I do not write much anymore, Guess the words have been written and thoughts grown distant. Shadows replace memories and creativity lies dormant. One thought that occurs to me is I usually wrote about nice things: love, kindness and hope. Happy memories I could let flow from mind to paper. Now the shadows chase the memories out of my mind replaced by current events and the sorrow that comes with it.

Unless you are a writer of news numb to all the sadness and loss, its difficult to express anything else. I see it as a dark vail slowly covering my mind that will soon encompass who I am now. And I do not want to be like that. Maybe I should stop watching the news and all the sorrow it reports every single day boring its way into my mind kicking out happy memories one news cast at a time.

My grandson asked me if I could go back to anyplace in time, where would it be? I had to think carefully about that but soon told him this: I would go back to the year 1959.I was six years old and spent my play time exploring the woods behind my house. I became my favorite comic book heroes saving the world with every slash of man old broom handle that was my sword. I climbed the apple tree in my yard and ate apples until I got sick. I waited for the afternoon train to pass by as I frantically waved my arms until the engineer blasted the mighty horn making my day complete.

My dad was my real hero and mom was someone I knew I would love forever. We ate dinner together every night, went to church on Sunday and drives in the country where an ice cream cone was guaranteed. Respect was mandatory and discipline expected when you strayed from the rules. It was a simple time of my life that held the countless memories I wrote about for so long. My grandson listened intently as I told him all of this, and when he spoke my eyes filled with tears, I proudly let flow. He said I was his hero because I was always there if he needed me. He told me he wished he could have climbed that apple tree with me and explored the woods looking for treasure.

I told him in a way he was with me because even way back then God had a plan for me just like he does for everyone. He knew I would grow up and begin a life of my own, just like he would someday. He knew who I would marry and that my kids would have kids and one of them was him. So, in a small way he was right beside of me as I climbed that apple tree and searched for treasure in my woods. He grinned that boyish look and I knew he was reliving what I had shared with him. Another tear ran down my weathered face which he wiped away with no words spoken.

Mike