Not Just Another Blogophilia Write; Light up the World

What on Earth or Mars is Blogophilia? It is only an incredibly fun yet challenging writer’s gathering place filled with wonderfully creative and friendly people. Check it and the current challenge  out here: https://marvgrn08.wordpress.com/2020/12/13/blogophilia-41-13-light-up-the-world/?fbclid=IwAR2dgohrDDT6pbIwnjaQmLb24AihIVrDvnIRy3QS1F3r_jMXiA7hRsPk6ZY

A Much Needed Visit to the Wood

It had been a hard days night and I was ready for some distraction. Just because I no longer had a paying job, didn’t mean that daily activities didn’t work on me. Life and its responsibilities appearing to be an eight days a week event. Stress seems to be my middle name now and I find myself constantly seeking ways to ease that. Sitting here in my chair, the same chair I sit in every day, my mind slowly frazzling I pondered what to do. As my gaze wandered toward the windows I couldn’t help but smile. Winter and cool temps be hanged, I was going on a magical mystery tour. Shoving my bare feet into well worn shoes, I headed for the back door and the entrance to the woods that waited.

 Its always obvious when the visit to the woods is intended to be one into the magic. Everything changes around you. The Wood quiet, save for the occasional bird call or ranting, angry squirrel, comes alive with song. Trust me, it is not a long and winding road into the magic either. It greets one like an old and dear friend. When you walk heart first into the wonders, it is always best to just, let it be and enjoy. 

My walk took me down a familiar path, but as in my conscious thought, I felt the real world fade away, my mind opened to the wonders of imagination around me. The symphony of sounds and songs of the Wood erupted joyfully. To be honest, it does not shift into some animated, cartoon like existence. It remains real, yet magical. Each moment filled with unexpected joys, pleasure, and gifts of whimsy and yes, magic.

 The Wood has the expected inhabitants, deer, racoon, possum and the like. The Wood also has the magical that created through belief and trust in the imagination live among the expected. They also love to play games taking the so called normal out of what is expected and turning them into the unexpected and fun. This was what I was seeking on this visit. The unexpected from the expected.

I wanted the magic found in the Wood, to light up the world and take me away from the dark, normal, boring every day. As I followed the path down the hill toward the pond, I could already hear music. Songs that sounded very familiar from deep in my memory. Slowly, in my mind it was beginning to come together. As I made my way around the Mountain Laurel bush that shielded the entrance to the pond, I was greeted by what and who was creating the music. The Wood’s own rendition of the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. 
The party going on around the pond was incredible. It was a twist and shout event that should have been a mangled mess of noise and confusion but instead sounded amazing.  A racoon family was under the bridge, parents looking at their young singing all my loving. While a lone buck stood on the bridge watching a doe respond to his rendition of all you need is love. I stood transfixed, watching as all around the pond various animals sang different songs by the Beatles. I didn’t even realize they knew these songs, but then remembered, I was in the Wood and it was full on magical.

 From where I stood I watched the dragonfly as they did an amazing airborne ballet. Coming together and apart only to sing a rousing rendition of get back to do it all over again.

Moving out of the way of the show I found a seat from which to watch the amazing scene before me. The secret ones of the Wood had done well this day, giving voice to the usually silent but for guttural sounds and growls. Somehow I knew though, there was more to come. Something so different that not only my moment, but if only proof were available, would light up the world. 

The magical show went on around me for long moments then suddenly stopped. All of the life around me turned to face the entrance to the pond. Slowly around the bush and through the gate ambled a very large bear. The bear is not native to the Wood. Walking slowly toward the bridge it looked neither left nor right. It seemed not to notice my presence as it passed by on its mission. The buck standing on the bridge backed away and watched from the far side. When the bear reached the very center of the bridge it stopped and sat down. Then it took time to look around at all of the now silent audience gathered round. Reaching one paw up to its neck it yanked a chain that had been hidden by its fur. The sunlight, or maybe the magic, glinted from a metal whistle the bear now held. Incredibly the bear began to play an amazing rendition of hippy hippy shake which quickly had everyone dancing around the pond in sheer, unabated joy. Next the bear whistled away a clear version of Ob-la-di, ob-la-da to which all the various voices joined together in song. 

The party lasted what seemed hours, or was it minutes? All of the various inhabitants of the Wood joined in and created an amazing time of joyful distraction. While they weren’t out in the open, I’m sure the Secret Ones were also there, taking part from a safe place. I saw the glittering lights, similar to those of the firefly, yet so rich in glorious color that can only come from those moments of magic created by their acts. 

Soon, too soon, I had to offer a hello good-bye wave, it was time for me to get back to the real world and real responsibilities. The return though, would be so much easier with a lightened heart and mind, thanks to the magic and a little help from my friends.

An ordinary path, that takes one to the magic.