The Healing Touch

I love walking to my grandmother’s house. It is close to but not inside a vast wooded area. It is a small walk from my house to hers so when I was little I was able to walk down the quiet village road all by myself to go and visit granny. I used to pretend I was Little Red Riding Hood (even though I didn’t have a red hood) and I made sure that I kept a wary eye open for any signs of a wolf.

As I passed the last cottage and came upon the field that bordered Granny’s cottage I looked up in anticipation and slowed my pace a bit. Filimore never failed me. The minute he became aware of my presence he galloped up to the fence separating us, nuzzling my arm, and coat pockets in his search for treats. The field belonged to a riding school. I could see the top of its bright red roof at the other end of the field.

Today I had a carrot for him. His eyes sparked interest as I pulled it out of my pocket and he waited patiently until I offered it to him. He took it gently from my fingers. I watched him while he ate. His beautiful eyes, framed by long silky eyelashes seemed to reflect his joy while he ate. As the last bit of carrot disappeared I stroked his muzzle and whispered “Goodbye, see you next time.”

I turned back to the road and carried on walking to Gran’s house. Now as I looked at it, it seemed to resemble the little Gingerbread House. It was painted in a splash of a variety of vibrant colours which reflected Gran’s obsession with art. The porch was frilled with startling white broekie-lace.

Looking at the house I understood why some people may regard her with slight suspicion of being a witch. I suspected that she was a very good witch as she always had help for everyone whether that help was spiritual, physical or mental. She was a thoroughly good woman who was gifted with the healing touch.

 

The Capricious Sea

 

The mood of the sea can affect our moods. The sea is dictated to by the moon. I consist of so much water that the moon and in its turn the sea can affect me. It’s amazing to examine my mood every day and realise that so much of the sea is reflected in me. I think pf myself as a child of the sea.

I am fortunate to live on the beach. The stairs from my verandah sit firmly on the edge of the sand. As I sit on the second step from the bottom, my hands clutch the warm mug and my toes wiggle in the sand and the full moon shines on me, the sand and the sea. The ripples of the sea reflect the silver moon sparks. A total calmness creeps over me as I watch the sea. It seems as if the tide is coming in as the water is creeping closer to my house.

I love living on this almost paradise island. It is safe and it is beautiful but it is also exposed to the vagaries of the sea.

I haven’t witnessed it myself but I have been told that two years before I arrived, a tsunami all but destroyed the entire island. As the people took what shelter they could on the highest ground, they watched the destruction in front of them. Helpless to do anything but pray for their lives.

Industry and tenacity came in to play and by the time I arrived two years later there was no sign of the destruction but everyone has learned to treat the sea with respect.

© Vera Alexander

The Playful Dog

The little dog is running around enjoying his freedom. It is autumn. The leaves are dying on the trees and they are drifting down to make a carpet on the ground.

He dives at the floating leaves, snapping at them, going after this leaf, leaping at that one then running back to the man he loves, tongue lolling out of his mouth. Fred watches his dog with joy that almost matches Rusty’s joy.

For a while Rusty is content to walk beside Fred until he spots another leaf descending to the ground. The wind has dropped so the leaf floats slowly, just out of reach of the jumping dog. A little breeze catches the leaf and a game of tag between leaf and dog starts up. Rusty rushes at the just out of reach leaf and snaps his jowls in an ineffectual attempt to catch the leaf. The breeze gently lays the leaf on the ground. Rusty dives at it, worries it a bit and is then distracted by the next leaf descending. At last Rusty discovers a leaf that will be a fitting gift for his god. He plays with it for a few moments and then trots up to Fred and drops the leaf at his feet. He watches Fred for a moment and when there is no reaction he walks back a few steps then rises onto to his back legs and pretend pounces at Fred. His backside lifts to the air, tail wagging, waiting in excited anticipation for Fred to cooperate.

Fred laughs and says “I can’t throw that! We need to look for a small branch or something.”

The dog watches expectantly as Fred’s eyes roam around the ground. He sees a perfect stick and starts to move towards it. Rusty has been watching Fred and spots the stick before Fred gets to it. It is now a race for the prize. Fred scoops it up almost as Rusty’s open mouth reaches for it. The game is on!

© Vera Alexander