We walked together, side by side, hand in hand, with our shared,
radiant smiles warming us, and our mutual love comforting us. Sandy,
Mara and I are walking on soft, mossy ground, like walking barefoot on
a plush brown carpet. We peered up through the outstretched fingers
and arms of all the towering trees, wearing their glassy green gloves.
It was a verdant, silky forest, abundantly alive, yet so quiet that we
could hear the friction of the sun’s rays brushing passed and reflecting
off the lush leaves that formed the emerald-green canopy hanging
over our heads.
We listened to a chatty, bushy-tailed gray squirrel and watched
him leap from the arms of one tree to those of another tree. Our
sparkling eyes met and there was a deep sense of wonder and beauty
in them as our lips curled into wide, warm, and wonderful smiles.
We shared this amazing time and place; the impression of it indelibly
etched in our memories, never to be forgotten, but always prized like
precious gold.
Casting our enlightened, joyful eyes downward at a fuzzy
movement, we see a hopping, bouncing bunny whose twitching
nose, bright eyes and erect ears seemed to greet us to his
domain in paradise like a friend’s waving, welcoming hands.
We continued our casual walk through this colorful, comfortable,
natural paradise until we arrived at a sparkling, clear-watered creek,
making its gurgling, churning, and very pleasant noises. Those
sounds were hypnotic as the water tumbled over and around the
stones and vegetation obstructions that are in its path. We found
a calm pool, like a mirror, that clearly showed our smiles of love
for each other. No words were spoken, nor did they need to be.
We hadn’t uttered a single word to each other since we entered
the plush forest, yet we knew what each other was thinking. Thus
we stepped out of our footwear, abandoned Mother Nature’s
carpeted floor and glided, barefoot into the cool, pure, crystal-clear
water. The cool, refreshing sensation roamed and curved its way
around our legs much the same way that the water in the creek must
have roamed and curved its way through the entire forest. The water
had a cleansing, invigorating feeling, carrying dirt and sweat away,
then leaving our feet fresh, energized, and seemingly able to walk
forever without the slightest effort or strain.
After drying our feet and putting our footwear back on, we traversed
the width of the forest, finding a vast field of scented grasses and wild
flowers of all colors, shapes and sizes. A gentle, warm breeze
kissed our faces and tousled our hair as we imagined each of
the millions of blades of grass to be close friends waving
to us, and beckoning us to continue this joyous journey towards
the gleaming, snowcapped mountains that could be seen in the
distance. Our steps avoided both the grass and flowers as each
parted before our feet, making a path so that our steps would not
crush the delicate, undulating and vibrantly alive vegetation. The
smell of the wild flowers was like exquisite perfume, so sweetly
aromatic and pleasing to our olfactory senses, much like the finest
food would be to our taste buds.
We enjoyed all this together. We shared this marvelous
beauty, these splendid sensations, as we approached the
perimeter of the field and started the gradual incline at the base
of those granite, white-tipped peaks. Those huge monoliths
seemed to be Mother Nature, herself, showing both her superlative
beauty and her unparalleled strength via those massive spires.
The wonderful sensations and the beautiful visions that we were
witnessing were once-in-a-lifetime experiences, and the very best
part of life which very few people get to see. I felt privileged to see all
this glorious beauty with the ones I love most, my family. We
proceeded at a leisurely pace, taking in all the beauty and sensations
that surrounded us before we continued this trek to our final
destination.
There was, again, a forest of trees, but more of the evergreen
variety than of the broad leaf type. But their hue was no less
gorgeous, just a different type of beauty. So hand-in-hand, with
matching smiles, we approached a place that could not possibly
contain any shred of evil, no ounce of ugliness, no shroud of hate.
It was an innocent, pure place of tranquil beauty, where life
was perfect and no evil could ever lurk in any corner of this
paradise of the human senses.
It was not our destination to climb the mountain because
it’s beauty could be enjoyed without a mountain climbers
laborious, strenuous effort. Indeed, the strain would have been
a distraction from the beauty and peacefulness that surrounded
us. This, after all, was our journey to find beauty, peace, calmness,
contentment and ultimate satisfaction that nothing but paradise
could offer to the human senses and spirit. It would not be an
exaggeration to say that even famous worshippers of nature, such
as Thoreau and Emerson, have never, ever come close to
witnessing and feeling the beauty of nature as this grand trek
of ours has revealed to us since first entering the charmed forest at
dawn.
Now, as late afternoon approaches, we are pulled by some
unknown, mysterious, but gentle force towards a newly built
log cabin. We stood there surprised and amazed. How could
this be? A cabin waiting for us to occupy it at the end of our
glorious, one day long journey? Looking closer we see that the
white chinking kept the space between the logs water tight,
the windows and doors were perfectly fitted, with the windows
ideally placed to overlook the golden grasses and bountiful
colored wild flowers in the field. This whole experience was
all so beautiful, so wonderful, and such a happy retreat for us.
The fireplace consisted of flat stones, which must have been
collected from the nearby creek, each stone perfectly fitted and
unusually aesthetic. And this cabin was stocked with enough food
to last an entire winter. Firewood was also plentifully stacked high
and neat, and appeared to be thoroughly seasoned. It was as if
we were expected to arrive and everything was prepared for us.
I started a fire and soon the whole cabin was warmed
and lighted by the glow of the bright red, orange, and yellow flames.
The two women that I love so dearly prepared the most wonderful,
and delicious meal that we have ever shared.
Daylight was fading and the shadows of the forest were growing
as dusk approached rapidly, and for the first time that day I felt
tired. I laid down on one of the beds, which was soft and
comfortable, while both my loves sat by the fire to chat, read by the
firelight, and watch over me. As I started to doze off to sleep, I
felt the warm hands of Sandy and Mara each taking one of my
hands into theirs. I felt more peace and happiness than I have
ever felt before. I could feel their deep love as it rose, like heat,
up my arms and through my entire body. No one could have
asked for a more beautiful day, all built within this happy dream.
And what a wonderful last dream it was; absolutely wonderful.
I died peacefully, in my sleep, just as that dream came to its
joyful conclusion. And I died the happiest husband and father
on earth. Thank you, Sandy and Mara, for faithfully accompanying
me on my final journey to a paradise that could not have existed if
the two of you had not been holding my hand from the beginning
of this glorious and wonderful journey to the very end of it.
Please remember that, in life, like this day, I also loved the both
of you, with all my heart, from the beginning to the very end. The
both of you made me so incredibly happy. Love, Bill….Dad…..
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