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22
Back Porch
gives out an emphatic “No!” He packs a punch to watch out for, but most times he will warn, “I ‘it ‘oo.”
The Old Lady recalls him lifting his face, placing a tiny finger on his chin and asking her to “Iss ‘ere.” Or raiang his arms and saying, ‘1 wanna ‘ug ‘oo.” Yes, he is growing, and some baby things are passing. Now when he gets in a tight spot, he puts the fingers of one hand into the palm of the other and yells. ‘Time out! Time out!” He’s learning fast how to get out of sticky situations the easy way.
As the Old Lady reflects her, her spirit lifts and she realizes she has just had another glimpse of the meaning of life and things that bring joy and peace to a person. She alts in the swing and watches the boys in the last light of day, Thoughts tumble through her rrrind so fast. Wanting to put these things down before they go the way of so many of
her thoughts and her memories these last few years, she looks on the cluttered table and finds a short pencil and an old envelope.
She begins to write, listing things that bring her joy and peace.
Waking up in the mornings with a anile, thankful to be alive.
Sitting on the back porch with the first cup of coffee of the day.
Taking walks with the boys to the Fish Pond.
Visiting with the Lord every day.
Attending church on Sundays and on Wednesday nights.
Spaiding time with her aster and with friends, sharing material things as well as spiritual insights with love.
Smiling, she also writes, Watching reruns of ‘The Rockford Files’ on Sunday nights.
A little redhead saying, “I wuv ‘oo, Mamaw.”
The children coming home for the weekend.
A big hug when she returns home after three days and Kristen saying, “Don’t go away again, Mamaw.”
When the children really like each other.
Being married to the same man for forty-five years.
Being content.
Suddenly she realizes that she is not an Old Lady, just a lady with a lot of living to do yet. She glances again to where the boys were playing, but they have gone inside to watch Lasae. The truths of her thoughts give her a new awareness of the goodness of life.
Though she has passed three-score and ten years, she has two futures. One in Heaven before long, and one that will live on in the lives of three small boys.
-o-
With Eyes Closed
by Maria Ercilla
Parched violets
sun-filled blueberries,
palms swaying like giant fans,
radio leaking love songs
somewhere in the cool shade,
gentle comforter
floating beneath curly clouds,
while I sink in
crushing it
and with eyes closed
give into the warm breath
spiraling above me
and the amber mustache
brushing against my upper lip
razor sharp—
my own fierce rosebush.
7ofC
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