Rabbithole ripples (a repeat)….
I need to believe at least six impossible things before breakfast
…..as if fresh buckets full of stars
poured out
melt holes in heaven’s floor,
poking peepholes into possibility.
I let myself remember that long-ago day
when I plopped my childhood bike down along the sidewalk
and swung through the heavy doors to Hickory Farms
like Alice tumbling down the rabbithole
into Wonderland.
My pockets were empty;
we’d been hunting for used glass bottles
to exchange for dimes
to purchase candy at the neighborhood drugstore
Pickings had been slim;
my steps were silent…. none of that hopeful jingling
that made me the happy bearer of choices.
Hoping to score discarded bottles in their trash,
we went inside to investigate.
Once behind the door, I went breathless with wonder.
It was a visual symphony
….rows and stacks of gorgeous treasures
in brightly colored tins,
boxes and baskets of spectacular candy
tied with rich bows
in every shade of plenty.
It was audacious
…..plates of creamy cheeses,
wafer thin slices of spicy sausage,
salty nuts,
crackers shaped like snowflakes and diamonds,
crisp ginger cookies
and pretty plates of candy wrapped up like shiny strawberries!
The most mind-altering bit of dreaminess was
that I was invited to take and eat!
With toothpicks wearing festive party hats
….really,
a smiling lad offered!
“Samples”, she called them.
Just receive.
My mind REELED!
But my favorite part
(yes, there was more),
like finding my own private cave of treasure,
was the courtesy coffee table in the back of the store.
Beside the pungent smelling brew was a sparkling crystal dish
(the work of fairies, I was certain)
full of snow white cubes made of crunchy white sugar.
It’s true…..little sugary blocks!
I still remember the trembly sweetness
that rushed through my system
to a creshendo and then shudder
as I crunched that first
little wonder.
Like a chipmunk in the Fall,
I left that store with scrunchy pockets
(just a few more for later).
When I swung back through those heavy wooden doors
into the world of dirty glass bottles and dimes,
I was changed.
I still believed in hard work and honest wages.
But there was something more
….a new groove carved into my thinking.
And now, I need to remember.
Sometimes,
even when you can’t possibly earn it,
when your own hands aren’t enough,
grace is given.
Inexplicably and unexpectedly,
provision can come
wrapped in more than you can ask
or imagine.
In a twinkle in time it can happen.
Nothing is impossible.
Remember?
Nothing.
oh I remember this, and it is as heart refreshing today as it was the first time I read it.
thank you for giving us another dose of the sugary sweetness of grace…
xxoo
Such beautiful pictures! And words. Speaks to me. I can't earn it, only receive it. Thank you for posting Jennifer! 🙂
You are so right! And I have been blessed today.
Love this! What a treat to come upon it today. ~Donna 🙂
Love this! What a treat to come upon it today. ~Donna 🙂
Such innocence and sweet childhood memories. Thanks for sharing your poetry with us. You have such a gift. JB
this is a totally wonderful post … love the story and the images!
Such a sweet post – love the photos, especially that last one!
Oh Jen Jen JEN!!!!!! If you only *knew*!!! I just came back from a beach trip and on the road trip saw a field of sunflowers….i've never seen this before….my dear friend who is a photographer had been on the hunt for a good sunflower shot since he saw a field of them last year…he just told me this last week, and this week, I was presented with the most gorgeous answer to that request…..
I'd love to share the shots I took with you…
but more than that, Jen, of all the things you couldn've posted….of all the beautiful threads I could've been gifted with…..sunflowers leading me to grace….
*What* a *WONDERFUL* rabbit hole to fall down tonight……
my dear darling friend, thank you again and again and again with all my heart,
Liz
these sunflower photos
are hugely AMAZING!!
seriously, jennifer,
stunning!!
ohhhh, those stars
melting holes!
melting..xox
I came here this morning
looking for sunshine and rainbow colours
and I received
the gift
of your amazing photos
and words
streaming all over
the screen
filling me up
with wonder!
Thanks so much.
I am so grateful you dropped in and brought me into your world of awe!
your photos are "a visual symphony"….xo
Repeat or not, it was still lovely the second time around. Blessings to you Jen and thank you always for your encouragment.
you help us remember and see
both the past and the present
and its many wonders
in such a delightful way …
sunflowers are posing for you and you captured the golden angles so well… as for the rabbit hole, I say you had quite the adventure ..love going with you embracing your creative words ~
Just as good the second time around and I love the photos, awesome clouds and those sunflowers just make a person happy
The words and images are just astounding, so beautiful!
I feel warmer and happier after my visit here, thank you!
beautiful.
Love the sunflower images and the poetry that went with it. What a wonderful reminder of grace. Thanks for sharing!
Jennifer,
Seriously … those sunflowers
eliminated magical powers~~
I always LOVE your words.
xoxo
Eydie
what a delightful post and those sunflower images put a huge smile on my face!
What beautiful imagery! You took me with you into an impossible place. Thank God for His grace!
This is such a lovely memory, and juxtaposed with your images make it dreamy and familiar. Jennifer, I think of you often… and especially yesterday when I made a beautiful summer tomato herb quiche (my ever changing recipe) and added lots of the tasty and fragrant basil you sent me with my cards. Another example of bringing blogging friendships home and personal. Also, my similar memory is of Bickleys Drug Store. We would walk or ride bikes and drink sodas at the counter. The toy store next store was a real toy store. Not Walmartish or Toys R US. Beautiful dolls, model planes, tiny things that I would just linger over and dream. Special birthday presents were bought there, and my one and only Barbie. I'm talking ponytail black stripe swimsuit Barbie!
xo
dulcy
these photos are incredible….thanks for making my morning bright with shades of yellow and sunshine 🙂