Deep In The Forrest

"Sometimes at night, I see their faces, I feel the traces they left on my soul. Those are the memories that make me a wealthy soul." -Bob Seger He had always asked me, "Where were you five years ago??" Every time, I would smile, sometimes replying, "I don't know, I was waiting for you." But no matter how tight I closed my eyes and wished, five years before, I couldn't go back, and he hadn't been there. Still I couldn't help but imagine how it might have turned out if we had met five years earlier. Valentine's Day that year, was the first and last time that anyone had ever made me feel truly special. He'd come down early that day to spend a few hours before work like he often did. When I answered the door, he greeted me with the same sweet intensity that I had I had come to know from him, the vibrant smile and in his hand a decorative gift bag which he handed to me. "Happy Valentine's Day." he said, staring into my eyes...

It is suggested that Part I and Part II be read before reading the following, Part III. Read at your own risk. :) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "She's in Alabama for a teacher's conference for the weekend. I'm coming to pick you up. Baby is with my Mom, I have the whole night." His voice was deep and warm, and when he spoke to me I would forget the reality of our situation. Maybe I didn't want to realize it, maybe things were just too perfect and I couldn't give up this manically ecstatic feeling... it was what I had waited all my life to feel, I believed he was the one. I felt it in my soul. "O.k., I can't wait to see you." I replied. Restlessly I waited, shivering in anticipation of getting the entire night to be with him. I would not waste any of this time sleeping. I was a night owl anyway, and had always been able to hang with the best of them. "I'm in my brother's truck." he informs me. ...

Butterflies and Zebras and Moonbeams - Part I should be read before continuing... The month was January, and it was quite cold outside. That night, however, it was extremely warm in my soul. I suppose I got some sleep. But Z wore heavily on my mind, and I could still feel him on my skin. I still felt dizzy from that first kiss, and I couldn't wait to get to work the next day. Would he still act the same? I sure hoped that nothing would be awkward between us. Finally, it was 2nd shift time again, and I was so ready to get there. Driving up, I looked for his car and tried to park somewhere in his vicinity. I was full of nervous energy as I walked in and ventured towards the time clock. "Get it together Jackie!" I think to myself, I had to relax and act cool. Everyone was working along just as normal, and I kept my eye peeled for him. I was once again making customer proofs when he found a perfect moment to approach me. We exchanged knowing glances, and smiled our secret sm...

Music has been my salvation, music has also been a catalyst for my mischief and the force behind some of the trouble that I have gotten myself into... Do you ever hear certain songs that take you right back to an exact moment in time? I know I do, and I did today. It was all about Z. It's been ten years, and still the memory of Z can make me sweat. Z knew that I was a pianist, as well as that I enjoyed singing. He could sing a fire into your soul himself with that voice of his. He's one of those memories I really shouldn't write about, but I can't quite help myself. We worked the 2nd shift together. I always admired him, but never in a million years thought that something would come of it. But music knew... music wanted me to crash into reckless abandon, so it took the wheel. At this printing company, I worked with a couple of other women on this 2nd shift-we were all typesetters, typesetting for mostly medical journals and other magazines. Directly behind our cubicles ...