Valley of Shadows

Riddle Riddle Ree...What do I see?

My family and I were on a road trip.  The road we were traveling was very dark.  At times, I could barely see a few feet in front of us.  There was a fog that continue crept in and out of the road.  As I sat there the below words come into my mind recalling a period in my life were depression had began to over take me.  Luckily, my depression were caused by  external forces and once recognized I was able to heal.  Yes, there are still times these shadows come calling again.  But with the help of my loving husband and children, we can openly talk and ensure these shadows stay at bay.

Depression, mental illness, memory loss, aging can all lend to the Valley of the Shadows.  If it is yourself or a love one know that many people do emerge from the Valley of the Shadows. 

In the Valley of Shadows, lingers stories never told.

Memories that have fallen on the dark and eerie road.

There across the path the sound of footsteps echo from many years ago.

Through the trees lost spirits wander to and fro.

In the Valley of Shadows, listen closely and you will hear.

The laughter and the screams of those you fear.

You will hear in the wind the spirits whispering your name.

Be careful not to get caught in their dark and malcious game.

In the Valley of Shadows, you will surely loose your mind.

You start to wonder where you are and what will you find.

There the fog will cover you and trap your thoughts inside.

The spirits will search for you with no where to hide.

In the Valley of Shadows, lingers stories never told.

Riddle Riddle Ree 

I see something you don't see....

A Memory Caught in Time

The summer before 8th grade year, how perfect life seemed then. Our forever friends that we vowed never to let time or distance interrupt our friendships.  How we felt as if our little speck in the world was all that existed.   We created memories at the church picnic, sleep overs, pool parties and camping trips. We treated each day as an adventure, not realizing that this little world of ours would forever change. It would change as each person in our class would choose different high schools.  And still while others went to the same highschool, their interest would change and so would our friendships.

But for this moment in time, we had each other. 

 We had memories to hold on to and memories to create.

Riddle Riddle Ree....What Do You See?

Riddle, Riddle Ree...What Do I See?

Memories

You can hear the roar of the crowd, the cheers of the fans as the team executes their plays.  You see the nervous and proud parents on the edge of their seats as they watch their son or daughter.  You can see the joy of the win, the agony of defeat and overall school pride in the gym during any sporting event.  But what do you see when it is over?

Sitting in the gym one late night, I found this ball.  I placed it in the middle of the court and took a picture to capture what I believed to be the moment of how the gym is after the game.  But as I literally laid on the floor of the very quite gym with my eyes focused on the light reflecting off the wooden floor, I began to feel the past.  

I could feel the butterflies of the first day of freshman year when everything that the student once knew was gone, and how they could never imagine how much they would grow in the years to come.  

I could hear the sound of teenage girls awkwardly walking in high heels to their homecoming dance with great anticipations of what the evening held. 

I could hear the sound of a young teenage boy's heart pumping fast as he asked the girl he had been watching across the classroom all year to dance.  

I felt the pain of the day they called the entire school to the gym to announce the untimely death of a fellow classmate, I could feel the wet tears fall to the floor. And I could feel the student's hold onto each other so they wouldn't crumble.

I could feel the love when the odd kid out was made to feel welcome by the kindness of a fellow student.

I saw the joy as a parent placed on the junior student their senior ring symbolizing that the next year would be the year that their child became the leader of the school.

I could see the last day of senior year, the doors open wide as the excitement carried the senior class out of the gym and into the world.  I watched the gym doors hang open as if the spirit filled gym wasn't ready to give up the memories.  The light began to grow dimmer as the doors began to slowly close.  And then there in the last light, the last memory was let go.

Riddle Riddle Ree.. What Do you See?

Riddle Riddle Ree I See Something You Don't See....

Talent

He works tireless on a daily basis to compose culinary masterpieces that only his family will enjoy.  He continues to perfect his skills in anticipation that one day his dream will come true.  I continue to encourage and to look for avenues in which he can work on his dream 100%, but life continues to get in the way. Soon, very soon the rest of the world will be treated to his talent.

Riddle, Riddle Ree .. What Do You See?

Riddle Riddle Ree... What Do You See?

Road Trips

Do you have that one snack food that takes you to the same place time after time.  Funyuns, that salty onion snack, takes me to those hot summer road trips with my family.  My parents didn't have much money when we were growing up, but every year we took some type of road trip.  The road trips typically were in Kentucky to the local parks.  We would load up in the blue station wagon, I usually would ride in the very back with the luggage and my best friend, and cousin, Tracy.  The wind would blow through our long straight hair and cool us off from the hot summer day.  

During the trip, dad would stop for gas and let us get one special snack.  Going into the store, the cool air condition would get my attention first and then the ding of the bell on the door.  We would search the shelves until that bright yellow bag, the color of the sun, would catch my attention.  Grabbing the bag of Funyuns and going to the front of the store to get a Coke Cola out of the ice tub that cooled the little glass bottle.  Walking out of the county general store, there was usually a wall bottle opener to bottom the top off the Coke Cola.  Then the moment, when the salty onion taste of the Funyun was offset by the acid of the Coke Cola.  I would savor each bite, because I knew that it was only on this road trips that I would be treated to such indulgences.

Whenever I go on a road trip now, especially in the back roads of Kentucky, I find myself still grabbing that bag of Funyuns.  But now I try to get something a little less in calories to drink.

Riddle Riddle Ree...What do you see?

Riddle Riddle Ree What Do I See....Home

Riddle Riddle Ree...What Do I See?

