Firsts - 20181223 - With Ciddy at the beach (day before our 53rd wedding anniversary)

Firsts - 20181223 - With Ciddy at the beach (day before our 53^rd wedding anniversary)

So many times I watched her walk along the beach.

It could have been any beach, 

at any time, 

in any country 

and any season,

sun or rain, hot or cold, 

she loved them all

Stones or white sand 

and everything in between, it didn’t matter, 

on every one familiar and inbuilt behaviours emerged …

Feet bare, 

sandals or shoes swinging in her hand

pants rolled up, sometimes not quite far enough

eyes wandering, watchful, 

seeing sea and sand, sky and birds, people and pets, 

but especially children and their families.

Bending or crouching often, 

to retrieve some small revelation of wonder, 

a gift of nature, or tide, or humanity,

mysterious and complex, 

or just drinking it all in like a thirsty person in a waterless desert

Paddling in the irresistible water, 

small splashes, 

unexpected spray-scattering kicks,

and always those bright eyes wandering in wonder and delight capturing images, 

trapping memories to be treasured and shared, 

re-told as her eyes and ever-present smile reflected her return to place, and time, and feelings.

At the beach, any beach, 

her never-lost inner child emerged from its ever-so-shallow cover, 

and it gathered us into her space, 

her world, 

her delight. 

I miss it

terribly

achingly

            everywhere 

                        every day!

But I sure am glad for the gift, 

for the grace-filled way it shaped and shapes me,

and for the delight the memories gift me!

(amf-20181223)

Where rainbow birds fly free  (Kallista Tea Rooms 24/12/2018 – Anniversary #53)

Unimaginably young,

            So much in love,

                        Beginning to build a dream and a life for two, all too soon to be three.

How we loved this place, 

buried in the rainforest,

            hidden up an almost impossible little track.

But is was home – our first, and possibly most loved of all.

High among the eucalypts, 

our lounge room window provided uninterrupted views of 

Rosella’s, 

King parrots, 

Rainbow lorikeets, 

Cockatoos, and, sometimes, 

Kookaburras. 

Old Nanna loved them, we loved them, 

and soon our baby loved them too.

He has always loved the bush, 

been most at home, and at peace there … still is actually.

Ciddy thought the gift of his birthing place nurtured that. 

I agree!