-hearted fashion, I began rattling out a list of my dream guy.

"Of course, he should be kind and good with children.  Patient with me.  I would like to meet someone that was good with his hands.  That liked to fix things around the house.  He should be good with tools so that we could work on weekend projects together.  He would have a rugged exterior, and rough hands, yet, was a big teddy bear inside"  I gleefully told her, happy to have nailed down the qualities of a person I would like to spend time with.

"Do you think that is too much to ask for, Mom?"  I asked. 

She laughed and said, "No, not at all honey".

Later, after my shower, towel wrapped around my head, I poured myself a cup of coffee and looked out of the back window to check on the kids.  Some of the neighborhood children, along with my oldest were playing as sword fighters with sticks in the backyard.  My little one, was on my hip.  I walked with him into the living room and stooped down to play some music on the stereo.  On of my favorite things to do at home on Sunday's was dance with my baby.  We swirled and danced, until out of my front window, something caught my eye.  I put Scott down and peeped outside.

"Oh, it's just that guy from the birthday party a few weeks ago" I thought to myself.  (see the story -The Invisible Man)

I couldn't remember his name, but noticed he was in front of my neighbors house, polishing his truck.  He seemed to be in his own little world, focusing on every tiny detail of the baby-blue 1988 Toyota 4-Runner.  I thought, he must take really good care of that old truck as it still looked brand new. 

I picked up my baby and to his great delight, we swirled around and danced to the music once more.

Today, I received a newsletter from our hospice company, indicating it has been 9 months since my husband passed and that they understand how difficult it has been.  Inside the newsletter was a lovely poem called....

Peace in My Soul

It was such an awesome day

And I stopped to stare at the sky.

My heart skipped a beat as I heard you speak.

When you asked the angel, "Why?"

"I wrote 'I love you' in the sky

As big and plain as can be

How can she stand down there and look up here

And still not be able to see?"

The clouds were broken and thin,

And swirled randomly through the air

I searched and strained at all that remained

Of the swirls of white still there.

The angel's voice was soft and low

As I smiled and raised a brow,

And I heard her say in the sweetest way

"She's starting to see it now."

There's a bittersweet peace in my soul

And a sense of awesome pride

Knowing you're up there writing

Words in the air,

And our love never died.

By Fern Lary Mills

Ray of Light Through Worn Wood- continued

*In remembering my husband, I have been looking at the big picture- seeing who I was before we met allows me to understand the full impact he really did have in my life....*

In my old Ford Bronco, we headed up the freeway through the Wasatch Mountains.  Destination, Strawberry Reservoir.  The views are stunning.  I glance over at Jade.  She's sitting next to me on the bucket seat and is looking out the window.  Behind her passes a stream of Quaking Aspen and Pine.  The blue sky is etched by the towering mountains that have craggy stone faces of grey with peaks still covered in snow.  Looking down at us; as they seem grow taller the closer we get.  All surrounded by bright green fields of the season's new grass and sprinkled with bursts of white, red and purple wildflowers.    

Jade looks at everything going by as though she does not want to miss a thing.  She is only about two years old although she has been on enough of these trips with me to know what to expect.  We will wind up the open highway onto a dirt trail that climbs even further into the mountains, until we see old remnants of tire marks veering off the dirt trail into an oblivion of trees.  We will pull off there and that is where, I will set up our camp.  Since we are only staying one night, we will make a comfy bed in the back of the Bronco.  But first, once we have staked out our campsite, we drive back down a bit on the dirt road and turn to see a beautiful view of Strawberry.  There we pull up to the reservoir and  look around to see a few other cars there, usually other fishermen, getting their gear in order. 

I will pull out my float tube.  Then I will try to find a inconspicuous way to squeeze myself like a sausage into my waders.  Get my boots and flippers on, I will try not to stumble as I get the float tube around my waste, grab my fly rod and walk backwards into the water.  Once I am eased into the water, I will use the flippers on my feet to paddle out into the center of the reservoir, grab my fly-rod and make my first cast out into the water.  That is when I take my first, good, deep breath, as all the stress eases from me.  That is the moment I really look around at the trees and notice the birds in the sky.  That is the moment I feel I am not just an observer of these things but part of it.  That we are all connected and one.  This is the time, my mind is allowed to wander freely. 

All the while, Jade, will lay down on the shore.  Her ears are still up and her posture is as though she is watching and waiting for me to return.  She stays there, because she knows I need her and so she is faithful and waits.  That night at the fire, we will share our grilled corn and fish together.  We will stare at the fire, as though we are talking but in silence.  I will feel very fulfilled in knowing that as a girl, I did this on my own.  At the same time, I will look up at the stars and wonder if I will remain alone.  I will wonder, for a moment if anyone was out there that was truly meant for me. 

In the morning, it will be cold.  We will drink ice-cold milk and eat powdered sugar donuts.  By then, I will feel very grubby and be looking forward to a cup of hot coffee and a shower.  The thought of heading back down the hill and to the subdivisions with identical houses, the gas stations every quarter of a mile, the shopping centers and traffic does not appeal to me.  I wished I lived in a place that I could really breath and catch my thoughts as I packed up the Bronco.  Driving back down the dirt road, I fully intend to turn left to head back to the freeway, but to the right is the reservoir.  I will look at Jade and she will look at me, and we will turn towards the reservoir for one more moment on the water before heading back home.