Sol's Random Stories

Awake at 4am, a few moments before the alarm. Walt always thought that was uncanny, as if his brain had a brain of its own, on its own clock. Like certain natural mechanisms were in play, whirling away unseen, beyond his own routine. Out the door by 4:45, drive his small truck to the warehouse, then drive the big truck seven hours minus lunch, his breaks whenever he decides. Routines are lucky, Walt always believed, grateful for his own, otherwise too many thoughts take over. So much in life happens outright, like a slap to the face, surprise! It's good when nothing happens besides what you want or need. Clock in at 6am, grab the worn clipboard off the crooked nail, his route always to the valley and back, the day mapped out in stops, drop-offs, or loads, it's all the same to him. Talk radio and iced coffee are his shift partners, while other routines keep him in his lane, so thoughts stray only so much. 3:30pm, coming back home, there's his beloved tail wagger at the door,...

There has never been, nor will there ever again be one like you. The Universe cannot ever create again the very same spark, nor can a single moment ever linger. You are fully unique to creation, and singularly fashioned beyond duplication, imitation, or design.  This day celebrates you beyond your attention, acknowledge it. Ambient light favors your arrival, note its radiance when you rise. You're given another bounty of day, another cycle of discovery. Act like it's as valuable as water, as essential as breathe, or as lucky as time's first ladybug.

They said it was some sort of threshold. Some called it a portal, as if to another space.  Nobody dared, until one woman just went thru and disappeared. Thirty anguished minutes later, they all remained silent, some feared that the worst happened.  But, suddenly she reappeared, smiling, gliding in her stride. They all broke out at once in a frantic, senseless clamor, so the brave woman spoke: "No need for your questions, folks, I'm returning just as I left you, since only a few moments passed. Yet, you all look so astonished, like I've returned from some far away hell zone."  A man spoke up, "It was far longer than moments, ma'am, we're glad you're no worse off." The woman's smile softened. She wondered what he meant by longer. Had she not just left? But, she then recalled a certain detail, a distinct memory of a chilled, empty air all around her, and the coldest, oddest quiet.

I saw a beaming boy today, couldn't have been more than three, striding down the sidewalk atop his smiling father's shoulders, already the little king in life, with the very best view as if from a lofty treetop, surveying from high all there is to see, a fortunate lad well ahead of the fateful game, supported into his future as all children should be safe and secure, the simple and pure sanctity of  every child's hopeful heart, I saw a beaming boy today.