Love a Good Story. I just Love a Good Story. Don’t you just Love a Good Story? Here’s another Good Story.
First, I’d like you to know that I am back. Over the past year and a half, I have had my share, and the share of several others, it seemed like, of challenges with my home, my car and my health, all at the same time. I declare myself to be finished with all of that so I can get back to you. I missed writing to you and receiving your comments to me as well. So, with all that behind me, let’s focus on Love a Good Story.
I get a Word of the Day that I sometimes use. So why not send you a word for the month. You may be able to use the word as well. The word for this month is:
Circuitous [ser-KYOO-i-tuhs] 1. Having a circular or winding course; not direct
Examples of its use:
- The mountain trail took a circuitous route, winding through dense forests and crossing streams.
- The circuitous explanation confused the audience, who expected a more straightforward answer.
Here’s another good story:
Last summer, two foxes found their way into my backyard. We don’t have alleys where I live and I am in the middle of the street, which means that the foxes and deer have to come from other yards before jumping the fence and entering my yard. Once they get to my yard, it was easy for them to find their way back when they left. I guess that’s why they kept returning. When I would see these two foxes in my yard, I would take a broom and swing it around, yelling for them to leave, as I bravely approached them. They, frightened by my maniacal behavior, would try to jump the fence and get away. Yelling and swinging the broom, I gave them the extra time they needed to jump the fence. One, after about three of four tries, would get over and the other would keep trying until he or she made it over the fence and into my neighbor’s yard. One day I watched one hide in my Hosta plants that had grown and spread out. About an hour later, he or she came out of the bushes, yawning. That reminded me to be more cautious when I had to weed.
Fall came, and they left. It was a surprise. I thought they would stick around. I looked for them daily, but they didn’t return in the fall or winter. Then, spring came, and the two foxes returned. I think deep down I missed my friends, and I finally realized I wasn’t yelling at them to leave. Instead, I worried about them. Where did they go in the winter? Whatever they did, they made it back to my yard..
Early one summer morning, I opened the door to my back deck and heard this scurrying noise. The two foxes were on my deck, sleeping. When they heard me opening the door, they ran down the steps to the back of the yard to jump the fence. That’s when I noticed the fence was a little too high for them to jump over. They saw me coming toward them and in a panic, the first one kept trying to jump over until he/she did. Then the other tried and tried and tried and finally made it over. My neighbor’s backyard is not fenced, so they found their way out.
Since they were on my deck, which is much too close to the inside of my house, I decided to check my deck as soon as I got up every day. Early in the morning, I found them not only on my deck, but sleeping together in a cushioned chair. One was curled inside the other. They were so cute; I wanted to take a picture of them. But I stood there inside, watching from my window. They seemed comfortable. They weren’t hiding. They were out in the open in a chair on my deck, sleeping. They just wanted to be safe; to sleep and feel safe doing so. Isn’t that what we humans want, too? We want to feel safe, especially with what’s happening today in our city and around the world. The foxes heard me walking around in my house, so they got up out of the chair and ran down the steps to the back of the yard to jump the fence. This day, as they tried to jump over the fence, they watched me. The first one stopped for a minute, watching to see what I would do. I shifted my weight, and the fox tried again and made it over. The second fox continued to look at me, then tried to jump over the fence. I encouraged him or her to try again. He or she did and finally made it over the fence. Instead of running away, they both stopped to look at me for a while. I asked them to stay together and look out for each other. It was at that moment that I understood the foxes.
Foxes are small animals. They are the size of small dogs. In fact, bigger dogs are much bigger that a fox. A fox is always on the alert. They have to be ready. They are the prey. The two foxes who slept on my deck, in my chair, were just looking for peace; a place where they could sleep without being chased away, without another animal trying to take their life. They must be tired of running, tired of hiding, and tired of trying to find some place safe. They were just looking for a place to relax, a place where they could be calm and free of worry about staying alive. They have no other fox or person to help them. They must depend on themselves.
Foxes are not the only ones who worry about things. Where do you go to feel safe? What do you do when you are worried about something? Do you have someone to turn to? How do you manage your worries? I know what I do, but please let me hear from you. What do you do?
Please let me hear from you. Also, if you’ve used “circuitous” in your story or in a writing, please send that as well. I look forward to hearing from you.
Please contact me at: judykelly@judycar.com or respond to the bottom of this page.
Love a Good Story 