Is this the Beginning?
Tall and terrific, bright eyes and a lovely smile, she stood out from all the rest. To an observer, It would seem she is waiting for someone, but there is no anxiousness in her countenance. She is at peace and happy to take in the delightful comings and goings of the people around her, who have places to be and people to meet. She breathes deeply taking in the scent of the air. The fragrance that is this place. Spices, outdoor cooking, wafts of smoke, fresh produce as well. The colours are wonderful, breathtaking, a visual orchestral gathering harmonising in their placement, in their colours.
She never imagined it would be like this. So rich, vibrant, captivating in its own way. There is nothing else like this, that she has every experienced, and it is just wonderful. She takes another breath, really deep into her lungs as if trying to infuse her lungs with every particle that makes up this environment around her. To lock it in. As if her lungs would breathe it in as a picture and only breathe out air leaving the residue of it all behind to hold and remember later.
Now her auditory senses pick up on the voices, the vehicles all making their own particular sound in this symphony. They are the percussion section. Each bicycle bell, wheels in motion, beep of a horn, shouts to a friend, or low conversation, all come in at the conductors baton, in perfect timing. Every sight, smell and now sound, layering upon each other to form the incredible picture that is this square, this market, this town, this country.
Is that him? Her focus has honed in on one particular figure. No longer taking in the sights and sounds, just pure focus on the one. Is that him she can see coming through the crowds? He said he would be wearing a green jacket and it looks like him from all the photos she has seen.
Her heart is pounding, her excitement building to a crescendo. Studying the figure coming in her direction, the build, the colour of his hair, all indicate this could be him. Closer yet closer. His face is tilted towards her, still too far to clearly see his face properly. Then as he continues to get closer, a wave, an acknowledgement that he has seen her. It is him!
All this time, friends from a distance, a chance connection through an enquiry which led to regular communication, in what would be considered such an old fashioned way, these days, by writing letters. There is something about writing and receiving a letter that tells so much more about the person one is writing to. Their choice of paper and pen, the form and size of the letters, the legibility of the written word, all build a picture to reveal a deeper connection.
Now, as she waves back, her heart beating nineteen to the dozen, she wants to drop everything and run! No, wait, hold your position with your belongings and just take him in. Take in his stride, his step, the way he holds his head in that particular way, which reveals his easy confidence in who he is.
He draws closer, so near now, his smile radiant, his delight evident, closer detail. Every shadow and light, every twinkle and nuance of what makes him to be who he is. She likes what she sees. Much improved from grainy photographs.
His call of welcome and then his warm embrace, which was very easy to respond in kind, sends her heart into a drum solo. Now not only the visual of him, the scent of him, the feel of his warm embrace, all come together in one brilliant finale. A finale she has been expecting. Her quiet knowing that meeting in person would not disappoint.
As my piece finishes there, the lines from the song come to mind “Is this the beginning or is it the end?” from the song “When Will I see You Again?” by The Three Degrees in 1974. Is this piece of writing the beginning or is it the end? Perhaps it is both.
It speaks of finding ourselves in the right place at the right time. Right where we are meant to be. As if everything in our lives has brought us to this point of connection, of relationship that we were born for. Some of us find it early in life and some can take a life time to find it. For me it was in my late 30’s when I found the one. The beginning and the end, the peace and the grace, the place I belong. My life has never been the same again.
