She was an eccentric one, living a life of solitude in the depths of the woods. People believed her to be a witch, having seen her using cauldrons supposedly conjuring magic potions for sinister spells. Her only friend, a black crow that perched on her shoulder as she tredded the woods gathering goods. The children often hid behinds tree's and bushes peeking at her in fear that she would catch them spying and turn them into frogs or something worse.  The supposed witch went on about her business preparing for winter months ahead. She dressed quite odd in times where women only worse dresses, she wore trousers. Thick, hand sewn deep brown trousers that she explained kept her warm in winters harsh storms. She seemed to have a remedy for just about everything, encouraging everyone's theory that she really is a witch. She used her cauldron to make herbal tea's and maple syrup to earn a living. She had unusual methods used in much earlier times to see if the maple tree's were ready to be drained of their syrup. The children had seen her thumping  a stick against the tree's not knowing that she was listening to the sound it made which told her if they were ready or not. Her methods, although unsual to current times were nothing of a witch. One fridged winter day a little girl found herself caught in a merciless snow storm. The wind howling fiercely, she was going in circles and indefinitely lost. There she lay face down in the snow passed out from freezing temperatures and pure exhaustion. Out of nowhere the supposed witch came across her lying in the snow. The little girl came to only to be face to face with the witch and was terrified. The witch pegina put her onto a sled and pulled her deep into the woods back to her shack. She poured her a hot cop of tea. The little girl was reluctant to drink it because she thought it was a magic potion. Pegina said, it's only tea child. The little girl smelled it and replied, it does smell like tea. She began sipping it and found it was most delightful. Her clothes were soaked so pegina had an idea. She offered the little girl a pair of deep brown trousers just like hers. The little girl laughed, she said, I'll look silly. They were dry nevertheless, so she put them on and to her surprise were quite warm and cozy. About then, the storm was letting up and it was time to get the girl home. They made the journey back to her house, before departing the little girl asked her a question. She asked, do you think I'll turn out like you? Pegina said, only if your lucky.

We cry, too,
but we do it together
as He is there where two or three gather,
restoration is His desire
together, hand-in-hand
we will walk this broken road
remembering that this is NOT our home

He's loving her from a distance, slowly dying inside from pain stricken grief

Refusing to see what he has right in front of him, a beautiful, amazing woman

Her love for him flowed as natural as a spring in the mountain's, showering mists of kisses upon his cheek*

The profound pain painted on her face as he stormed away haunts him night and day.

He wastes away with a heavy heart over what he's done, choosing to surrender to darkness rather then respond to light.

**Foolishness was always his demise and he feeds it 3 course meals on a 4 figure salary.

^^^^^^
/////

I was sitting high on the hill

We had this LAND in the costal range near Santa Cruz

//

( a castle for the ages )

///

In the meditative flow of absolute freedom

///

Then the words of a song by THE BAND

came into my mind

I LOOKED OUT MY WINDOW
TELL ME WHAT DID I SEE ?

I SAW THE GOLDEN CALF
POINTING BACK AT ME

///

the place ( 300 acres ! )

Seemed but a postage stamp as I let my eyes

Drift south along the range  to Mexico

//

North thru Canada ( no ! -- up to Alaska! )

Out  over the Pacific

Up thru the Cosmos

/::/

I got up and descended the hill

Out to PCH 1

And hitch- hiked Berkeley

and the smog

And the  congestion

And the people

And I asked for forgiveness

And that again I might be human

And that the years might flow

And that GOOD might come

AND THEY SAID

sure brother !

You're always welcome

and here I am