by Deb Stratton
My heart melted into his words. It was so very touching to me and I felt so fortunate to be surrounded by some of the most amazing human beings I have ever known.
It was that time again. The meeting came to a close. I walked outside as everyone dispersed.
Before, not every sunset was created equal. Some were outstanding and some were just sunsets.
Now, every sunset is a miracle of another day ending. There were few things that captured my heart as completely as a beautiful sky at the end of my day.
Today was the day. The day that ended with the sky catching fire and igniting a feeling inside that was so complete that my life could be at its end and I would have no regrets. I would only have the memory of that sky.
Chapter Fourteen
A few days passed and everyone was living together as well as any Amish or Mennonite community. At least that is what it reminded me of minus the buggies and horses, which by the way would be an excellent way to get around right now.
It all reminded me more of a hippy commune with the guitar playing and odor. I am not saying our Zoo was smelly but it was filled with a bit of a funk. Think of it like this. You live with one man that has smelly work boots and try to survive. Times that by fifty and yup, it stinks. A little.
On some days it made me want to break my own laws and find a closed store to snatch up a few air freshener cans.
So the plan continued. Everyone became a large family and the day was near when Frank would head out to the city and Daniel would try to abduct himself. Good times. I kept my worrying at bay and focused on the positive. It was easy with the people I was surrounded by.
We were making progress with the ones that had joined us battling alcohol and drug addictions. We took in some new residents that were struggling with anxiety and depression. We all had our own issues that needed healing and on our own solved the problems without violence or the need for protection orders, arrests, hospitalization or meds. Everyone made an effort 24/7 to help someone.
I could not think of a time in my life when I had actually been more happy. It was good.
I grabbed my notebook and told Bev that I would be going for a walk. It was the middle of the day and not my usual time for sitting, but I was bored for the first time in a very long time.
The tree I sat under was losing its leaves. The ground beneath me crunched a little and I could smell Fall in the air. Minus the pumpkins and apple bushels it felt the same.
A fresh cup of coffee sounded good though. I put that on my mental list of things to have when I got back to the units.
My head rested on the thick tree back and I felt the breeze and sun on my face. I stretched my legs out and looked up.
There were a few watchers off in the distance. They were a few miles away, so I let the worries leave my mind once again. I remembered the smell from the quarry. There was a faint hint of it in the air. I caught an updraft of freshness again in the wind and closed my eyes. It felt like a vacation just to sit under this tree.
I pretended that they seen me too. I let my thoughts float out to join them and then slowly let them draw me back to earth.
I woke up to the wind and leaves blowing around me. I had dozed off for a few minutes. The smell of fresh air always did that to me.
How could I ever unravel this mystery on my own> I had forgotten entirely about everything for a little while and just like that, it drifted back. It would never really leave. I was obsessed and in it with all that I had.
Deep in thought I hardly noticed them. They were right above the tree while I was resting my thoughts. I opened my eyes and smiled. They had to know who I was by now. I suddenly felt peaceful and playful with them.
The overcast drifted in. There would be no sunset to watch on this day.
As the afternoon wore on and my resting was almost complete, my thoughts began to wander to them.
I was not defeated but quite the opposite. I was submissive. I wanted to give myself to them. I wanted my friends and loved ones to be ok. They deserved to feel safe.
I know I should not let myself go there but I did. I stretched out and became theirs. The life I had was filled with so much beauty and meaning. I had nothing to regret or miss. I felt complete.
Memories of all of my days blended with the thought of watching them over me.
I am Fynn. I said to myself. I have had such an amazing journey. My life was filled with more happiness and blessings than I could have ever dreamed of. I was an expert in sunrises and sunsets. I loved every person for who they were. My journey was not over but it was changing.
The breeze crossed over my face one more time. My hair was long and swirling around my head. I kicked off my boots and felt the air on my feet. I let it all go.
I closed my eyes tightly and the wind took me easily up. I knew it was them. It had to me. No notebooks or hands to hold. I went. They took me from my life on earth to a place without sunlight.
I only knew that in the arms of fall breeze and their power upon me I was gone. I had no fear of them any longer.
The brightness of the daytime hours passed quickly.
I opened my eyes to find myself in a very dark and cold place looking for the sky. I could only see the earth in my eyes. It was beautiful. Just like my life had been.
Epilogue
When I first started writing this book two years ago, it was a big idea. It was filled with my big ideas about space and the mysteries of our life that revolves around it.
I found myself finding more beauty in life while seeking out answers that are never meant to be answered.
Like the old saying, “May your journey always lead you home”. Mine did.
Watching sunrises and sunsets everyday while writing and getting a visual of what we are all searching for in life changed the book.
I found myself gaining a deep appreciation for all things beautiful, which included humans. Every single memory of life and what was special to me came to light.
During our trials of life we may shift our viewpoints and worldviews dramatically. During those times, we often ask people to respect our journey.
We can respect the journey, and encourage others to go on their own journey in life, but at the end of the day, we can’t wait for them to return to where they were when they knew the truth and lived accordingly.
Not all that wander get lost.
May your life lead you on a journey to a place where you can feel at home.
~Deb
“We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that. We want to live by each other’s happiness – not by each other’s misery. We don’t want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone. And the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way.Greed has poisoned men’s souls, has barricaded the world with hate, has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical. Our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery we need humanity. More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost…. Soldiers! don’t give yourselves to brutes – men who despise you – enslave you – who regiment your lives – tell you what to do – what to think and what to feel! Who drill you – diet you – treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder. Don’t give yourselves to these unnatural men – machine men with machine minds and machine hearts! You are not machines! You are not cattle! You are men! You have the love of humanity in your hearts! You don’t hate! Only the unloved hate – the unloved and the unnatural! Soldiers! Don’t fight for slavery! Fight for liberty! You, the people have the power – the power to create machines. The power to create happiness! You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure.”
~ Charlie Chaplin
♥
Coming in 2019
Urban Bigfoot 6 Book 7
Alien Zoo
The Songbird Coven
Little House on the Corner
Craft Projects
The Honey Shack
Speckled Friendship A children’s Book
Thank you for being a part of my Journey
Deb
Titles by Deb Stratton
Urban Bigfoot
Urban Bigfoot 2
Urban Bigfoot Em’s Journal Book 3
Urban Bigfoot 3 Book 4
Urban Bigfoot 4 Book 5
Urban Bigfoot 5 Book 6
Urban Bigfoot Anniversary Edition 3 Book Set
The Honey Cabin
Alien Zoo
Titles by Debbie S. Stratton
I got to be here
Then I was gone
My messy Mind
The Bigfoot Farm A children’s Book
Create Happiness
The Witches Night Out Spellbook
Titles by Debbie S. Stratton
I got to be here
Then I was gone
My messy Mind
The Bigfoot Farm A children’s Book
Create Happiness
The Witches Night Out Spellbook
How to talk to your Bigfoot about Life
Little House on the Corner
Inspiration to Celebrate Your Home and Life
Little House on the Corner
Instant Pot Recipes
Thank you for following The Alien Zoo.
Find & Follow The Alien Zoo Community on Facebook @AlienZooBook
Instagram @A_little_piece_of_debbie
#AlienZooBook #AlienZoo
Alien Zoo Books are available at:
ONLINE
1