Deep In The Forrest

Memphis weather is fickle if not bitchy at times. One day, spring has sprung with all of its warmth, color and glory, and the next day Mother Nature is on her period and brings us a cold snap complete with ice and snow. Everyone rushes out to the stores to pick up their emergency stock of bread and milk in case they die in the tragic freeze (which lasts until about 6 p.m.), then it's back to business as usual. Spring comes in on the heels of winter, rarely a smooth transition but once it begins to even out, the short magical spell lasts maybe a week or two before rushing head first into the melt of summer, which is hotter than the hinges on the gates of Hell (with a side of mud and bugs). Through this sweet handful of days where we get to feel that hope, perfect temperatures and spirit of renewal, I am usually reminded of a few delightful childhood memories. This morning I was reflecting on just one particular such memory, which I am pretty certain was about 6th grade (I w...

I believe in magic... depending on what your idea of magic is, and your views on life. I believe anything is possible. Life is hard sometimes, but if you hang in there, and trust yourself and follow your heart Magic is going to find its way to you in some form or another. All you have to do is "look"... it's all about how you see things. Well, since I was a small child, I have been an avid believer of magic and also a relentless advocate of staying childish, and never getting "too big for your britches" (so-to-speak). Adulthood is all fine and good, but I always preach smelling the roses, and never letting life get you down to the point you lose touch with your own inner child, and "Magic". So when we were little kids, my nieces (Stacey and Kristie, they were the first before anyone else), we were all close in age... We would go into the back yard with spoons out of the Kitchen drawer. Then, much to my Mother's dismay, we would dig... and dig... an...