For Kaitlyn

Swirla can usually be found zipping through the trees in the forest. She loves nature more than anything. Some days she floats right up to the top of her favorite tree, sits on a branch, and watches the day unfold. Swirla is a noticer. She has the gift of keen vision. Similar to how a hawk is able to see a tiny mouse from 100 ft in the air, Swirla can see things that others might overlook or miss altogether.

One day, she was swooshing down to the lake from a very high height. She swooshed, and just as she was about to make a splash, she stopped, hovering mere inches above the lake. She put one hand in the water and began to glide across it. Reaching the shore, she decided to float back up and do it all over again. Just then, Swirla noticed something sparkling on the ground. It was a star!

What is a star doing on the ground in the middle of the day? As she got closer to the star, Swirla thought this was perhaps the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen.

“Hello, my name is Swirla; I live in these woods and I’d like to welcome you to my home.” The star hopped, all the while twinkling like a brilliant diamond. It seemed to say a lot. But it was in twinkle talk, which makes sense for a star. However, having never met a star before, Swirla wasn’t familiar with the language,

“I’m sorry I don’t speak twinkle. But if you can understand me, maybe you could twinkle once for ‘yes’ and twice for ‘no’? Would you like to try it?” Swirla hoped the star would be able to understand her.

The bright star twinkled once. “Wonderful!” she exclaimed, clapping her hands in delight. “Okay. Are you from around here?” The star twinkled twice.

“No.” Swirla said out loud, already with another question on deck. “Do you live in the sky?”

The star twinkled once and spun around, floating up slightly, then back down again.

“Oh! That was neat! Hmmm…let’s see. Are you on a trip?” The star twinkled twice. Swirla tried to think of another yes or no question. This was beginning to feel like a riddle. A star who lives in the sky and is not on a trip, but is on the ground.

Swirla’s eyes got big. “Did you fall?” One twinkle. This time, the star’s twinkle wasn’t as bright. In fact, Swirla noticed something with that response. The star’s left point was dimmer than the others, and a little crooked.

“Are you injured?” Swirla asked, gently. The star twinkled once again, and wiggled its left point. “I see.” Swirla had so many questions because she was a very curious person. But she knew it wasn’t the right time for that. She needed to figure out how to help this fallen star. “Do you need help to get back up to the sky?”

One twinkle. Swirla nodded, rocking back and forth as she thought.

“Star, I’m going to need to find help, but I promise I’ll come back. Don’t worry!” The star twinkled once, leaning gently against a tree, to wait.

As the sun was beginning to set, Swirla found her way to the top of her favorite tree to get some perspective. She thought about when Mr. Brown (bear) had a fever; when Fallon Fishton (catfish) had that scale reaction; and that time last fall when Ms. Little (ant) had a broken leg…

That’s it! An idea! She left the tree to go and find Dr. Fire (ant).

Swirla loved her forest community. They all worked together to help each other. This situation was no different. Though getting the Star back up to the sky felt nearly impossible, she wasn’t going to give up hope. She arrived at Dr. Fire’s office and filled him in on the situation. He was the doctor who helped Ms. Little. Thankfully, he had just seen his last patient and had time to spare! Swirla gave him directions to the fallen star.

“I’ve got one more stop to make and then i’ll meet you there; and if you think of anyone else who could be of service, please invite them. We need all the help we can get!” Dr. Fire understood and hurried to help the Star.

It was dark and the sky was covered in stars. Swirla wished she could just float with the Star high enough to leave it in the night sky. But she wasn’t strong enough to carry it. After all, she was only the size of a marble! She zipped her way through more trees until she came to a clearing. It was a field full of tulips. No one understood how they came to be here, making it a very special place. She slowly floated through a row of flowers, coming to land in the middle of a vibrant red tulip. To Swirla, there was something very calming about flowers at night. She rested in that red tulip and said out loud, looking straight up, “Hello Night Sky! I have met one of your own and it shines so bright. But right now, it’s hurt. I can only imagine how much it misses being up there with you. It’s hard being away from the people you love, especially when you’re hurting. Please help me get your star back to you, Night Sky. Thank you for letting me see one of yours, up close. It’s more beautiful than I could’ve ever imagined and I can tell, it’s a very special star.” She then closed her eyes, hoping an idea would come, or by some miracle, that the sky would speak. Nothing. But, when she opened her eyes, a firefly flashed it’s light above her. Another idea!

“Wait! Firefly! WAAIIIITTTTT!” She called out, zooming as fast as she could to catch up with the evening bug. She saw the firefly turn around and hover. When Swirla caught up to the firefly, she realized it was an acquaintance of hers – Susan Light. Susan was newer to the forest, but she and Swirla had met at a dinner party last month. “Susan! Hi, it’s Swirla!”

