Counting My Blessings
I watch with pride as a group of young girls kick the soccer ball into each others goal nets. Determination etches their young faces. Their bold spirit exhibited. No frills on the field. Pure energy!
I listened to a seagull laugh it seemed at me as I crossed the parking lot. I sure wanted to laugh back but soon realized how ridiculous that would be.
Instead I counted my blessings on this mild breezy Spring day.
Headed into the restaurant I ordered and took a seat by the window.
The couple across from me were about my age. They assisted their adult wheelchair confined daughter with her meal. She should have been able to play soccer I think sadly. I wonder what her life story is. It was sweet to witness their interaction with her. Devoted parents. Loved daughter.
I counted my blessings.
A young college age girl using her laptop made some odd gestures as she talked it seemed to herself. Signs of Aspergers evident in her mannerisms. She got up loaded her things on her bike and peddled off continuing to mouth a silent conversation all the while. Happy girl with pretty hair in the sunshine.
The umbrellas struggle in the stiff wind on the other side of the window.
A lady reads under one of them. She is alone like me. I wonder does she feel like this, too? A crumb is fed to one of the begging birds near her chair. Lucky bird.
I finished up and went about my day. Filling up the minutes of hours thinking of ordinary moments.
A lady asks me for money for gas but I don't have enough cash.
But when I finish filling my thirsty car, I swipe my card and give hers a drink to fill it up. Her little girl smiles through the dirty car window at me.
Each day is a new one as I learn how to be me.
Today I have had a blessed day!
Cathy Windham
3/30/14
Smiles held in the heart
Smiles held in the heart
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Thursday, March 20, 2014
The Best Dream
The Best Dream
By Cathy Windham
3/20/14
Sun shines like gold upon her hair and sparkling tendrils blow across a freckled brow
as she digs in the sand at the shore line.
Montgomery crouches low and she discovers a shark tooth.
Washing away the sand in the next wave, unveils a perfect specimen. She holds it up to the sunlight.
Serrated edges and a sharp point at one end.
It's a big one. Wondering how old it is or how big the shark was that lost it makes her mind spin. In a way it's frightening. What if he were to come back and claim his tooth?
She runs to safety and squeals in delight with the treasure. "Mom, look what I found!"
Keckley examines it with a serious look on her face. "I do declare, Montgomery, this is a real fossil!" "Why, I just think this might be the biggest one I've ever seen!" "Really?", Montgomery said. "Maybe it needs to go to a museum or something!", she said.
That night as she lay in bed with the shark tooth under her pillow, Montgomery started thinking about the life of that shark. She loved all animals. Her thoughts turned to dreams.
Chapter 2
"I'll call him Sleek!", mother shark said.
He swims with such ease so soon after his birth.
Mother shark watched him closely. She was so proud of her first born.
Instinctively he knew how to avoid harm. Yet he was feared by all the other young fish in the cove. He tried to be nice to them yet they bubbled their shock and swam quickly for cover. Sadly Sleek managed to do things on his own. He did not understand why no one liked his company.
He grew quickly and soon found himself leaving the security of the quiet cove where he was born. He explored many places off the coast of Ponte Vedra, FL. He made his way into the depths of the ocean looking for adventure. There must be a fishing tournament. Schools of kingfish darted in all directions avoiding large hooks tethered to the boats he could see. He was so hungry but knew he was in dangerous waters. Yet, he could not resist the fresh bait odor tempting him. Maybe if I'm careful I can get that bait and not get caught.
Sleek lunged at the large hunk of bait. His mouth caught the hook right behind his tooth. Immediately he jerked at the line and thrashed in the current to free himself.
He could feel the line getting tight. He dove deep. Searing pain tore at his mouth. Then suddenly he was free!
"Whew, that was too close!" Then he realized he had pulled out his tooth trying to get free.
He did not worry about it because he had many more that would take it's place.
The tooth floated free and down to the bottom of the ocean floor. There it sat for many, many years. It was washed along with the tides. It rolled in the turbulent sand during storms. It settled along a rocky edge of the jetty.
One night a powerful hurricane churned the ocean floor and carried the tooth miles from where Sleek had lost it so long ago.
Chapter 3
"That was the best dream, mom. Let me tell you all about it!", Montgomery said climbing up into her mothers arms.
The End
By Cathy Windham
3/20/14
Sun shines like gold upon her hair and sparkling tendrils blow across a freckled brow
as she digs in the sand at the shore line.
