I woke up with a dream, the most terrible dream. I woke up in a nightmare. About my beautiful grandfather, who has Alzheimer's disease in real life. We were at a family get together. All the sudden my grandfather spoke, it was correct. He was remembering, remembering things I don't even remember telling him. "Yes!" I screamed. "Mom Mom, Did you hear that? Everyone did you hear?" But no one looked, no one hardly cared or noticed. "But he's remembering." I cried in desperation. "You're missing it, he's remembering." Nobody turned, and as if only fueled by attention and support he slowly stopped remembering. His wrinkly face sunk into a frown, his eyes glazed over, and he faded away. All because no one cared...
When I awoke I was overwhelmed with grief. I often wake up crying. But it was a beautiful day and the birds were chirping good morning so I decided to take a walk. I snuck out of bed and put on my shoes. I walked across the street, across the park, and into the most beautiful neighborhood. Nothing too special or elaborate, just simple and beautiful. I heard the silliest birds making the silliest most beautiful noises. Were they calling for mates? Saying good-morning? Early spring and all the lawns were already beautiful. Quiet, but comfortable. A few people were even out working on their landscape, making this neighborhood even more delightful. I knew the people were just waking up inside, and although you never know what goes on behind closed doors, I couldn't dream that these people had anything less than a delightful life. The bushes were trimmed, little statues in their gardens. A boy with a backpack ran out of his house ready for school followed by what I inferred to be his grandfather. "Good morning!" he waved to me from across the road. Echoed by the small boy who was cheerful as ever. "Morning." I yelled back a bit surprised. My heart skipped a beat. I wanted to pick a house with no paint chipping, and the lawn smelling freshly mowed and run to it. I wanted to burst in the front door and be home. I wanted my mother to be cooking breakfast, and my father to kiss me on the forehead. I wanted everything I had and hadn't had from my childhood and I wanted it bad. I wanted my siblings and I to joke with our parents while we all ate around one big table. But friendly harmless joking, nothing mean or hurtful. I wanted to eat off the same dishes I had eaten off of for years. I wanted to talk about our plans for the day. I wanted everyone to be happy. I wanted... Then I remembered...Remembered waking up alone, to no breakfast, to an empty house.
When I returned home to tell of my walk I couldn't bare to go inside and leave my bird friends and the fresh spring air. So I set up my space outside on my porch, one of the first times I had sat out there. While I wrote I heard a small rustle behind me. I turned to see a little furry creature crawling under the fence. Cat? It only took half a second for me to realize this beautiful creature was a fox. Sleek and red with a cute little nose. He startled me and I made a little screech. One second our eyes met he shook and away he went faster than he had come. Dare he come back? His morning ritual ruined. Forever? I hope not. I continued to shake for I wasn't sure if you could trust a fox, but I knew he was in a bush somewhere shaking as well. I'm not sure if I hope my little friend comes back or not, but it was delightful to see him.
