Tuesday 10/5/10 - "REFLECTED MEMORIES" - A Magpie Tale

THIS MAGPIE TALE IS DEDICATED TO
MY ONE, TRUE, FOREVER LOVE -
MR. STEVERONI

A MAGPIE TALE

(Magpie Tales are hostessed by Willow. Click here to read more.)

"REFLECTED MEMORIES"

She had been sitting in this favorite room, what used to be called a parlor but was now referred to as a den, for hours. Though her body felt sluggish and dull her mind was crystal clear, sharp-pointed like the icicles hanging from the roof just outside the parlor window.

Here in old familiar surroundings she rocked herself back and forth, back and forth in the rocking chair her mother had rocked her in as a baby. Beside her on the table rested the old, cherished hurricane lamp that had been a treasured wedding gift of her mother's. As she rocked her thoughts traveled to other times. As her chair moved back and forth the light in the room played along the edges of the curving lamp's glass and reflections began to form. As the light continued to flicker within the curves of the glass they became pictures of memories.

She saw herself as a sixteen year old girl on her first date, a blind date with a handsome young man, her first forever love. They were at the destination of their hayride on the banks of the Potomac River. They sat upon gaily colored carousel horses at an amusement part overlooking the river. It was dark, there were brightly colored lights and they were reaching out from their horses to catch the brass ring.

The light in the lamp shifted and into her mind swam the picture of her second forever love going off to college never to return to her. As she pushed her rocker gently the images began to speed up in a kaleidoscope of her life.

Here she saw her Bermuda honeymoon with her first husband, there her children's births and then lovely scenes of family fun through the years. There were Disney World trips, a move from Washington, D.C. to Florida, a trip to the Florida Keys......the unfolding of her and her children's lives.

Onto the darkened areas of the glass came other images. She saw her own alcoholic collapse, snapshots of her 28 days in a treatment center, her divorce and hard fought landmarks in her recovery.

And now before her mind's eye came her one, true, forever love brought into her life by God after she had been in recovery some years. There were so many beautiful memories and they brought tears of joy and remembrance to her eyes. Scenes flashed by of her walking down the aisle on their wedding day as his eyes filled with joyful tears, their anniversary/birthday celebrations, trips to St. Augustine, Gatlinburg, and surrounding all these images a powerful spirit of love. And then.........

She closed her eyes to halt the sights right at these most precious, perfect moments, imprinting them deep within her heart. How grateful she was for the exquisite life God had given her. Wrapped in the warmth of these final visions behind her closed eyes, she fell asleep forever.

Prayer Girl