Sir Day Walker

Praise Koolaid

Closing Up Shop

How Was I To Know?

The old creaky floorboard was repaired last week, but as I rock my old chair back and forth, I can still hear it echoing throughout the enclosed porch area. I can see the new board from here…and I don’t like it. I liked the old one better, but that young punk repair guy insisted it was for our safety. We’re old, not stupid…when will they learn? With nine of us in this old house, I think the chances of the three of us that can still see far enough in front of us to walk, breaking a board that has been there over hundred years…was pretty slim!

Coming upon my hundredth birthday tomorrow. Gee, feels like just yesterday, I was a mere 98! So, where did 99 go? Makes me chuckle…the thought of hitting a hundred years old, an age I never fathomed seeing!

For some reason, I cannot seem to nap this afternoon. I wonder if it is all a part of some process of a century’s worth of pondering…a century’s worth of life, getting ready to bundle up and close down shop.

Most of my life’s memories are like looking into a vast field of intrigue. I had a full life. I had lovers back in the days, when two females together was taboo. Shit, now it is like a fashion statement!

Reflections of yesteryear, all my lovers and family have passed on, leaving me to bask in their glorious voices, which seem to call to me louder and louder each and every day.

As I stare out onto the garden, the waterfall speaks to me…there are seven stairs of water flowing down into the stream…the greenery and moss that surround the falls look so very inviting. Wish I could get up, get naked and jump right in! Haven’t seen myself naked in so long, I’d probably have a stroke at the sight…or worse yet, scare the other residents straight to their graves.

My eyes set, stuck on this piece of fluid and green nature for what seemed like hours, and it was not until my mind was finished reeling me into the memories of afore, did I turn to focus back on those around me…who now stare at my face looking for signs of return…makes me wonder how long I was gone this time. Makes me laugh inside, because I know they all wonder if they should check my pulse, but on the outside…my face remains unbroken, I would hate for them to think I was happy here.

Even the conversations I manage to have with the young folks that are here to care for us (should we trip and break ourselves on the new board they replaced on MY porch…!) are quite ridiculous. They speak to us like we are deaf infants. Makes me want to smack the crap out of them, but I am afraid I cannot get up fast enough to get to their patronizing faces. Can’t run like I used to…ok, well I never really could run all that fast, but I never really had to.

They roll us around, and show us flowers and shit, like we have never seen one before. They speak slowly as if it will help us understand things better. Pisses me off, really. Then, they stop just short of spelling words to each other, speaking in code…so we can’t tell that they just talked smack about one of us. Do folks really tune out on the fact that we were all once young, hard working people…with brains and everything?

Do you think they know I was one of the only female pilots to fly as a neutral for the medical emergency tasks of the Canadian Forces, where in mid flight I would place a nurses hat on and travel to the rear of the plane to sit with the soldiers…most of which passed on from morbid wounds before we made it back home?

Do you think they know I headed out on a cross country trip in the United States…and made it back with the love of my life on my arms?

Do you think they know I found her in Tennessee at a Café and insisted she join me on an adventure the rest of the way to California?

Do you think they know I was awarded the Urban Award from President Reagan for my Social Work and fund raising in the poorest counties of Indiana?

Do you think they know I received a Silver Medal in the Olympics for the Javelin throw?

Do you think they know the soldiers I just spoke of, that died in flight…are appearing to me every night so far this week?

Do you think they know the soldiers have brought me places with them in my dreams?

Do you think they know…?

All the while…How was I to know, that while staring at the falls, and drifting off in thoughts of afore years, that I took my last breath? How was I to know, that at the stroke of midnight, when I looked up at the sky, and all I saw was a reflection of my life…that is was time to go? How was I to know…that my life did indeed bundle up at the ripe old age of a century…and closed up shop?

How was I to know, that the look of wanting to check my pulse, I was given by the nice young folks who looked after all of us here, was one of genuine concern? How was I to know, that the hand that would reach out for me from within my last dream, would be that of the love of my life…to draw me to the light, and the ever after?

How was I to know…that my hundredth birthday would be so very grand?

How was I to know…?

This entry was posted on Saturday, January 9th, 2010 at 3:03 pm and is filed under Short Stories. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.