Misty Days

I visited a place the other day. In the wind I could hear sounds of old. My fathers laughter, my children's giggles and squeals of joy.
We lived in a canyon similar to this picture. My dad had come to visit. We had all gone on a walk. My kids in their camouflages and my dad in his shorts and much to my childrens joy, he also wore a dime store Indian headdress. He would whoop and holler as he chased the kids - the whole while his laughter rang through the wooded area.
When we got to the dam the icy water was tempting them to jump in. My dad took off his shirt and with an "Indian" yell jumped in. What fun the kids had with him.
I had taken our rabbit with us on the walk. We had him in a special harness. Dad took him in the water and sure enough that thing loved to swim. It was probably dads charm that kept him in the water. Silly thing.
As we left the sun was streaming through the aspens and it began to sprinkle. I took a picture and when developed it looked like crystals falling from the sky. Memories - love them and hate them all at once.

It is amazing how our journey through grief is such a lonely one - especially when most everyone around you has experienced the same thing. But it is ours alone to walk through, deciphering the pain or not carry what it means, feeling it or ignoring it, crying or laughing, repressing memories or embracing them - it is ours alone.

I was able to sit out in the open fields yesterday. The sun was warm, the air smelled like fall. Meadow larks were singing, there was even a hawk hunting. I sat in the field with two Percheron's. Sweet and gentle. They tower above me - even when I am standing. They would follow me everywhere and when I sat down they would graze right beside me. It was so quiet, so relaxing.

This spring I will be volunteering to monitor raptor nests (hawks, eagles, falcons, owls -etc) I am hoping to have about 30 nests to monitor. Will be perfect for getting pictures.

A new class started today - can you tell I am counting down the minutes?

Time for the office to close. Time to go home and do homework.