Starting Over

Starting Over

Walking in the park. I’ve walked this park five thousand times. I’ve walked east to west, west to east, north to south, south to north, north to east... all of it.

I was required to walk five times a week, by my doctor, of course, and apparently my lifespan. She told me in no uncertain terms, walk or stop walking... if you get the drift.

Today I was walking north to south, I’d taken a few days off (allowed!) so when I came upon the new statue I was surprised. It must have been erected while I was on my break. I really should read the local paper, but you know...boring...

It was a statue of a child with very long hair. Her hair came down almost to her knees in places. It was tied, here and there, with what looked like morning glories. Of course, being a statue, they weren’t blue, everything was a soft grayish stone. As I walked around, I finally saw her face. She looked like me!

Not me now, of course, me when I was a child! I’d seen enough pictures of myself as a child that it was obvious. I stood there, somewhat in shock, when a voice spoke: “Janice, it’s time.”

Suddenly a wind came up and swirled around me, I had to close my eyes. When I opened them, I saw a child looking at me.

“Mommy! This looks like Gramma!” she said. The mother said, “You’re right! She does! Let’s go or we’ll be late.”

After they left, I remembered it all. I was the statue, I had to wait now until this child got old before I could switch into another human shape. I was kind of glad though. I was tired. I was ready for a good long rest.