I have always liked the sound of the word befuddled. It has a fairy tale quality to it. It’s what the three bears would have been when they came home to a messed up house or the frog prince when he was turned into, well, an amphibian.  Befuddled – dazed, bewildered, foggy, perplexed –it’s what I’ve been feeling like for the past few days – and I have absolutely no discernible reason for it, especially after having been ‘Freshly Pressed‘ last week. What a surprise! And an honor. THANK YOU ALL for your wonderful comments, likes, and follows. I wish I could follow you all in return, but then I would never be able to leave the house again.

Ahhhhh…I think now I’ve stumbled upon what’s bothering me. It’s that idea of one good turn deserves another. You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours…reciprocation. I hate to say it, but there’s not a rats chance of surviving a sinking ship that I would be able to follow every one of you. I wish I could, but…

Now that I think of it, after reading so many of your wonderfully uplifting and yet, oftentimes heart-wrenching blogs, what’s probably bothering me is that so many of my own family members, friends, family members of friends, and acquaintances are going through tough times too. People have lost their jobs, their homes. Some are sick. Some are dying. Two have died this week. One only an hour ago. This is where I wish I could twitch my nose like Samantha Stevens on Bewitched – and make it all better – make the tears fall upwards and get sucked back into those teeny, tiny holes in the corners of our eyes – stop the twisting ache in our hearts – make physical pain evaporate faster than a raindrop on hot pavement.

It is amazing though, what a few paragraphs of thoughts on virtual paper will do. Now, thanks to you, my reader, I have clarity. I am no longer befuddled or bothered. By forcing me to plunk my butt in the chair today, you’ve helped me to figure my funk out. In fact, you’ve reminded me that I do have magical powers. We all do. They’ve only been disguised as prayers, hugs, and support for all who are going through trying times right now. Thank you for listening. Thank you for  being.

Now, I’d like to leave us with an Apache blessing, and hopes for happy trails transitioning into the next life for Oma Hertwig and Ralph J. Allen Jr…

May the sun bring you new energy by day
May the moon softly restore you by night
May the rain wash away your worries
May  the breeze blow new strength into your being
May you walk gently through the world and know its beauty all the days of your life.

(c) Adam Lyberth.

The Old Ones say,
“Even though our loved ones no longer walk the earth,
“we can see and hear them speak in the northern lights.”