August 2021 – Rivers Renewed

Rocks Falling

Rocks falling shattered into pieces, suddenly a quick moving shadow flickers,

gliding through the trees, and I realized this spirit was tribal

a story of heartbreak and prior glory, never malicious

yet standing her ground, a firm foundation.

I wasn’t afraid, simply nodded

acknowledging the presence,

the smell of wood burning

lingering in the air,

and crow feathers descending

floating through the trees.

Simple Words Gently Spoken

Simple words gently spoken, will begin the wholeness we so desperately need

even those dark passages

we thought would never heal,

will melt away

in the presence

of love.

Some Who Find the Light

Some who find the light still can’t find their way,

preferring the darkness of conspiracies,

their own hearts drifting,

lost at sea.

Yet some who find the light know the way of love,

becoming a beacon, a sign of hope

for each one of us.

Not really following a doctrine,

simply being

who we were intended to be.

Amen.

A Stream Flowing Over

When my mind is still, my heart can listen, a silent warfare against the noise, the disturbance of a distant wind.

I will never understand the whirlwind, but in the forest there is shelter, a wholeness waiting,

saying, “Here is the way”. A softer tone, a stream flowing over,

and sending me into the far away,

and back again, at the same time,

drifting, and following the light

through the trees,

allowing my heart to listen.

When I am still, I am alive.

A Trans Woman and Her Friends

Nathan was still pulling on his shirt when his phone buzzed on his nightstand. Ally’s text said, “Can you meet me at the park at 10:00? We need to talk…”

“Sure.”

“Felicia will be joining us later…”

“Cool!”

When he got there Ally was pacing back and forth in front of the fountain, agitated. “What’s up?” He was concerned that he had done something wrong. “So many guys are hitting on me, and quite a few of them are freaks! I hate freaks!” Nathan jumped in, “I get it, do you still have your Instagram and TikTok accounts….?” She cut him off.

“That’s not what we need to talk about…..Nathan, are we dating?” He hesitated. “Well….to be honest at first I just wanted to talk, and then I wanted to be friends. God knows I could use a friend….”

“Ok, good.” She actually looked relieved. She continued with, “Honey I don’t think I can handle a relationship right now, with everything I’m going through.” Nathan shook his head with sympathy saying, “I understand.”

“But if you ever change your mind honey, let me know. You know I trust you. To be honest as I go through the transition….I’m going to change, and well….you know….you might actually like what you see!” She blushed and smiled at the same time. “What??” He was a bit dumbfounded.

“Hey guys!” Felicia walked up, neither of them had seen her coming. She said, “Guess who got promoted to Assistant Manager?” “No!” Both Ally and Nathan said it at the same time.

“Not only were Rick and his girlfriend fired….” Nathan jumped in with, “Wait the nitwit waitress was his girlfriend?” Felicia nodded yes. “Anyway, Mrs. Matthews closed the restaurant temporarily and held a press conference apologizing to the community. Before you two came in that day, Rick’s girlfriend refused to serve an African American couple!

“What?!! Unbelievable!” Both Ally and Nathan said the same thing at the same time. This time they looked at each other. What’s going on here?

With a knowing look on her face Felicia asked Ally if she could talk to Nathan privately. Ally walked a short distance away and sat on a park bench. Felicia leaned in with Nathan and said, “You may want to be just friends now, but one day as she goes through this process, you’re going to fall for her….. big time. Big….time!

Nathan’s eyes grew wide, and he thought…..Oh no!! Felicia continued, “Didn’t you just hear her? She trusts you and she’s waiting…..waiting for you!”

“Oh no!!” This time he said it out loud.

Note: If we see these friends again the title will be, Ally and Friends

Thank you for reading! Peace.

With a Trans Woman at the Vegan Place II

“Dude! You have anger issues!” It was Ally desperately attempting to de-escalate the situation. Nathan and the manager were now face to face in a silent stare off. Nathan had just been told, “Sir you either calm down or you will have to leave!”

Nathan decided to do the unexpected thing and sit back down in his chair, while saying to the manager, “Why don’t you sit down for a minute and let me tell you our story of coming in here today….” When the manager did pull up a chair, the entire restaurant breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh, thank God!” someone said.

Ally visibly shifted to relax mode. Other customers were busy sending texts and emails to the restaurant website about the “unhealthy” and often “hostile” environment. One email said, “It was a horrible experience!” The owner of the restaurant, a Mrs. Matthews, began reading these messages at the conference she was attending in Chicago.

It didn’t take long for Rick the manager to understand once Nathan started explaining. Rick started looking down at the table embarrassed, and then turned his head to the side, as if he had expected this to happen.

