Just a moment to thank you all for your help and your gifts.
There’s really no clever words to convey how this feels.
So – bluntly and without the grace it deserves - thank you.
Stunned, delighted, relieved, and humbled….all at once.

I only sent six emails asking for help.
I am friends with far more than that who I trust,
And had originally planned to tell far more than I did.
It’s just that when the sixth mail went – I knew to stop.
I can’t explain it any better than that.
Everything that’s happened- has sprung from those recipients
I had to ask a couple of people whose advice I respect
‘I’m thinking this is the right thing to do – what do you think?’
Before I even wrote the letter.
It was Spirit that was the final advice I acted upon.
One friend – matched every dollar that was donated for a time!
And because of that the ‘world of man’ was thwarted and is now at bay
The weapon of ‘fear’ undone by love … once more.

I’d like to share something else I received -
I received messages, emails, and snail-mail letters of encouragement;
Some messages apologetic but assuring me they’d include me in their prayers;
I was gifted thoughtful reminders more than once of stories -
something I’d done in our past; sometimes LONG ago
That had inspired someone … or made a difference.
How does one place a ‘value’ on that?
The receipt of knowing that something you did … mattered.
The peace and solace knowing that someone somewhere – prayed and remembered you.
* Pause *
I received a Guy Fawkes Mask & that TRULY made me laugh
That anyone would believe I was smart enough to be Anonymous …
I fear I can only hope for ‘honorary’ membership at best
But it looks totally bitchin on the horse skull above my bed
And I feel protected … I feel safer, somehow.
I was gifted a lovely book of prayers & inspirational thoughts
It’s one of those well-made books that’s a pleasure to hold…
(my ‘bookish’ friends know exactly what I mean)
A hand written letter that the first thing I noted
Was the handwriting hadn’t changed much since we were kids.
And that made me smile because – mine hasn’t either, really.
Mine’s only way LARGER now because I can’t see it any more.

For a brief time, I saw vividly the children we had been in those lines.
Two muddy, ponytailed girls with wooden swords, two trusty bikes
Leaning faithfully against vine – riddled trees
Building forts of mud and rock in the deep woods.

The fear of living in my car has been eliminated for a little while,
Giving me time to breathe and to think & for that I am humbly grateful.
I did not do that – you have.

In this seasonal time of introspection and intuition as the Earth Dreams,
I cannot but realize I’ve been reassured
the true meaning of ‘worth’ and of ‘wealth’
is realized in the caliber of one’s friends.
I am surrounded by Beauty.
I forget that sometimes.

So, from a muddy,sword – toting little girl past and present ~

Solstice Blessings to all
Until we dance again – beneath an orange sky.

~ BarbDwyer