THE SOUND OF CHILDREN`S LAUGHTER LEADS ME TO THE SMALL KNOLL ABOVE THE OLD APPLE ORCHARD. I SIT DOWN IN THE COOL GRASS, WRAP MY ARMS AROUND MY KNEES AND QUIETLY WATCH MY TWIN GIRLS.
THEY ARE BAREFOOT AND DRESSED ONLY IN SUMMER SHORTS, THEY ARE RUNNING AND CHASING EACH OTHER FROM ONE GNARLED TREE TO ANOTHER. THEIR LAUGHTER FILLS THE AIR. GOLDEN BROWN BODIES AND DARK HAIR SHINE IN THE WARM SUMMER SUN. A BREEZE BLOWS THEIR HAIR AROUND AS THEY RUN AND BOUNCE INTO THE FIELD BESIDE THE ORCHARD. TINA GIGGLES, DARK EYES FLASHING, SHE HIDES BEHIND A TREE.
"WAIT"! "WAIT FOR ME"! GINA CRIES AS SHE RUNS AFTER HER SISTER. SHE STUMBLES AND FALLS, TEARS RUNNING THROUGH THE DUST ON HER CHEEKS. TINA COMES RUNNING FROM BEHIND THE TREE, HELPS HER UP, BRUSHES HER OFF AND WIPES THE TEAR FROM HER FACE.
HOLDING HANDS, THEY WALK TO A PATCH OF DANDELIONS, DROP TO THEIR KNEES AND PICK A HANDFUL OF THE BRIGHT COLORED FLOWERS. TINA HOLDS THE FLOWERS UNDER GINA`S CHIN AND SAYS " SEE, YOU TURN YELLOW"! YOU LOVE BUTTER !! THEY BOTH STARTED LAUGHING AGAIN, THROWING THEIR ARMS AROUND EACH OTHER, THEY HUG AND START WRESTLING AND FALL TO THE GROUND, THEY TICKLE EACH OTHER, ROLLING AND SUMMER-SAULTING LIKE TWO SMALL BROWN BEAR CUBS.
MY HEART SWELLS WITH LOVE FOR THESE TWO LITTLE CHILDREN, SO PERFECT AND FILLED WITH THE JOY OF LIVING... THEY LOOK UP AND SEE ME WATCHING THEM. I SMILE AND HOLD OUT MY ARMS. THEY WAVE AND RUN UP THE HILL TO WHERE I`M SITTING. "MOMMY,"! "MOMMY" ! "WE PICKED YOU SOME FLOWERS". THEY THROW THEIR SMALL, BROWN BODYS, WARM FROM THE SUN, INTO MY OUT STRETCHED ARMS.DANDELIONS CLUTCHED IN THEIR HANDS THEY SNUGGLE INTO MY ARMS AND WE LAY HAPPY AND SAFE, WATCHING THE FLUFFY WHITE CLOUDS DRIFT ACROSS THE BLUE OF THE SKY.
"SHOW US THE ANIMALS, MOMMY". " SHOW US THE CLOUD ANIMALS" THIS WAS A GAME WE PLAYED QUITE OFTEN. I SAID "LOOK"......"LOOK UP THERE, WHAT DO YOU SEE? GAZING UP, TINA SAID , GIGGLING AND POKING HER SISTER, "I SEE A PUPPY WITH BIG EARS"! GINA SMILED HER SHY LITTLE SMILE AND SAID "NO, IT`S A BUNNY"! HUGGING THEM CLOSE, I WHISPERED, "I SEE THEM BOTH" THIS IS OUR DAY, OUR MEMORIES, OUR TIME....LIFE IS GOOD.
I WROTE THIS IN MY PERSONAL DIARY IN 1965... THE GIRLS WERE ALMOST THREE. TINA DIED IN 1983 AND GINA IN 2004......THIS IS WHAT MEMORIES ARE FOR....SLEEP MY LITTLE LOVES...