Imagine the Possibilities

I am participating in the March Slice of Life Story Challenge. Thanks to the co-authors of              Two Writing Teachers for creating this  supportive community.

Father Hawk stretches wide his wings.

You stretch your arms as Mars rises red in the sky.

(from Hawk Rising by Maria Gianferrari with illustrations by Brian Floca)

I stood by the door to the back yard sipping my coffee. Early morning light danced on the horizon, creating shadows on the snow-covered grass. I watched the sparrows and chickadees play at the feeder, then I noticed something else.

What was that large form on the low branch of the maple? I wondered. Then I saw it turn its head ever so slightly.

An owl? Too big.

A vulture? Not the right color.

A hawk? Most likely.

Before I could grab my binoculars to investigate more closely, she spread her wings, leaped from her perch, and was off, climbing higher and higher. I marveled at her beauty and power. I’ve noticed hawks flying high in the sky, but can’t recall seeing one so close to the house, and right in my backyard!

The next day, I noticed her again. Could she be after the many squirrels that scamper through the yard? Perhaps the birds? Or is there something deeper involved in her presence? Of course I did a little research and discovered that hawks are sometimes thought to be spiritual messengers. Observing them could be a call to see things from a higher perspective, to expand my knowledge and wisdom. Whatever it is, I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to observe this natural beauty from a closer perspective.

I’ll be looking for her again.

I am participating in the March Slice of Life Story Challenge. Thanks to the co-authors of              Two Writing Teachers for creating this  supportive community.

My daughter, Annie, has always been on the go. Although she never really crawled on all fours, she scooted on her tummy in a make-shift army crawl. When she realized she could get farther and faster by scooting on her back, there was no stopping her. She was off.

Annie didn’t venture too far for college, but she did go out of state. During the summers she traveled around the country working for a company that provided clean-up services at concert venues. You might say she experienced things from the ground up. Music and travel and making new friends – what could be better?

After college, Annie worked for AmeriCorps, a job rich in experiences if not necessarily pay, that took her to live some 3,000 miles away in California. She took the opportunity to see even more of the country as she traveled back and forth for visits.

Two years later she was off again, going even farther away, this time to Costa Rica to teach English as a second language. While there, she visited other countries in Central America and became fluent in Spanish.

Annie will travel alone or with friends and go anywhere that sparks an interest. Last summer she spent time in Spain, and this summer there is talk of a trip to Columbia. She never ceases to impress me with her independence.

So, I wasn’t surprised at all when she sent me a picture yesterday of her first tattoo – an arrow on the underside of her left arm with the word “wanderlust.”

Perfect. In every way.

I am participating in the March Slice of Life Story Challenge. Thanks to the co-authors of              Two Writing Teachers for creating this  supportive community.

Outside…

I wake to a thin coating of ice blanketing cars and trees and yesterday morning’s snowfall.  Muffled bird calls disrupt the quiet stillness. The backyard reminds me of a Wyeth painting – a sea of whites and grays in a sepia world. Woodpeckers and chickadees vie for position at the bird feeder. Cyrus trots out, sticks his snout in the air. He detects new smells, then follows fresh tracks. Who’s been here?

I wonder.

Inside…

I’m surrounded by warm cuddles and coos and curious grins. I walk carefully among colorful blocks and pompoms. Cars and trucks honk and beep with the press of a button. I sit with books and read about a construction crew, Gerald learning to dance, and what animals in the forest like to eat (I have help with the page turns). I drink in that sweet smell of  baby. Or is that from the banana he just ate? Cyrus follows a trail of cheerios into the kitchen. Who’s been here?

No need to wonder…Alex is visiting.

I am participating in the March Slice of Life Story Challenge. Thanks to the co-authors of              Two Writing Teachers for creating this  supportive community.

Back for my 5th official year of slicing (I may have engaged in a year of lurking before jumping in). This morning as I scrolled through the posts it was so nice to see so many familiar faces as well as new ones. What a growing and supportive community we have!  Last year I made a conscious effort to let my stories find me, and I hope to continue with that this year. I love trying out new structures, too, and getting inspiration from everyone else. Looking forward to this special month! But what does this have to do with a flower shop, you say? Well…

A few days ago I had the opportunity to deliver books to a preschool in a town (actually a city) not far from where I live. Once a thriving industrial community. Once a stopping place along one of the first long-distance paved roads in Pennsylvania. Once a Native American settlement and fur trading post. Now it stands, like many small cities and towns across the country, with the ghosts of what was and what might have been.

Stopped at a red light, I looked out at vacant lots, run-down shops, and a lonely laundromat. But across the street stood a flower shop, its windows filled with vibrant blooms beckoning passersby to stop in for a visit. An oasis of color in a sea of gray. Just looking at the window bouquets of flowers and balloons made me smile and filled me with warmth.

The light changed, and I continued on…regrettably. I learned later that the family-owned shop has been operating for four generations. I will make it a point to return.

Happy slicing everyone!