Sunday, February 18, 2007

Mrs. Vickie

Mrs. Vickie felt like she was floating…on a cloud…no, like she was part of a billowing, lazy, majestic cloud tracking without a care across the summer sky. She was reluctant to open her eyes because she was enjoying the sensation far more than anything else she could remember. But open her eyes she did.

Everything was light…gold and white and silver…and music…soulful, ethereal, and magical. Mrs. Vickie felt herself being lifted up by a gentle but powerful hand.

“Hello, sister,” a voice…soulful, ethereal, magical…said. The woman was radiant and, for some reason, utterly familiar to Mrs. Vickie.

“Is this heaven?” Mrs. Vickie asked.

The radiant woman smiled impishly. “No, it’s Iowa.”

Mrs. Vickie frowned quizzically.

The radiant woman hugged Mrs. Vickie and chuckled. “I’m sorry…but that joke never gets old. That Kevin Costner is a genius.”

Mrs. Vickie smiled patiently. She felt light…free of all of the cares and worries and everything else that makes up a workaday life. “So, I’m…”

The radiant woman nodded. “Yep,” she said brightly, “it’s all smooth sailing from here.”

Mrs. Vickie glanced down. “What about my family…my friends…they need…”

The radiant woman put a hand on Mrs. Vickie’s shoulder. “They’re sad that you’re gone…but happy that you were there for as long as you were. You left a legacy of love and caring. You did a good job.”

Mrs. Vickie nodded, a new wave of contentment sweeping through her. “So, now what happens?”

The radiant woman put her arm around Mrs. Vickie’s shoulders and led her off towards a golden horizon. “You like pie?” she asked, “We’ve got some amazing bakers here…”

“Do I get wings?”

“We don’t do wings anymore…the feathers kept getting all over the place…”

Mrs. Vickie raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Oh, okay,” she said finally.

They walked into the light on the golden horizon. “You’re gonna love it here,” the radiant woman said.

“I already do,” Mrs. Vickie said, “I already do.”

- for Mrs. Vickie and for Eddie -

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