Chronicles of the Fallen

It was so peaceful today out on our little farm way out in the middle of nowhere, the birds added to this great peaceful paradise adding their own crucial harmony of their own beautiful concerto’s, as if it were the background music for a quiet scene from an old movie, at this time of day when the world unwinds and the birds tend to communicate the loudest, like a great big network telling all their relatives what they did and where they were this stupendous day in the sunshine. Sitting on the Victorian style veranda taking in the day’s final glory and enjoying a peaceful sunset, I glance over at that old green rocker I finished only a couple seasons back, thinking of the great time I had with both of those adorable grand babies we were blessed with that 4 days last fall. Beth and Zander hung in my mind for one reason only, because of them and the persistence of my loving wife I wrote out the tale I recited to them that rainy and cold long weekend last fall.
See, writing “A Warriors Tale” was initially on my bucket list but being a tradesman, I had no thoughts of writing. I thought it would only be a pipe dream and never reality but my little Beth brought something out that I thought I had lost a long time ago, I was now a hero in her eyes and with her blessings and excitement for me to put pen to paper I eventually sat down and wrote out the glorious tale and with some luck and a lot encouragement we had it published. In my eyes it took no time at all to have it completed by a publisher which made me realize that this was not only a great adventure for me but could possible help someone along the way.
Karen being a loving and devoted wife, was busy yet again packing a large carry on for my adventures (being about the tenth time) to have be ready for all places I had to go in New York, New York. Being invited to this convention for newly published books and authors was exciting, but in my mind it was a crazy and frightening adventure that I was embarking on and being a sort of recluse I never really ventured off my little piece of land. It kind of scared me leaving a day before the conference but the thoughts of seeing the sights and meeting interesting new people brought me realization that this experience may drum up something inside, to give me something like the next great idea for the book I planned to start when I returned home after this trip. The writing of my books or stories occupied my mind and gave me purpose, like being in the trades making all the stress, depression and anxiety simply melt away, the more and more I did these books the more I found that I was very good at what I newly adventured into. With the sun making its last appearance as it slid into the waiting country side it was a sign that I should go and help Karen before I had to be whisked off by shuttle bus to the airport. Opening the screen door and sliding off my shoes I made my way to the staircase. Our house was filled with love and the pictures on the wall proved it, our family was average in size but packed with a thousand times the love. If we had problems here we dealt with them and we went on. I went to the top of the stairs and walked down the hallway to see my beautiful wife finishing my travel bag, she had a way for every situation and she had a military kind of way to deal with them. Entering our bedroom Karen immediately started rhyming off what she had placed into and where it was, right up to what gadgets she had stashed in the front and side pockets. I had everything from a make shift first aid kit right to every outfit she had spent mixing and matching the past 3 days, packing and re picking from the outdated wardrobe I seemed to own. I wasn't a person for high end fashion and to me a tee shirt and a good pair of jeans fit into every occasion, heck for twenty plus years flannel and denim were my best friends and to change now would only confuse me even more.

After she ran the list through her mind for the third and final time she spun around and stated “You’re all ready to go...Anything special you want for the flight you should collect it now?”

Grabbing her around her waist and holding her tight softly whispering in her ear... “Hunni... The only thing I need with me... in my bag, is you”.

With that soft sweet smile that captured my heart from the very first time we met telling me that she loved me. Karen couldn't travel with me this time and had to look after her mother and promised me that we would go to New York another time, a time for just us. I softly kissed her and told her that things would be fine while I was away and that I would miss her dearly, holding the travel bag in one hand and her hand in the other we made the way down the stairs and into the living room. Walking over to the door I set my bag down out of the way and proceeded to make my way back to sit with Karen. Turning on the television to catch the second half of an old black and white movie I held onto her until the shuttle bus came, with a kiss at the door a small tear came to my eye. Karen touched my face and brushed the tear from my cheek and gently spoke where only I could hear,

“I love you too Andy, and I will miss you while you’re away.”

The shuttle bus honked like I was late, making my way to the door rushing me and my bag to the waiting over sized taxi, the feeling’s of wanting to stay weighed upon me even more finding myself holding Karen's hand even more firmly. Kissing and holding her one last time I head for the waiting shuttle bus, handing my bag to the driver and making sure he stowed it correctly under the vehicle, stiff arming me in a way ...coaxing and escorted me into the bus,

” Feel free to sit anywhere sir... we are kind of late so no long good byes”.

With that I plunked my butt into the second seat and the door closed, having any type of feeling to abort this convention was past, being locked in the tuna fish can they sent to transport me to the airport I felt a bit of claustrophobia. Slowly we left up the driveway, looking back to see my country oasis and my love, Karen slowly melt into the night.

The driver piped up “I'm Jeff... If you want to rest and have short a nap, I will wake you when we arrive at the airport....What's your gate again???”

In a groggy voice half asleep already I replied to him “3A on flight to New York”.

With the bumps and the thoughts of adventure and discovery of a fascinating new city actively played in my mind slowly making me drift off to sleep, next stop the airport and then the Big Apple... New York.