“Hi there Swirla, how can I help you this evening?,” Susan asked. Swirla knew what she was about to say might sound outlandish. But she no choice. She needed to get back to Star and Dr. Fire soon! They had to be wondering where she was.

“Susan, do you know anything about Star light? I’ve found a fallen star and it seems to have a wounded point, which also has dimmed its light. I sent Dr. Fire to help mend the point, but I’m not sure that will fix the light.” Susan grinned. “Swirla! Oh my word, a fallen star? I studied Astronomy in school, so I know a good bit about star light. I’d love to try and help. Does the star have a way to get back up to the sky?” Swirla shook her head no, as tears gently fell from her eyes.

Susan nodded, giving Swirla space to be sad, with a friend by her side. As Swirla wiped away the tears, she said, “Thank you for wanting to help. The more people we have to brainstorm, the better!” And they headed back to find the Star.

As they drew closer to the tree, Swirla saw Dr. Fire, along with Wilson Digs (woodchuck) and Roberta Caw (crow). The Star twinkled as she and Susan landed. Hi Star, this is Susan Light. She studied Astronomy in school and is here to help. Susan waved and greeted Wilson and Roberta. Swirla went to Dr. Fire to get an update and noticed the yellow tape and the slight dimming on the star’s left point. As she and Dr. Fire discussed the treatment and what his thoughts were on the star, Roberta cawed to get their attention. They turned to see Susan’s light turning on and off in a unique pattern. Then, the star would twinkle more than once, or twice, in response. The Star was communicating, with Susan!

Swirla and Dr. Fire stood in awe, along with Roberta and Wilson. They waited. Susan bowed before the star, then turned to the forest bunch. Everyone stared in amazement. Wilson spoke first. “Susan, how do you know Twinkle talk?”

“I didn’t know I did. I think it’s because of my bioluminescence, which is what makes me shine. Kaitlyn and I were both surprised!”

“Kaitlyn?” The animals echoed the unfamiliar name Susan had spoken.

Susan replied, “Oh yes, her name is Kaitlyn. And she isn’t a regular star. She’s a shooting star!” Kaitlyn gently rose up and twirled, twinkling beautifully.” The forest bunch clapped as she glided down softly.

Susan continued, “She said she collided with a small comet as they zipped across the sky early this morning. The comet didn’t fall, but she did. She also wanted me to tell you, Dr. Fire, that she enjoyed your joke about the moon*. And thank you for mending her point!” Dr. Fire blushed with gratitude. “Twas my absolute pleasure! Now, what are we to do about getting her back up to the sky?”

“Dr. Fire, I’m glad you asked. Kaitlyn has an idea, but it’s a doozy! It’s going to take all of us and a few more helpers, particularly strong ones.” Susan lit up in unique rhythms to Kaitlyn. Then she twinkled back. Susan translated all that Kaitlyn twinkled. The energy had shifted from sad and heavy to great excitement. They had a plan, but it was risky. So before they split up to recruit others, they prayed for a miracle. And with that, the little bit of hope that Swirla began with had now tripled in size!

Ten minutes later, Dr. Fire, Swirla, Roberta, Susan and Wilson all reappeared with friends. Kaitlyn was amazed by all the fascinating forest dwellers that showed up to help. She met Tom & Terri Thump (rabbits), Slyvester (fox), Reba (raccoon), Howard (hawk), Billy Brown (bear), Chewy & Charlotte (chipmunk), Sally Jo (squirrel), and last, but certainly not least, Martin (moose). It was quite a crew!

Several of the newcomers were carrying odds and ends to help with the plan. There were all kinds of things: giant leaves, pieces of cloth, a large piece of rubber, tools, and a rope. “My goodness,” twinkled Kaitlyn, “this just might work!”

Everyone pitched in to build what they had all agreed was the best plan: A giant slingshot.

When it was finished, they all stepped back to look at it. It was extraordinary! There was an old tree that had the perfect split for a sling. The chipmunks sewed a seat for Kaitlyn out of a large elephant ear leaf. This would keep her in a comfortable position during the pull back. Howard didn’t explain where the giant piece of rubber came from, but he assured everyone it was sturdy. They had to remove some branches from the tree, but he understood and said he was willing to help too. “I’m 400 years old and this is one of the most exciting things that’s ever happened to me!” He beamed with pride. “I’ll be strong for you, Kaitlyn; and by the way, I’m Oliver Oak. It’s nice to meet you.” Kaitlyn twinkled and hugged Oliver.

Swirla moved forward, with Susan by her side, ready to speak to her forest friends. “This is it. It’s time to say our goodbyes. Kaitlyn needs to get home so she can do what she was born to do, Shine in that great big sky. This is going to work!” Everyone cheered and then lined up to say their goodbyes.

