Woodland conversation for Magpie #262

The words lay hidden in
the woodland of my mind.
Resisting calls to come hither--
"Write the words that are there,
Not the ones you cannot find."

That voice, I recognize it now.
"Been too long, away, my boy,
come sit by my feet, and we'll
talk, like so many years ago,
when you were but a sapling."

"Those days, your mind was supple,
as well as your limbs.
We chatted easily, without embarrassment.
You had many questions then;
we explored the possibilities."

"Like me, you've grown rigid, both
in mind and body.  Have you
found the answers that you sought?
Did the winding path ahead
provide the wisdom you craved?"

"No, my old friend, I cannot say I did.
You watched me leave, wave good-bye,
hoping my chosen path
would bring me back to you;
Gnarled but wiser now, you and I."

A long day??

Whenever I hear someone say, "it's been a long day." I invariably think to myself; what? you mean some days have more than twenty-four hours?  Yes, I inherently know the intended meaning is a reference to a difficult, hard or grueling day, usually at work.  But really, "a long day?"  Why not say it's been a hard day?  I need a back rub, it's been one of those days.  I'm ready for a glass of wine after a hard day at work.  After the demanding day I've had I need a long soak in a hot bath.

As far as I know the day is 24 hours long, give or take a few moments.  Sometimes I'd like a longer day because 24 hours isn't long enough to get all my tasks for the day completed, and so it is when the circumstances of my day are unpleasant for any reason I'd like to be able to play the short day card.

Some people get annoyed with the misuse of words such as their, they're, and there, or the over/inappropriate use of apostrophes, or, God forbid; semi-colons.  Me?  I'm still wondering where I can get a bunch of long days and maybe even a few short ones.  I'd use my long days while on vacation and the short days when faced with unpleasant chores.

But then that's just me.

Is that what daylight savings time does?  make the days longer?

"No one is irreplaceable."

A couple of "old sayings" have been bouncing off the inside walls of my cranium the last few days;  "No one is irreplaceable", and this morning, in the shower, "“ The graveyards are full of indispensable men. ”
Then I remembered that rule breaker that we all ran head-on into in school; "the exception that breaks the rule."
We, each one, is unique and bring a special something to the arena.  When ever anyone leaves, the dynamic of the group changes.......

The change can be viewed by those, of the group, remaining as good or bad, but never the same.  So why do we hear the comment, "no one is irreplaceable?"  We've all encountered the person who acts like they are the be all and end all, their shit don't stink, the know-it-all or the person who says "you can't survive without me."  They are at all levels from CEOs to janitors.  And so it is to these egotistical  co-workers that the saying is appropriate.  We may wish secretly, or even express out loud to those of like mind, and even in moments of exasperation to the offending person in person, "go ahead leave, please, "no one is irreplaceable."

On the other hand, we've all experienced (at least I hope you've experienced) the person who makes a positive contribution to our lives; personal and in the work place.  They are the ones who go above and beyond to improve everybody's lot, and rather than take credit for improvements, usually give accolades to others.  They are a ray of sunshine in our lives; their presence alone lifts us and makes us a little more positive, they always offer a smile and notice us in a complimentary way.  They do more than their share and rarely if every complain; they see the glass as half full.  Do we say to this person, "I wish you'd leave, you know no body's irreplaceable."  Hell we aren't even jealous of these people.  We might envy their good mood, and wonder at how somebody can always be upbeat, but there is no resentment.  In instances when these bright lights leave us, we may well recall the adage, "nothing good last forever."

Being replaceable means that someone can take your position, your job, and do it as well or not, or even better than you.  This can be in any venue.  But no one will ever mistake the replacement for you.  YOU are irreplaceable.  And graveyards are full of irreplaceable: parents, children, spouses, best friends, and pets; all indispensable.

Be the exception that "proves" (tests) the rule.

Whispered secrets

I became aware, while visiting the churches and cathedrals of France, that some how I was attuned to the walls whispering the secrets shared therein for centuries.  Whispered secrets; just as whispered confessions were absorbed by the porous walls.  The medieval voices, foreign voices, stump me but not so the more modern language.

While within the walls of ceiling-less cobble stoned streets where voices, shrill and loud, assault the brick and stone, there are no lack of lurid secrets.  One must be clairvoyant to discern from the cacophony of secrets seeping into the alleyways what actually took place there; relying heavily on imagination to flesh-out the story.  If not the truth at least it makes for good story telling.

Keep your secrets, if you will
Speak, knowing; walls have ears.
Embellished truth, do minds fill;
Share with all while sipping beers.