Montgomery crouches low and she discovers a shark tooth.
Washing away the sand in the next wave, unveils a perfect specimen. She holds it up to the sunlight.
Serrated edges and a sharp point at one end.
It's a big one. Wondering how old it is or how big the shark was that lost it makes her mind spin. In a way it's frightening. What if he were to come back and claim his tooth?
She runs to safety and squeals in delight with the treasure. "Mom, look what I found!"
Keckley examines it with a serious look on her face. "I do declare, Montgomery, this is a real fossil!" "Why, I just think this might be the biggest one I've ever seen!" "Really?", Montgomery said. "Maybe it needs to go to a museum or something!", she said.
That night as she lay in bed with the shark tooth under her pillow, Montgomery started thinking about the life of that shark. She loved all animals. Her thoughts turned to dreams.
Chapter 2
"I'll call him Sleek!", mother shark said.
He swims with such ease so soon after his birth.
Mother shark watched him closely. She was so proud of her first born.
Instinctively he knew how to avoid harm. Yet he was feared by all the other young fish in the cove. He tried to be nice to them yet they bubbled their shock and swam quickly for cover. Sadly Sleek managed to do things on his own. He did not understand why no one liked his company.
He grew quickly and soon found himself leaving the security of the quiet cove where he was born. He explored many places off the coast of Ponte Vedra, FL. He made his way into the depths of the ocean looking for adventure. There must be a fishing tournament. Schools of kingfish darted in all directions avoiding large hooks tethered to the boats he could see. He was so hungry but knew he was in dangerous waters. Yet, he could not resist the fresh bait odor tempting him. Maybe if I'm careful I can get that bait and not get caught.
Sleek lunged at the large hunk of bait. His mouth caught the hook right behind his tooth. Immediately he jerked at the line and thrashed in the current to free himself.
He could feel the line getting tight. He dove deep. Searing pain tore at his mouth. Then suddenly he was free!
"Whew, that was too close!" Then he realized he had pulled out his tooth trying to get free.
He did not worry about it because he had many more that would take it's place.
The tooth floated free and down to the bottom of the ocean floor. There it sat for many, many years. It was washed along with the tides. It rolled in the turbulent sand during storms. It settled along a rocky edge of the jetty.
One night a powerful hurricane churned the ocean floor and carried the tooth miles from where Sleek had lost it so long ago.
Chapter 3
"That was the best dream, mom. Let me tell you all about it!", Montgomery said climbing up into her mothers arms.
The End
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
A moment in your memory can throw you off track...
Evolution Of Heartache
My heart hurts from the blow. An emotional knock out similar to the magnitude of an earthquake. It starts so unexpectedly. I recall a memory. A tender moment in my past.
You are there with me as always. Your young look. Hair a little long and unstyled. Body a little dirty with a tear in your jeans. That quick kiss that sets my heart on fire but sends you to the shower because you feel stinky. I want time to stop right there.
Let me remember that insignificant moment as you got out of the truck kicking your boot against the stair before you went inside. I follow.
I fast forward to the present and feel desperate and a bit out of breathe. Not finding you just around the corner of my mind. You were just there.
Cathy
3/19/14
My heart hurts from the blow. An emotional knock out similar to the magnitude of an earthquake. It starts so unexpectedly. I recall a memory. A tender moment in my past.
You are there with me as always. Your young look. Hair a little long and unstyled. Body a little dirty with a tear in your jeans. That quick kiss that sets my heart on fire but sends you to the shower because you feel stinky. I want time to stop right there.
Let me remember that insignificant moment as you got out of the truck kicking your boot against the stair before you went inside. I follow.
I fast forward to the present and feel desperate and a bit out of breathe. Not finding you just around the corner of my mind. You were just there.
Cathy
3/19/14
Monday, February 3, 2014
When Time Stops...then restarts
365
Today the calendar hit the dreaded day
The day that marks one year
The day that I saw from a distance
It was my only one big fear
All was blurred by my waterfall of tears
Moments washed away in the flood
Everything was rapidly moving
Sadness was in my blood
Thinking in a thick fog that there was no oxygen
Not feeling that my life was real
Knowing that although I felt suffocated
Everything felt so surreal
Turbulent days, weeks and months have settled
Anticipation of happiness in all that I do
I woke up today and realized
I survived 365 days without you
Cathy Windham
2/5/14
Today the calendar hit the dreaded day
The day that marks one year
The day that I saw from a distance
It was my only one big fear
All was blurred by my waterfall of tears
Moments washed away in the flood
Everything was rapidly moving
Sadness was in my blood
Thinking in a thick fog that there was no oxygen
Not feeling that my life was real
Knowing that although I felt suffocated
Everything felt so surreal
Turbulent days, weeks and months have settled
Anticipation of happiness in all that I do
I woke up today and realized
I survived 365 days without you
Cathy Windham
2/5/14
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
The Gift Within
The Gift Within
I held my tummy in the shower caressing it in slow smooth circles as the water struck my shoulders and I looked down as if to be able to see inside myself.
