"OK, Now I Understand"
I kept sitting there thinking & trying to understand it. Year after year,
"Why?", I asked the Universe.
Then it hit me, then it came to me & I smiled.
Everyone kept telling Jim she was ready, that it was time. Jim kept saying, "no, not yet. I want to surprise her. I want it to be finished & perfect. I want it to be just right." "OK", they said,"but get going. We can't wait forever. We miss Billie & we want her with us."
Jim had picked out a prime lot, deep in the pines, right at the water's edge. It was a beautiful, crystal clear lake full of German brown & rainbows. He was building a cozy log cabin he'd designed especially for Billie. It featured hand carved timbers, plank floors, built-in nooks & cupboards. It was beautiful & a true labor of love. Jim wanted to do all the work himself & build it just right. However, it was taking forever!
One day there came a knock at the front door. Jim had been up all night finishing some detail work on a built-in cupboard. He was exausted & sleepy. He stumbled to the door where the relentless knocking was coming from & opened it to find a yard full of loved ones grinning and eager.
Jim raised his eye brows & scratched his head.
Beacher stepped forward & spoke, "James H." he said, "we want our Billie now. No more delays! We're all eager & ready to see her, to have her with us. We're all here to help! We can all swing a hammer & use a paint brush." Jim was silent & serious as he looked out over the sea of faces in the front yard. All waited for his response. Then Jim's stern expression melted, a gentle smile appeared as he felt the out pouring of love & generosity from everyone there. "OK", he announced in a loud voice. "Grab a hammer guys or a bunddle of shingles & lets finish this up!"
Everyone pitched in. Jim's brothers, Billie's mom, old neighbors. There were colleagues & students. Even Durwood showed up with a box of nails! It was indeed a labor of love. Jim was moved as he watched his gift to Billie come together. Everyone was in the spirit!
There was much laughter & celebrating as the finishing touches were completed. The crowd of friends & family turned to Jim, pleased with their contributions. Jim thanked each & everyone, then spoke, "Now wait right here everbody." Jim turned...swooped down & scooped up Miss Billie. In the blink of an eye she was there! She was home & standing tall & straight, now held in the spirit of so many loved ones!
What a reunion! The whole mountainside felt alive with music & voice. The celebrating lasted all night. Then as the dawn began to brighten the sky, the crowds started to head on home, to their personal place of contentment.
Billie & Jim were left standing on the front porch of their cabin waving good-bye to the very last of their guests.
As sunrise filled the sky, Jim grinned at Billie. He squeezed her with a hug, then grabbed his fishing pole & headed down to the lake.
Billie laughed & shook her head. She sat down in her varnished rocker & breathed easy! She was smiling from ear to ear. The sparkle was back in her eyes. She was relaxed & ready for this new begining. Her wide grin now changed to a soft smile as she looked beyond with such pride. Her thoughts were now of Jamie & Bart & of her grandsons. Her strength of heart now found in their images & accomplishments. She was truely proud of them all. They were her beautiful legacy left behind. Billie was pleased. She felt gratitude & blessed by all of her family & friends, those who looked after her & enriched her life through the years.
Billie laughed out loud as she remembered everything about everything. all the details of growing up & all the important memories that shaped her life, all vivid & fresh again, not a single detail lost!
Billie's spirit was ful of joy. She felt whole again. She whispered to each of us, "Have faith. Lean on this faith & on your beliefs. Celebrate forever & find peace in the Universe. We're all in this together. We're all here to teach & learn from one another. Make the most of it!"
Then Jim hollered from down at the lake, "Damn it Billie, quick, bring me the net, I swear I've got a four pounder on the line!"