(COLDWATER BRIDGE. THIS WAS MOVED TO OXFORD LAKE FROM IT'S ORIGINAL HOME ON COLDWATER CREEK)
July 4,1995:
The Yankee and I had been seeing one another for exactly a month. As was tradition, around 6 PM, me, my children and best friend Bev, made our way to Oxford Lake for the fireworks show.
We brought chairs, coolers with drinks and snacks. The show didn't start until 9 PM, but if you wanted a prime spot lakeside, you had to get there early. Year after year we sat in the same place.
My new "romance", was the main topic of conversation.
"I wonder if next year, The Yankee, will be sitting here beside me."
I would ask her the same question for the next 5 years. Her response was always the same:
"Could be. We'll just have to wait and see." (SINCE 2001, I HAVE NEVER ASKED HER THAT QUESTION AGAIN)
July 4,2000
Things had changed drastically in my life. A glimmer of hope resided in my voice as I once again, asked the question.
Near the end of that year, with even more drastic changes, it felt like a possibility.
By May of 2001, it was all but a given it would happen. Vows, promises, oaths had lead me to not only think that it could, but believe that it would.
It didn't. For the first time in 19 years, I didn't go to Oxford Lake that year. Instead, I sulled and brooded at home, Travis Tritt and The Eagles playing in the background with a Whiskey Sour in my hand. This was repeted in 2002.
2003 I was in Georgia with a friend. The image that was once so clear in my mind, had died. I had made peace with the fact that it would never happen. This was repeted in 2004.
Being with my tall,bearded friend was a lot different than being with Bev. For one thing, he didn't feel the need to fill every moment of silence with mindless chatter and babble.
It was also nice being sheltered and protected (mentally/emotionally) under his arm, with my head laying on his shoulder, the steady beating of his heart, just as steady as he had always been for me. As steady as he was in the later part of 2002 when I sought refuge and a soft place to fall.
2005, we gathered at my daughter's home. She was 3 days away from having her first child. This was repeted in 2006. I walked inside with Trooper Junior, holding me tightly around the neck, frightened of the fireworks his Daddy and another Trooper were lighting.
Some dreams live long beyond their expiration date. Perhaps because we keep them alive, refusing to let them go or just die a natural death.
We all, at one time or another have troubled waters in our life. The key is to get out of the water, and find the bridge.
You will know the bridge when you see it. More often than not, it has a human form of a friend or loved one. Someone willing to pull you out, who refuses to let you drown.
All too often, you think you have a bridge, when all you really have is a rubber raft with a hole in the bottom.
Thank God for the BRIDGES in my life!
*************
Had a WONDERFUL day Wednesday at the lake with Princess and the Grands. Still trying to get the hang of my digital camera and took MANY pictures and some video.
I love this particular photo I took of a duck in calm,serene, blue water.
Later Ya'll...^Belle^
Still a wee bit hung over from yesterday's celebrating. Head doesn't hurt too bad when I consider that I was trying to stuff 13 years worth of celebrating into one 24 hour period. It may take another day.
