Snail Crossings

Slick droplets of rain
Bring out Mother Nature's friends
For an Autumn bath.

A Gift

When all that was left
Was the fear of endless doubt,
He gave me the rain.

Priorities

Hit the button, babe.
Let's turn breakfast into brunch
And sleep a bit more.

Rough Winds

Watch your step, my dear.
These winds force us all to land
And rest for a bit.

Songbird

Let my lyrics lick
The heart beating in your soul,
Surrender to me. 

You Ain't Broken

Alright ladies and gentlemen, we need to talk.

We need to talk about this undying need to be "broken" - this glorification of irreparable damage having been committed against your beautiful spirit.

I'm not being facetious. Your spirit is beautiful. But do you know what else your spirit is?

Strong.

Unbreakable.

Untamed.

Ferocious.

Loud.

It might be bruised.

Scarred.

Denied at times.

Cracked.

And it might even feel broken.

But it won't remain this way forever... if you choose to not let this obstacle defeat you.

Obstacles can come at you from all different directions.

They can manifest in so many different ways.

These obstacles can be in the form of facing a fear or running down the bastard who hurt you.

They can seem shallow to others, but are in fact deep gorges cut into your psyche.

They can take moments to overcome, or a lifetime.

Obstacles can be anything.

They can attempt to break you.

Bend you to the point of fracture.

But you decide what lasting mark they will leave.

Let's talk about you.

There is no easy fix.

I'm sorry.

There just isn't.

It's going to take work to stand up to your obstacles and face them boldly.

It's going to take strength to leap these hurdles.

It's going to take a reason for trying.

But you can do it.

Maybe with a little help...

Or a lot.

There's strength in searching for help.

And receiving it.

Like Air

Writing Prompt Two: So this is what it means to drown.

Before our adventure begins, the beginning must be told. When I met him I was quiet, internal, mindfully collected in a strong, elegant sort of way. I had dedicated so much of my efforts to becoming a pillar of womanly independence that I had forgotten what it was like to feel loved, to know romance. When I was ready to search again, I did so with vigor. There were requirements of myself and of any future him that needed to be satisfied. There were playful requests, too... for the man I wanted him to be, but also the history which was attached to him.

When his hands wrapped around my neck and squeezed gently, slowly cinching my breath to a trickle, I knew I had found the one. His lips forcefully pushed into my own and with an open mouth his tongue massaged my tongue and just before the release his teeth bit into my lip. He could make me moan with involuntary pleasure. Noises escaping my captured throat that I made no effort to make. He knew he had me, body, spirit, and faith. I trusted him to destroy me in the most beautiful way; to torture me with his love. And he did, continues to do so, and forever will. His will be a taste that lingers in my mouth for all my years to come. A craving I will harbor until my end is reached. With this knowledge, I accept my fate, loving him like I love the air I breathe. And when he is away my lungs ache for him, my mind lamenting: so this is what it means to drown.

They say you should be careful for what you wish for because it just might come true.

I didn't realize happiness needed a warning.

It Begins

Writing Prompt One: When I dreamed of the desert I never imagined it with snow. Yet here we are; hot sand beneath our feet and crystal flakes falling from they sky...

I'm really starting to wonder if Colorado is such a very real place, after all. Sand dunes fill the horizon to the north of me, the sneaking white capped mountains breaking through the timberline border the east. It's a strange place, resting beneath dunes and mountains, feet dancing through the chilled waters of glacier runoff. Like being at a sandy beach with no ocean. The wind whips though my hair, biting my exposed ears. White flakes fell from over burdened clouds, balancing on the tip of my nose before melting from the heat of my body.

"Are you ready?"
My gaze filtered out the distraction of this mystical place and focused on his form. "Ready for what?"
"Our adventure!"

Beside You

Moisture from a kiss,
Your breath crawling over skin.
My darling, you win.

Shelter

Explore the great wilds,
Find that which feeds your spirit:
Then plant roots and grow.

Calm Waters

Should we sail away
Or just linger beneath clouds?
Let us flip a coin.

