A Norah Night

A breeze rustles the low hanging branches of our weeping birch tree and scatters the lemon-lime leaves into brilliant dance, like children dizzily spinning in the yard.

The dark billowing clouds slink murkily beside the golden sun as it sinks softly, wearily behind the mountains and kisses the sky goodnight. She blushes pink.

The frosty wind pulls a shady blanket across the sky, over my house. A storm whirls above like a dazzling dream and lightening flashes behind a mysterious curtain.

I bundle - Robe, slippers, down comforter, and a blanket scattered with friendly ghosts. Cold from the inside out, my body aches for the Florida sun. For relief.

Defying the unwritten laws of illness, my immune system gives way to the bitter cold of an approaching visitor - Winter with her infamous reputation for sticking around like a lingering ex-someone.

Insides give up all too soon. Influenza, for the second time in three weeks.

Not the first time he's tortured me like this, but hoping it's the last.

Longing for sleep from the inside out, I sit and stare at the blaring screen. Projects dance around my head like a gang of mocking bullies, blowing raspberries and singing that familiar "nanner nanner" jingle.

I retreat to my cyber sanctuary of Bloggersville and huddle beneath it's whimsical webpages, scintillating sidebars and varied visitors.

If my body can't rest, my mind can. At least for a moment.

A healing breath fills my lungs with the scent of pumpkin spice and dinner cooking.
In a brief moment of pity, Life presses the pause button...

...and Norah sings.