Home

Looking at this ornament hanging on my Christmas Tree and hearing the song "I'll Be Home for Christmas, If Only in My Dreams" reminded me of the memories of Christmas from my childhood.

My Grandparent's farm house was heated with a wood stove, but the love in their house was more than enough to warm your heart and soul.  The trip to their house always seemed so long, but when we turned off the main road to the farm we knew familiar sights and sounds were around the bend.  

The road we traveled into the farm was rough.  The road started out smooth with a few rough spots.  And depending on the year and the weather the road could be rougher as we traveled into the farm.  I remember one year the middle section of the road was washed away.  It took some time but we made it over that part with my Dad's gentle guidance and patience.  

Then the creek would come into sight.  Again, some years the journey over the creek was easy.  The creek bed would be dry for a quick journey.  The creek could be damaged by bad storms during the year.  The creek could be rushing with water that could add danger and peril to our journey.  Or the year that created a lot of headaches was when the creek was frozen over.  That year there where flat tires and worst of all my Dad's car suffered a punctured gas tank.  But that became the best thing that could have happen, because of the damage to the car my Dad had to spend the week in the county with my grandparents.  I would be the last Christmas my Dad spent with his father.  My Grandpa Riedel died the next year.

The creek couldn't  stop our journey.  We would turn left into the thicket of trees and splash once more through a small creek.  We had to be prepared and ready, as before the rains could have made the small splash a big drop.  Through the thicket we would travel up the hill and hope that it had not overgrown in the Autumn months.  Some years, especially toward the end of my Papaw's life, my Papaw would not feel up to clearing the road for our return home.  We would have to work a little hard to get to his house.

Finally, we would reach the gate.  The card would stop and one of the children would jump out of the car to open the gate.  Now this was an important task.  Opening the gate was not easy.  The rock in the road was creek rock and was slippery and we had to be careful of the mud.  We did not want to get stuck in the mud on such and important day.  When we reached the gate we had to reach through the cold metal gate, unwrap the chain, and unhook the latch.  As we unhooked the gate we could barely see the farm house and the smoke from the stove.  We could also hear in the distance someone behind us on the road making the same journey.  With anticipation we would wonder who it was.  And wonder if they were having the same troubles on their journey or was their journey home smoother.  The gate would slowly start to swing open.  One dry days we would jump on the gate and let it take us for a ride across the rock road.  We would glide across and jump off on the side of the road holding the gate open so our family could pass safely through.

The car would stop on the other side of the gate to wait for us to shut the gate, the entrance to home.  

On cold days we would climb back into the warm car with our family continue on the journey.  But on those rare warm December days in Kentucky, we would opt to walk that rocky road.  The hill up to the farm house was steep, but rather if we were in the car or on  foot the journey was easy knowing that the warmth of the farm house awaited.  If we walked up the hill we cut part of the journey short by cutting through the field.  By car we could easily make it up the hill.  We still had to be cautious to ensure there where not pot holes ahead.  Once at the top of the hill we would park at the barn.  As we got out of the car it was exciting to see who had arrived before us.  The children would run to the house with excitement of seeing their family.  The adults would carry their load of presents, food or anything else they needed and could not let go.  

The farm house was protected by a fence and a gate.  Opening the gate and crossing the stone path to the wooden porch gave us a sense of relief that the journey was almost over.  The screen door squeaked as it was open and the old wooden farm house door swung easily open to reveal the light and warmth of the house.  Papaw would be sitting directly across the room from the door in a wooden chair listening to the news on the radio.  We would catch a glimpse of ourselves in the mirror above him as we were greeted by a few choice words.  Our Pawpaw had a gruff exterior but all along we knew that the love of the world was inside his heart.  

The smell of the stove would catch your attention as we saw Mamaw getting read for the arrival of her children with a feast.  Mamaw strong stature was soften by her warm eyes and gentle smile.  She had toughen up over the years raising her children and working the farm.  She did not have an easy or fancy life, but she had a life full of joy, love and most importantly faith.  

The laughter drew you into the dining room to see your family gathered.  Everyone was sharing stories about their journey over the past year.

It would be time to gather for prayer and thank the Lord for our blessings.  The man would sit for the first meal serving.  The children would be served and sent to the back room to eat.  We spent the time eating and laughing at anything.  The room we sat in was a bedroom closed off for the winter, but with all my cousins it was full of warmth.  The women would eat last after the men finished.  Since my Dad was a talker, he continued his meal with the women.

The present portion of Christmas was not important.  I hardly and vaguely remember that part.  The most important part was that we were in a home filled with warmth and love surrounded by our family.

As I reflect on my Christmas memories,  I know that my Christmas journey mirrors my journey in life.

The road may be rough at times but as long as we have our family we can make it to our final destination.  If we keep the vision of the final destination in our mind we will have the strength to make the journey.  Because when we reach that last gate and travel up the hill to our home we will be tired.  But all our pain and fatigue will disappear when we open that door and see Papaw sitting there as we catch a glimpse of our reflection in him.  And we will be comforted as we hear the laughter of all those that arrived home before us.

Merry Christmas.

Riddle Riddle Ree...What Do You See?

Unconditional Love

I held your hand and you said nothing, but the look in your eyes told me how much you loved me.  You spend the day struggling with the choice you had to make, either choice would cause someone's heart to break.  I softly rubbed the back of your hand with my fingers.  Tracing your hand to remember how much I would miss your gentle touch.  I realized it would be the last time we would share this moment, the last time I would whisper my love in your ear.  As I gave you my final kiss on your cheek, a sense of peace overcame me.  I knew then that Papaw was now holding your hand and leading you home.  Mamaw, was now at peace.