Laguna Cliffs They make their way slowly down my well worn path that meanders gracefully .... timelessly .... down my side. They have been here many times before - both of them, in body - and she returns many times in spirit as well. I feel her echoes from far away - her sadness, her joy her restlessness, her yearning, her pain. He first brought her here as a little girl to poke among my tidepools and listen to the heavenly choir of sea gulls and waves. He held on tightly to her hand as they walked down my path - he taught her how to reach for rocks to steady herself in the steep places, making sure she knew what was safe to touch and what was not. Do no harm... And then they'd reach their rock or so they pretended and I let them and sat side by side waiting for the sun to peek out from behind the morning fog as he taught her of the universal truths to be found in the sea and the mountains and the deserts. Their murmured voices and spontaneous laughter soothed me more deeply, more profoundly than even the waves. He held her tiny hand in his and spoke to her of ageless wisdom wisdom I like to believe that I imparted to him and thus, to her. Listen. Watch. Open your eyes. Open your ears. Open your heart. ***** On this day she holds his age-worn hand, bruised and battered from IV needles and endless blood draws. steadying him and perhaps herself? as they walk down my path more slowly than the last time together for the last time? At last they reach their rock - and sit side by side in my timeless, healing arms - waiting for the sun to peek out from behind the morning fog. |