The morning after Halloween I had to leave home early. When I say early I mean early, before the crack of dawn, before the dawn even had an inkling it is meant to crack.
Anyway, I woke up, barely. Put on whatever I found thrown about the room. Decision I knew I would regret in the harsh, cold light of day, but at that hour it was the best I could muster.
I jumped into my Aldi champion sneakers (if you do not know what they are you are missing out! Lovely canvas sneakers, with colorful trims bought for 9,99 along the milk, eggs and bacon.), and I headed out the door burdened with a burgeoning back pack and the discontent of my faith. Winter is indeed coming!
The morning, if I can call it morning, cause it was as black and still as night, swallowed me into a strange warmness I did not expect.
Again, I was incorrectly dressed for the Irish weather. After just a few minutes I could feel sweat gathering under my layers. I grumbled and mumbled and pushed on.
Soon I reached a big road, empty, flanked by street lights intermingled with large, old trees.
The emptiness of the road fascinated me, a sleeping world.
Then, a gentle wind started to blow up high in the crowns of the trees shaking out sizeable amounts of floating leaves.
I walked my path watching them drift down on the road and then roll on the smooth surface pushed by the wind.
I closed my eyes (yes, while walking at night on a public road, that tells you how much I know about self-preservation) and listened to the rolling leaves, sounding like the small rocks hitting each other on the bottom of a moving stream.
Such beauty! So grateful I have the antennae to enjoy it.
As I was walking and admiring the shine of the street lights reflected by an amber colored ivy, I had a sobering thought.
Pay attention! Evil lurks in the shadows and can tear at your life without any notice.
The thought made me sick to my stomach (Thank God for the Buscopan in my bag!), and it firmly grounded me back into reality.
But still, the rolling leaves, sounding like river rocks, dancing with the wind on the empty road… them, nobody can take away from me...
... not even my anxiety.
Pennies from heaven.