I was in love with the outdoors and with my cousins who I shared a very special bond. We spent a lot
of time in the woods being eaten up by poison ivy, chiggers and tics and pulling those little sticky
cockleburs off of our clothes. Ouch! Nevertheless, what could possibly compare to building a fort in
the woods that we could call our very own? It was all worth it! I had horses that I rode daily for a few
years and I loved the way they smelled and after my pony was tamed – that’s a whole other story – I
loved the way they loved me and seemed to understand me. To this day when I pass a horse farm, I
am in heaven. My grandchildren say Ewwww, and I say Ahhhh - Heaven!
My cousins and I walked the railroad tracks and the road to the county airport across the street
watching the planes take off and land. We went to air shows and had many chances to ride in those
planes, which I always refused with gusto! I wasn’t brave enough to take those plane rides but I was
brave enough to walk home after dark with bats brushing by my head and getting caught in my long
hair while believing that the boogieman was around every corner. I REALLY wasn’t that brave I would
just lose track of time spending it with the people I treasured and was terrified on that long dark walk
home. Sometimes my brothers, sister, or cousins would walk that road with me just as terrified as I
was.
Even now I feel that way sometimes. I have grown up and realized that I am walking a different road
and facing something scarier than the bats that frightened me as a child and teenager. There are
some days the road looks so dark, and I am not sure what is lurking out there. I don’t know what is
around the corner. I just know that I cannot control it only, but face it when it appears. I walk with a
measuring stick today down that road. As my grandchildren get older and I can no longer do the
same things with them that I did the year before. I measure. When I have to run and hide when I used
to confront and fight. I measure. When there are movements, I cannot control this year that I did not
have last year. I measure. I am measuring a lot, and what I am seeing is not good. I need friends who
can walk with me down this road.
of time in the woods being eaten up by poison ivy, chiggers and tics and pulling those little sticky
cockleburs off of our clothes. Ouch! Nevertheless, what could possibly compare to building a fort in
the woods that we could call our very own? It was all worth it! I had horses that I rode daily for a few
years and I loved the way they smelled and after my pony was tamed – that’s a whole other story – I
loved the way they loved me and seemed to understand me. To this day when I pass a horse farm, I
am in heaven. My grandchildren say Ewwww, and I say Ahhhh - Heaven!
My cousins and I walked the railroad tracks and the road to the county airport across the street
watching the planes take off and land. We went to air shows and had many chances to ride in those
planes, which I always refused with gusto! I wasn’t brave enough to take those plane rides but I was
brave enough to walk home after dark with bats brushing by my head and getting caught in my long
hair while believing that the boogieman was around every corner. I REALLY wasn’t that brave I would
just lose track of time spending it with the people I treasured and was terrified on that long dark walk
home. Sometimes my brothers, sister, or cousins would walk that road with me just as terrified as I
was.
Even now I feel that way sometimes. I have grown up and realized that I am walking a different road
and facing something scarier than the bats that frightened me as a child and teenager. There are
some days the road looks so dark, and I am not sure what is lurking out there. I don’t know what is
around the corner. I just know that I cannot control it only, but face it when it appears. I walk with a
measuring stick today down that road. As my grandchildren get older and I can no longer do the
same things with them that I did the year before. I measure. When I have to run and hide when I used
to confront and fight. I measure. When there are movements, I cannot control this year that I did not
have last year. I measure. I am measuring a lot, and what I am seeing is not good. I need friends who
can walk with me down this road.
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| Newspaper – Radio – Advocate www.TheHuntingtonsPost.org www.Help4HD-International.org Help 4 HD - The HD View www.BlogtalkRadio.com/Help4HD Facebook: Help4hd/The HD View LinkedIn: Melissa Biliardi Twitter: MBiliardi Skype: Melissa.Biliardi Cell: 805.441.5618 |
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| © 2013 By Wanda Marie Clarke - All rights reserved |
| By Wanda Marie Clarke - February 5, 2013 CONTRIBUTING WRITER Wanda@TheHuntingtonsPost.org |
Spending most of my growing up years in Maryland there was lots of room to
run. I spent my days in sunflower and strawberry fields. My brothers, sister,
and I would walk our quarter mile dirt road many times a day on our way to
visit our cousins and friends. Sometimes we would walk to the store picking
blackberries and raspberries along the way smelling the honeysuckle that
grew wild at the end of that dirt road.
run. I spent my days in sunflower and strawberry fields. My brothers, sister,
and I would walk our quarter mile dirt road many times a day on our way to
visit our cousins and friends. Sometimes we would walk to the store picking
blackberries and raspberries along the way smelling the honeysuckle that
grew wild at the end of that dirt road.
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| Wanda Marie Clarke |
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| Wanda Marie Clarke's: "The Butterfly Ball" Fan Page! |
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| Stay Connected |
This song is an old love song that I used to
hear growing up, but it expresses so much of
how I feel about this special family God has
given me. We need each other. Never forget
that someone needs you just as much as you
need him or her. Do not be afraid to climb that
apple tree with them. I am so glad I did not
miss out on some of the most fulfilling
relationships I could ever have because I now
know the reality of being accepted. In an HD
world filled with rejection, THAT is saying
everything. I do not think that God would want
anything less for His children than to know His
love and acceptance through chosen vessels
made of clay. Just like me, cracked and
broken, hurting and tired, but we still have our
apple tree.
hear growing up, but it expresses so much of
how I feel about this special family God has
given me. We need each other. Never forget
that someone needs you just as much as you
need him or her. Do not be afraid to climb that
apple tree with them. I am so glad I did not
miss out on some of the most fulfilling
relationships I could ever have because I now
know the reality of being accepted. In an HD
world filled with rejection, THAT is saying
everything. I do not think that God would want
anything less for His children than to know His
love and acceptance through chosen vessels
made of clay. Just like me, cracked and
broken, hurting and tired, but we still have our
apple tree.
