ON THE DAY WE DANCED

"Fly free across forever,  and we'll meet now and then  when we wish... " -Richard Bach

She poddled  up and down the grass, after her sister, who was drawing mermaids on paper bags.  Small feet. Pad pad pad. The two  of them chased  late summer crickets. Held them in cupped hands to hear them sing.

In Fall she danced in  scarlet leaves. And I  with her. And the two of them.  On the hill. Crunched and crackled the leaves  like crackers.

In winter they   scuffed  through  white meringue clouds of snow , playing hide and go seek. 

HER boots, plaid lined. HER snowsuit, frosted with snow. She tore off her kitten eared hat , declaring  she was NOT a cat. She  made powdery snowballs with her small hands. A little snowman. Called it a cat. Stuck her hat on top.

She poddled up and down the stairs one snowy Maritime Christmas, singing Jingle Bells for at least an hour. The other one  plunked it out on the piano, for about an hour, as well.

She dragged  her dolls, out into the rain. Barbies, minus their heads,  flinging this way and that,  thrown into  puddles. Sink or swim. They sank.

In the spring, it was frilly dresses, jumping up and down on beds,  chasing the cats around, stories and drawings and days spent on swings.

Then came Fall . Again. 

SHE no longer poddled after her sister. She ran this way and that. Got lost  after school. We found her sitting nicely on the front steps. She wondered what all the fuss was about 

Red. Orange. Flame. Gold. Swathes of colour, swinging  on  trees like angel wings.Leaves fell every year.

  And she who was born in October had that gift, that inner self  that made her complete and unique.

Two by two they had walked

Now to the beat of their own drum.

 I  remember that time, not so long ago. 

Over the years, I  would close my eyes and see it all again. 

Autumn  slathered on those Nova Scotia hills, that I loved so well.  

It was the day we DANCED.......  

Photogaphs 2022