Picture Window

Today we walked and talked to a lady who has lived all her life in our village. As our dogs cavorted she told us of scandals, love stories and secrets. She revealed them with a laugh, a sigh and a misty eye.

We walked by deserted houses where she once lived, we stole into walled gardens that used to be forbidden in her youth. She told us of ordinary memories made extraordinary by time: The cat sat on her son's shoulder when he was fishing the stream, an eel brought to the house that caused panic and laughter, water turned off by a mean tenant leaving her and her family in drought. She was a proper story teller.

Food for the soul and fuel for the imagination.

She also taught me that when crows make nests one always stays whilst the other one goes for twigs and leaves. Proper parental planning. I like it.

I will ask her permission to Blip her soon.

JMx