I have friends now that God has brought into my life and I imagine that we walk that road together to
that apple tree. We sit in its branches sharing apples and eating worms. They are my family too - my
HD family. A few close friends who can sit with me while we eat more than our share of sour apples
and talk about the reality of what is happening in our lives. They might laugh when I bite into a worm
but when I get a tummy ache they are right there. Usually we get those tummy aches together. I am
so touched by people who can say to me, "I know...I get you...I hurt too." When their words are
spoken, they are speaking my words too. I do not have a name for the substance, comfort, and
validation they bring to my life or what they mean to me. I am still trying to find the name that fits for
the people who can hear and speak what was taboo for me until the point that they came into my life.
Family, brother, sister, soul mate, covenant friend – I guess if I can ever find a word to combine them
all I will use it. Until then, they are my friends in my favorite place – my apple tree where honesty,
laughter, kindness, secrets are shared and covenant promises are made while eating more than our
share of sour apples and helping each other watch for the worms. There is always at least one in the
bunch who does not mind the worms.
I love my family and friends who have stood with me as I stand with them. I still see us walking that
dark road together and sitting up high in the branches of that apple tree. I pray we can all accept the
love of our covenant friends and family. Remember, God made those little green apples and those
majestic apple trees. It is my memory of a place to laugh and play sitting on branches that could be
trusted to hold me with people around me that I loved. The Creator of the Universe is there too
listening and taking care of us while He brings companionship and understanding through His chosen
vessels, our precious HD family.
I have one family member who walked that dirt road with me many, many times and sits in that tree
with me today. I love her so. There are other family members who encourage me, and it means so
much. They have been through a lot and have seen too much.
that apple tree. We sit in its branches sharing apples and eating worms. They are my family too - my
HD family. A few close friends who can sit with me while we eat more than our share of sour apples
and talk about the reality of what is happening in our lives. They might laugh when I bite into a worm
but when I get a tummy ache they are right there. Usually we get those tummy aches together. I am
so touched by people who can say to me, "I know...I get you...I hurt too." When their words are
spoken, they are speaking my words too. I do not have a name for the substance, comfort, and
validation they bring to my life or what they mean to me. I am still trying to find the name that fits for
the people who can hear and speak what was taboo for me until the point that they came into my life.
Family, brother, sister, soul mate, covenant friend – I guess if I can ever find a word to combine them
all I will use it. Until then, they are my friends in my favorite place – my apple tree where honesty,
laughter, kindness, secrets are shared and covenant promises are made while eating more than our
share of sour apples and helping each other watch for the worms. There is always at least one in the
bunch who does not mind the worms.
I love my family and friends who have stood with me as I stand with them. I still see us walking that
dark road together and sitting up high in the branches of that apple tree. I pray we can all accept the
love of our covenant friends and family. Remember, God made those little green apples and those
majestic apple trees. It is my memory of a place to laugh and play sitting on branches that could be
trusted to hold me with people around me that I loved. The Creator of the Universe is there too
listening and taking care of us while He brings companionship and understanding through His chosen
vessels, our precious HD family.
I have one family member who walked that dirt road with me many, many times and sits in that tree
with me today. I love her so. There are other family members who encourage me, and it means so
much. They have been through a lot and have seen too much.
We all have our special memories that a sight, sound, or smell can
take us back to and one of my favorite memories is my apple tree. I
loved that tree. It was so big that all five of us kids could climb up
and sit on the branches eating all the sour green apples we
wanted. Of course, bellyaches were usually our reward but we did
not care much about that! I would pick the worms out and many
times miss a few or get half the worm while the other half ended up
in my tummy. I remember well biting into an apple just to see half a
worm left behind. I was aghast. My brothers were kind and tried
their best to comfort me and help me dig those worms out from the
apples. NOT! They would laugh until they practically fell out of the
tree and tease me about all the worms I had unwittingly eaten
before. Of course, they tried to eat as many as they could! They
made me well aware that I was eating my daily share. I am sure
they were right and I am absolutely certain we are all full of
parasites today because of it. Oh, the advantages of having three
brothers!
take us back to and one of my favorite memories is my apple tree. I
loved that tree. It was so big that all five of us kids could climb up
and sit on the branches eating all the sour green apples we
wanted. Of course, bellyaches were usually our reward but we did
not care much about that! I would pick the worms out and many
times miss a few or get half the worm while the other half ended up
in my tummy. I remember well biting into an apple just to see half a
worm left behind. I was aghast. My brothers were kind and tried
their best to comfort me and help me dig those worms out from the
apples. NOT! They would laugh until they practically fell out of the
tree and tease me about all the worms I had unwittingly eaten
before. Of course, they tried to eat as many as they could! They
made me well aware that I was eating my daily share. I am sure
they were right and I am absolutely certain we are all full of
parasites today because of it. Oh, the advantages of having three
brothers!
