I returned to the rabbit patch from Elizabeth City and found things in good order. The boys had kept the place tidy-and Christopher Robin was sleeping peacefully , as if he were a well mannered cat and had not caused a ruckus, recently. Cash, my boxer was especially glad to see me. Cash had nothing to feel shame about, neither did Moon Shine, formerly known as “the wild kitten”. Moon Shine is now a pudgy kitten with a most unusual voice. He s quite talkative and makes all sorts of sounds, that I have never heard any other cat make. At times, he sounds like a small child-at other times, he sounds like a tropical bird. He was singing and Cash was dancing while Christopher Robin slept through my homecoming. Even so, I could not hold it against him. I was so glad he was home.
The drive home on Tuesday was almost treacherous. A thick blanket of fog made the now familiar drive, seem like a strange venture. Places that I now consider my landmarks, were hidden- even the highway seemed to unfold only a few feet before me. At times, I was sure I was the only one left in the world, then there would be a sign of life in headlights that appeared for a few seconds and then vanished just as quickly.
The lights in the old farmhouse on the rabbit patch were a welcome sight. When supper was cooking, I sat down to relax. I thought how quiet the world is when fog fills the air. All of the commotion at the beginning of the new year seemed a long ways off. I liked the stillness that hovered over the rabbit patch, like a “spell ” that prevented any sort of rushing or haste. The ride home, with its’ obscurity meant I would not miss the serenity of seeing how magical mist looks hanging over water.
Fog renders a sense of timelessness in the countryside. All of the rabbit patch becomes a “Quiet Garden” and the old trees, bare now, in January looked like they were wearing tinsel.
The animals were all napping as I stared out the window by the morning table. I could barely make out the biggest old barn . Sometimes it is like that-we do not always have total clarity to see things. When things make good sense, we feel content and confident-and if it were always so, I guess that faith would not seem so necessary-but it is when visibility of solutions are hindered, we have the opportunity to practice what we believe. I have read that “faith is the substance of things hoped for” and I have found it to be a beautiful truth.
The kitchen was smelling like”home” with a ham baking, so I decided to peel some potatoes. I am as happy peeling potatoes as some folks are counting money- and that is a good thing as I usually have more potatoes than money. I did some “wishful thinking” til the pot was full. Christopher Robin slept the whole time- and so, all was well at the rabbit patch .
The first day of the New Year is a cold and rainy event in Elizabeth City. The little town is quiet this morning-as far as I know, I could be the only one awake from the looks around. Street lamps may burn all day today.
Will and Jenny attended a fancy affair last night. They came home not long after the sound of fireworks proclaimed the new year. Lyla had been asleep a while and I was on the third series of Downton Abbey when the sky “cracked and snapped”- and light cascaded down in all sorts of hues.
I do not ponder “resolutions”. As it turns out, I often do poorly at keeping them and then there is a sense of failure and shame that I ate cookies within two weeks or cut my own hair in January. I do not wander about aimlessly, however. Instead, I self reflect, about daily. I do think about things that I would like to happen-but I am older now and realise that the most wonderful things I have ever known, were not my own plans. In light of this, I just expect things to work out-or pass. Living with an open heart is far from reckless behavior but in fact, takes a lot of self-discipline-and courage too, at first. I do not think it is irresponsible to practice our best behavior and expect the best.
I have found that I need less “things” than I used to. “Time is better than money” rings true for me. I would as soon watch a redbird in a young peach tree than most things. I would rather cook a pot of beans for my sons and talk while they simmer, than eat “high on the hog” because I worked a second job. Strolling with Lyla is a better way to get around, than driving a new car-for me. When it gets down to it-a cold glass of water is desired above champagne, when you work in a garden.
Of course, I am expecting to live abundantly in the new year. I am waiting for blessings ” beyond my wildest expectations” to unfold quite naturally . What I do while I wait, will make all the difference.
Already, the new year has been kind to me. Christopher Robin is home safe and sound! He sashayed across the rabbit patch like he had been away watching blue jays quarrel for an hour. He was hungry, but showed no signs of wear and tear, otherwise. I thought of all the prayers that had been lifted on behalf of this cat. Words of comfort and well wishes flooded in -and I felt humbled by it.
There is a lot of beauty in this world. Whatever we look for in the new year, we are going to find, or so it often seems. From the bottom of my heart, I wish everyone abundance, peace and love-and “The Greatest of these is Love.”
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