Kaitlyn couldn’t believe how incredible this world was. She’d never experienced anything like this before and was sad to say goodbye to her new friends. But she knew there were still things left for her to do. After all the hugs and well wishes, she twinkled ‘Thank You’ to everyone, especially Swirla. Her faithfulness had saved Kaitlyn’s life and inspired others to help. Swirla gave Kaitlyn one last hug, and as she wiped tears from her eyes, again, she smiled and said, “Are you ready?”

Howard and Roberta carefully lifted Kaitlyn into the leafy seat on the giant stretch of rubber which was wrapped around Oliver. She nestled inside of it and twinkled to Susan that she was secure. Then, she closed her eyes and prayed for her new friends and her journey back to the sky. She was excited to see her family and do what she knew best, to shine and shoot! Billy Brown and Martin took their positions on the sides of the seat and slowly pulled back the rubber. The whole crew began to count down “…5…4…3…2…1…” Billy Brown and Martin let go of the rubber band and Kaitlyn shot up, up, up, further and further into the sky, until they could no longer see her.

It worked! It worked! They celebrated, danced, cheered and hugged each other. Oliver Oak had more hugs that day than ever before. She made it! Kaitlyn was back where she belonged. She changed the lives of every single one of them that day, and they changed hers, too. Before then, no one had ever seen something as extraordinary as Kaitlyn.

As the excitement faded and the friends began to pack up their things, Wilson asked, “Did she mention anything about the dimming of her point?” Susan nodded and smiled, gently. “That part of her point will be dim for as long as she shines. But, she said that it’s okay because it will always remind her of this day and how we cared for her when she was at her weakest.”

They all turned to look up into that big Night Sky, just in time to see a star shoot across it. Kaitlyn.

*The joke that Dr. Fire told Kaitlyn: What did the moon say to his therapist? I'm just going through a phase.

An Ending

Please forgive my delay. There’s been construction at my apartment and I’ve been without internet for DAYS, people. I’m not avoiding the end.

December brings many things and Christmas cards are a part of that! I really enjoy getting Christmas cards. Being a Southerner, it really seems to be part of the culture. Some of my past NYC roommates in NYC would tease me for how many cards would come this time of year, showcasing photos of seemingly put-together families. To be honest though, the more the merrier. I enjoy writing letters, so to have about a month of receiving mail feels like a little piece of Heaven. Just know, I even pay attention to what stamps you all select. I have a deep appreciation of specialty stamps. My sister gets even more cards than I do. And I’ve picked up a few traditions from her. She lines a set of double doors in their Alabama home with Christmas cards. And once Christmas is over, she collects all of the cards and puts them on a key ring. Why does she do this, you ask? She prays, throughout the following year, for each family or single person who sends her a card. I decided, a few years ago, to do the same thing. So my ending is praying for the rest of you 2021 jokers, which I did on the first of December. I hope you felt it. You all are very special to me and getting your cards each year reminds me of how dang lucky I am to know you, your families and even your pets. I received my first Christmas card of 2022 on the same day. So with an ending, comes a beginning.

I won't stop writing, don’t you worry. Thank you for reading my posts too. I realized it makes me feel very known and loved. 🎄🔔❄️

A Middle

I found this story in the middle of my photos on my phone. I vaguely remember writing it while watching a man sitting on a park bench.

Felix sat on a bench right outside an entrance to the park near his home. The day was overcast and cooler than a typical day in August. He reached into his tote bag and pulled out a sandwich along with the New York Times. Despite kids yelling from the nearby playground and cars whizzing past, Felix opened the paper and began reading as if he was sitting in the privacy of his apartment. Once he had scanned the front page, he moved on, skimming the Politics section and then turning to his favorite part of the paper, The Arts portion. The featured cover story was about a little play that made it’s way from the East Village Kraine Theater (max. seating 99 people) all the way to Broadway. It was like the little engine that could and just kept gaining momentum. The Times held the review of the darling little play titled, The Ripple Effect. The play told the story of a young girl who didn’t think her life was very special, but she was kind to people. Her kindness affected people. Some people made decisions as a direct result of a kind encounter with her. Those decisions led to new jobs, ending unhealthy relationships, paying it forward in other ways…and those are only a couple examples of the ripples she caused. And she never knew.
I won’t spoil the ending, but as Felix read on, his eyes began to water. The reviews were tremendous. The play a success and finally the last sentence read: “Playwright Felix Tomson has created his own ripple effect that will continue on for generations.” He did it. Felix dreamed of having a Broadway hit play ever since he was little. He’s 74 years old.
”What a life,” Felix said to himself, on that bench, right outside the park.

Reading this now makes me a little homesick for New York, particularly the energy that’s constantly reverberating in the air. At the same time, it’s another reminder of how writing has been a part of who I am for a long time. I like that. I’m typing this in the middle of the night because I can’t sleep. But now a storm is rolling in and the rain is lulling my eyes downward. I must go. And by the way, thank you for reading all these middles.

The Upper West Side, Manhattan