A series of essays….
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THESE ROCKS TALK TO ME. THEY TIE ME TO PLACES I’VE BEEN TO AND REMIND ME OF THE JOY I FELT BEING THERE! |
….as seen through my eyes!
By: Jacqueline E Hughes
Small testimonies of life lived and places visited with people we love crackle all over the house. Like Pop Rocks candy on your tongue, small explosions of reminders burst from the walls, cabinets, and shelves; physical proof of having shared time and space within a world other than the framework we call our home.
I collect rocks. Oh, I’ve been known to accumulate many other collectibles, but I really like bringing a rock home from every trip I’ve taken. It’s as though its physical presence will tie me to the places I’ve been — forever, in time. If I label them immediately, remembering is simple and straightforward. If not, somehow the dense warmth of each stone placed in my hands reminds me of where it was extracted from and I smile in genuine appreciation.
The rocks talk to me. They relate to the draw and pull that helped me select them from all of the others in the first place. Each one breathes life back into a place where my footprints gathered on a sandy shore, traversed an earthen path forged from the floor of a tree lined forest, or struggled to climb up a mountainside with ancient rock ledges forming natural stepping stones up to the clouds!
Apart from souvenirs that conjure memories of our past experiences, the passing of time marks the anniversary of these adventures we observe as sacred, new, or worth noting. Like a child experiencing snow for the first time, the loneliness we may experience after the loss of a spouse or a good friend, or living through a new episode of life as we have recently observed by the ending of the war in Afghanistan after twenty years of conflict with Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
Now that we’ve entered this new month, September reminds me of wedding anniversaries; my own, as well as those of good friends with whom we are bound together like colorful satan ribbons encasing flower stems held by a bride on her special day.
Many say that sharing a fine meal together is a powerful experience that tightens the bonds between mere acquaintances and good friendships. I will always believe that the way into someone’s heart is sharing good food and drink, laughs and reminiscences, and the simplicity of spending time together as we create the memories we will cherish years from now.
Having recently spent several days with good friends at their beautiful home sharing recipes and indulging in fine wines and spirits, it is true what they say about this being a powerful and memorable experience. Mike and Elaine, along with their Chocolate Labrador puppy named Peyton, welcomed us with the generosity of spirit and hospitality of kind people who truly care about having fun while creating lasting memories.
In lieu of spending three nights in Chicago together, opting not to venture out into a Delta Variant landscape and the chance of multiple restrictions placed on restaurants and Blues clubs, we canceled all of our reservations there for last week. Instead, we were graciously invited to experience Giordano's stuffed Chicago Deep Dish Pizza sent frozen to their door, aged steak four inches thick, and various libations at their home. One word: Excellent! Peyton supplied the energy while trips around the lake on their pontoon boat provided much needed relaxation. New memories were made offering potent reminders of friendship and good times.
Reminding ourselves of highly pleasurable or exciting experiences can help to ease the pain and recollection of unpleasant ones. At the same time, retaining numerous mementos of sad times and the people we have lost along our journey in life can prevent us from moving on and adapting to a more positive outlook heading into the future. Being human with all of the emotions attached to it creates a fine line between adapting to loss and pushing upwards into more palatable experiences beyond the sorrow.
As I sit here writing I am listening to Dan hammering on the new cedar siding he’s installing right outside my window. The fresh cut cedar panels smell warm and soothing as he measures and then cuts them to size; toasted liquid cedar is how I would describe the aroma as it gently wafts into our cottage. With each nail driven into the new wood, life settles into a slow motion dance that reminds me that slowly but surely the remodeling is being completed. With each new day and every side-step and waltz move, our dreams are reaching fruition — just as we’d hoped they would a few years ago.
These subtle reminders of a life well lived surround and comfort me as we will soon celebrate forty-eight years as a married couple. How I remember thinking that just being forty-eight years old was such an accomplishment! Now, when he brings me a steaming mug of coffee in the morning and gently sets it down near my i-Pad as I work, I am grateful for the kindness that this simple act of love expresses.
Copyright © 2021 by Jacqueline E Hughes
All rights reserved
