My family lived in the country from the time I was 5 until I was 7, then again when I was 10 and 11. I've never forgotten what early Spring felt like upon the countryside and--I believe--I've yearned to return to the country for all these 39 years since.

That's such a long time to crave something, even vaguely, for not always have I realized what I craved.

Now, I feel healed after taking these two 'medical leave' months off as directed by God. But you know? These past few sunny days as I've soaked, dreamed and listened in the sun before the windows of our (paint-chipped, uninsulated) front porch, I've felt like I was healing from something else altogether.

Healing from what? Maybe from having lived -- for 39 years-- inside houses with no countryside views from their windows, but only brick or wood slat walls and fronts of other houses across the street. From living sandwiched between two other houses and feeling watched or listened to and hearing others, also, if they raised their voices (or the volume on the tv). 

Thirty-nine years of all that non-privacy placed upon this private person. Wow. No wonder the healing is taking all these hours, all these afternoons. But oh.... it feels so good! 

Usually, Lennon The Cat sits upon the table all squinty-eyed just inches from my face and when he turns to me I truly believe he is healing, also. "Now this is Good," his golden eyes tell me. "Windows should have views of pastures and trees and robins and sky."

I stare right back at him and agree. Totally. And we both go on healing at the table in all that sunlight, together.

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In Today's World, with current news reports, I highly recommend taking time-out to heal, stealing it even, doing whatever is required to, personally, remain whole.

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