Abruptly Rick got up and said “I’ll take care of it. I’ll get you another waitress and the food…. is on the house today. Please enjoy your stay….” And just like that he walked away. It wasn’t very genuine, but it was sort of what Nathan and Ally wanted to hear.

“I’m sorry I ruined everything”, Nathan finally said. He didn’t wait for Ally to answer, “I’m so sick and tired of people being mistreated…..I know what it’s like in a way……I was bullied for years. My pain…. was forged into a weapon and used against me. Ridicule was their favorite tactic.”

“Oh, that’s deep honey. I’m so sorry!” Ally covered his hand with hers. She looked him straight in the eyes and said, “I get it now…..I do. And I realize I can trust you. It was a wild ride, but you didn’t ruin it.” They both chuckled. It was the first time he had ever told someone, and Ally could sense that.

A new waitress came out with the food, all smiles and was so happy to meet the two of them. “I’m Felicia! And I’m so glad you complained about that nitwit you had the first time….”

Overall, it was a very good lunch, but was it a date?

The next installment tomorrow.

With a Trans Woman at the Vegan Place

She rushed in front of him to pull the door handle when they walked up to the restaurant. She opened the door saying, “This way sir!”. When she laughed her head went back, and he noticed she really did look like a woman when she did that. All he could think of to say was, “Funny lady…” They both smiled.

Once they were inside though the staring began. He had been going there for 2 years and had never seen anything like it. When they found a table, a young blondish woman walked over setting 2 menus on the table. She said nothing and walked away. And she was not smiling. The two of them looked at each other.

They were on a first name basis now, so she said, “Nathan what do you want from me?” He looked at her bewildered, saying nothing. “Nobody is nice to a Trans woman unless they want something…..so what do you want….? Her raised eyebrow told him more than her words.

“Oh God!” was all he could think of to say. “You think that??” He was stunned and hurt by her words. “I don’t want anything!” Ok that came out too loud. A couple of people turned to look at him. “Ally why would you think something like that?” She was quiet but her eyebrow lowered.

The same blond waitress came out to take their order a short time later, but she said nothing. She simply stood there silently, with a disgusted look on her face, holding her notepad and pencil. They did place their order and he was about to say something else when the waitress walked away silently.

Ok now he was hot. Ally could see it coming, and cautioned him, “Nathan don’t!” Too late. He pushed his chair back, stood up and declaring loudly said, “Hey wait a minute! Who do you think you are??” “Nathan please! Sit down!” Ally was beginning to panic while the whole restaurant was quietly watching them….” Yet he continued, “You can’t treat people that way!”

To be continued later today.

Rain Falling

The wind called me outside today,

the rain

falling through the trees

dripping off the leaves,

refreshing me.

Reader’s Guide

I offer a wide variety of work here, and I want you to enjoy what I write. So, I thought it would be useful to have a short guide to my blog and recent goings on. I love writing and I’m so glad you’re here!

Time Traveler/Emma

Emma started out as a shape-shifting time traveler but has been changing recently. She has wings now. She is definitely supernatural, but she is not an angel or evil. I’m currently formulating some more of the supernatural for her! At times, these standalone pieces of minifiction are a little dark or edgy and that’s ok. Her heart is healing but will she find love? And is that what she is really looking for?

A Trans Woman/Ally and Friends

Ally is trans and is developing some friendships while dealing with being mistreated and rejected. She’s also attempting to discover more of who she truly is. We watch her new friendships develop. Some of my readers don’t like these stories, but I can’t write for just one group of people. I write about what I think is important. In the future the titles will be called Ally and Friends. These are stories about fictitious yet real people and real problems, with a touch of romance.

Poetry

Yes, there is still poetry! I love writing about nature, healing, restoration of our spirits also called renewal. Thus, the title of my blog. And most of my work over the past several years has been poetry.

Additional Fiction

On this site there is a ton, and I mean a ton, of fiction material. There is Historical Fiction about Native Americans, Romance Fiction, and even some Science Fiction. I need to start deleting it to make some room!

Some of my personal favorites are about Native Americans. And I still love their names I invented including, Thunder Speaking, Cricket in the Meadow, Two Wolves, Skye, Bluebird and many others. Cricket in the Meadow was a Medicine Woman or Holy Woman.

You can find these and more by using the menu bar on the top right of my homepage.

Thank you so much for being here and reading!

Peace.

Save Yourselves

If you are in a church that preaches against the vaccine, or against the wearing of masks, run

or walk safely, but very quickly to the nearest exit.

Save yourselves.

Otherwise

there might not be a hospital bed for you

when you really need it.

Faith can be very beautiful when blended with taking precautions.

Please be safe and healthy!

Month: August 2021