Water Falls

Like rushing currents
Tumbling through mossy paths
I, too, fall for you.

Day Dreaming

Darling, soak it up,
The mild lapping of lake waves,
The burning sun's rays.

Seasonal Angst

Camp fire smoke embrace;
Let the coyotes call out
Into chilled night air.

London on Empty

My flight arrived in London at Heathrow just before 7 AM, London time. Yet, I was unable to check into my hotel until 2:30 PM. This meant I had quite a few hours to kill before I could rest properly and I hadn't slept, but for maybe an hour on the plane. So what could I do to pass the time? Explore the classic tourist sites, of course!

I dropped my luggage off at the Sheriff Hotel and set to walking about London at 8 in the morning. I knew I needed a currency exchange, breakfast, and tourist attractions and thanks to Google Maps... that's exactly what I got!

It took me a little while to learn how to navigate the winding, flat bordered streets, but I eventually got sorted and made my way down the two miles of roadway to Westminster Abbey, Westminster Palace, Big Ben, and the River Thames.

It was a damp, chilly morning with a stiff breeze, so I gladly paid the 20 pounds necessary to tour Westminster Abbey. You think the outside is stunning? Wait until you get inside! I'm speechless, really. I wish I could have taken photos to share with you all, but they requested we not and, it being a holy sanctuary for the many parishioners and those buried there, I respected their request.

I can tell you this, though... I spent the morning lingering over the Unknown Warrior, Sir Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Queen Elizabeth I, Mary - Queen of Scots, Robert Browning, and Geoffrey Chaucer.... along with many others who are entombed within and beneath the church. I can also tell you that I've never really cared about ceilings until I walked into this cathedral of a church. While I couldn't take photos inside the main building, they were permitted in the cloisters and outer connected chambers.

It was absolutely spellbinding. If you are ever in the area and have a chance to spend a good hour or two, I highly recommend this one. It'll bring back a strong dose of understanding and appreciation for craftsmanship and spirituality.

After leaving the Abbey I walked across the street to see that big ol' clock and take a peek at the Thames. Westminster Palace (also known as the House of Parliament) is also an architectural masterpiece. I didn't go inside, but walking it's land-side perimeter certainly added a graceful awe and respect in my gaze.

By this time I was freezing. Absolutely frozen to the core. Shocking, really, since I left Wyoming in negative degrees and it was 51 in London. I suspect the moisture in the air has much to do with the chilled feelings. A hot meal and some tea would do the body good, so I set out to seek refuge in a local pub.

I ordered a pie, immediately tracing my thoughts back to Sweeney Todd, and opting for a vegetarian one... you know... just in case. The gravy was to die for. And the herbal tea brought life back into my bones. The problem was, by then, I had been up for 24 hours straight and the warm, satisfied, full belly was putting me to sleep quickly!

I scuttled (yes, scuttled) to my hotel and begged to be let into my room early. They kindly obliged as it had just been cleaned. When I opened the door I was greeted with the most beautiful thing I would see that day - a bed.

Look how happy I am to see that bed!

A brief overview of the room and I hit the pillow hard at about 1:45 PM. I woke up briefly around 8, but went back to sleep a few hours later. Exhaustion had fully taken over. But hey! I beat jet-lag in the process and am now right on schedule with the new time zone!

I have to admit, arriving at the airport and getting in a cab was about all the courage I had in me at the beginning of that day. It could have been the long day of travel, the lack of food, being there alone, or just the sincere desire to be able to relax, but I was spent. My adventure tank was on empty and my confidence was really low. I was determined not to be spotted as a tourist; I really just wanted to blend in. I didn't really feel comfortable in London until I turned a corner and found myself in a throng of other tourists doing their tourist thing - taking classically cliche photos of all the sites... exactly what I wanted to do. So even though I was alone, I had a community there filled with members from all over the world. It was a great feeling, to feel at home with strangers, and I'm grateful for the boost in confidence it gave me.

Next stop - Paris!