A Short Story

Kaolin was taking a walk one day and stumbled upon a string.
The string was sitting beneath a tree.
It was quiet and alone.
So Kaolin decided to take the string home with her.
On the way home, Kaolin wondered about the string’s family.
Did it have a mommy or daddy? A brother or a sister?
Or was the string alone by herself that day, just like Kaolin?
Kaolin sat down underneath the shade of a tree and stared at the string for quite a long time.
Perhaps they could become friends.
She held the string between two fingers and watched it very closely.
She was hoping that they could become friends.
That maybe the string could tell her a secret that no one else knew
And they would love each other forever.
All of a sudden, the string made a twitch.
A small little twitch that made Kaolin’s heart leap.
Which made the string twitch some more,
To which Kaolin’s heart beat faster.
And the string seemed to know what was running through Kaolin’s heart
For it danced between Kaolin’s fingers ever so slightly,
As if to say, “I love you. You’re my friend forever.”
Kaolin sat for a while, together with her pet string,
Underneath the shade of a tree.
And wondered what it would be like to have a friend in the whole world
Whom she could share secrets with
And who would love her always.

Kindness

A perk to my business is the random invitations by my clients to engage in their special world.  For example, on a late night business meeting near Milwaukee at a metal factory yesterday evening, I was offered the opportunity to operate a heavy machine.  More for me to become intimately familiar with this particular industry.  For now, I respectfully decline the fun distraction but reserved the opportunity to cross it off my bucket list.  Few weeks ago, I was Lincoln Lawyering it through the heart of Wisconsin, my first time in Appleton for another prospective meeting.  It was a gorgeous day for a drive and a chance to discover what the big deal was about Appleton.  In truth, Sheboygan has grown so much that it's surpassed any expectations I could have had for a place I'd want to call home.  These days, I've become zen surfer girl and walk through my days in a dream state.  Between my office with the westerly window, my little rental nest that serves a decent first home, and my favorite cafe, I float on other people's dreams.  I am the modern day Abe Lincoln, making house calls.  Or the constant gardener, tending other people's gardens.  Sometimes, even a surgeon of other people's hopes and dreams gone awry.

We have come a long way.  I have found myself on fluid track.  As the sun makes its way lower in the horizon with the onslaught of fall, the good weather still holds on and I take my girls to the beach each day to draw out our spirits a little longer.  We celebrated Casey's second birthday this past Sunday.  The three of us, surfer girls in the making, beach bumming it on the shoreline of Lake Michigan.  We'll take the beach whereever we can find it.  I helped Casey open her birthday present, Minnie Mouse beach toys.  She has recently discovered her legs and would get into sudden moods for running...away, towards, etc.  It was hilarious recording her chasing a flock of seagulls across the beach.  The Packers were playing that evening, so we had the entire shoreline to ourselves.  Just the birds and us three.     

There is a place where my heart has found soft ground to rest.  Kindness and peace is all I can take, only what I am willing to take.  I try to be more quiet and listen to kind words these days.  I hope to find more of it.