Tilting my head back toward the stream of water I held my breathe and closed my eyes.
Thank you, God for this child.
Only you and I know at this point. There is a segment of time when you have this secret to yourself.
How will I announce to my love that there is a gift within me that we have made.
My foot steps out on to the mat. You hand me my
towel and wrap my shoulders in it's softness.
Pulling me into your embrace I think you read my mind.
Kissing my wet neck sends a thrill down my back.
I take your hand and place it over the life we have created together.
I do not have to say a word as I wipe the tears from your eyes.
Cathy Windham
1/14/14
I held my tummy in the shower caressing it in slow smooth circles as the water struck my shoulders and I looked down as if to be able to see inside myself.
Tilting my head back toward the stream of water I held my breathe and closed my eyes.
Thank you, God for this child.
Only you and I know at this point. There is a segment of time when you have this secret to yourself.
How will I announce to my love that there is a gift within me that we have made.
My foot steps out on to the mat. You hand me my
towel and wrap my shoulders in it's softness.
Pulling me into your embrace I think you read my mind.
Kissing my wet neck sends a thrill down my back.
I take your hand and place it over the life we have created together.
I do not have to say a word as I wipe the tears from your eyes.
Cathy Windham
1/14/14
Monday, January 13, 2014
Seeking Peace
Seeking peace I find myself looking back over my shoulder
I can still see you there
and I could not help either of us
frozen in time
shallow breathing in synch with you
Life slipped away
and I realized you were saved
Your pain lifted and my
pain intensified
Is there a way to peaceful
reconciliation
Can I live without you every day
Is there peace for both of us
I pray God protects you
and gives me the comfort
that remembering you brings
Cathy Windham
1/11/14
I can still see you there
and I could not help either of us
frozen in time
shallow breathing in synch with you
Life slipped away
and I realized you were saved
Your pain lifted and my
pain intensified
Is there a way to peaceful
reconciliation
Can I live without you every day
Is there peace for both of us
I pray God protects you
and gives me the comfort
that remembering you brings
Cathy Windham
1/11/14
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Inspiring Travels
I dream of traveling again. Places dance around in my head and entice me with little photo snapshots like newly printed postcards. Mountains and meadows like in the Alps or Canada.
Or, Australia's outback and coral reef.
Warm streams and red clay mud down in the South. I want to go into those photos. Figure out the exact spot where each was taken. Be there with my own camera and notebook. My own notes scrawled on a yellow legal pad.
"Sometime in the future", I always tell myself. Tonight I read about destinations taken by others who were so inspired that they wrote about their journey. It's like they talk to me as I quickly scan their words and feel their described escapades. I'm transported for the time being. Free travel. First class seat on my cozy couch on a cold wet night. Drink by my side with refills at my pleasure.
I imagine what outfit I would wear as I trudge in the footsteps of the author who has sore muscles.
I will read more about these great adventures others write about. Then I
will choose my destination and without hesitation, pack what I need and go!
You'll read about it some day. Then, like me, you will go!
Cathy Windham
1/2/14
Or, Australia's outback and coral reef.
Warm streams and red clay mud down in the South. I want to go into those photos. Figure out the exact spot where each was taken. Be there with my own camera and notebook. My own notes scrawled on a yellow legal pad.
"Sometime in the future", I always tell myself. Tonight I read about destinations taken by others who were so inspired that they wrote about their journey. It's like they talk to me as I quickly scan their words and feel their described escapades. I'm transported for the time being. Free travel. First class seat on my cozy couch on a cold wet night. Drink by my side with refills at my pleasure.
I imagine what outfit I would wear as I trudge in the footsteps of the author who has sore muscles.
I will read more about these great adventures others write about. Then I
will choose my destination and without hesitation, pack what I need and go!
You'll read about it some day. Then, like me, you will go!
Cathy Windham
1/2/14
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