400 Words

Mittened fingers, holding my hand as we walk – in freezing cold – 3/4 of a mile, counting squirrels, identifying trees, and learning about traffic, stop lights, dirty snow (don’t eat it, for crying out loud!).

Oily fingers, warm, gliding across my back, shoulders, neck. Releasing tension, stress, anxiety of a long day, week, month, year.

Calloused fingers, gingerly placing a hot cup of coffee at my seat, serving a slice of 7’4″ Chocolate cake at my favorite restaurant of all time (so far) after a satisfying and sumptuous meal with family, friends, and a festive holiday glow.

Rough, dry fingers, toting the lights up the ladder, mounting the fixtures, positioning the “special”, and prepping the light board, the sound board, the floor boards, set and props – for my grand entrance.

Small fingers, learning to nimbly ply the crayon, pen or writing implement of the day, forming shapes into letters, words. “I Love You Mommy.” “I wish I had a puppy.”

Adroit fingers, deftly maneuvering and navigating the twists and turns of a musical passage> Playing sweetly, violently, turbulently, soothingly, the melodies of Mozart, Mancini, Sinatra, Garland, Madonna, Sting, Billy Joel, and countless others.

Thunderous fingers, clapping, waving, cheering a fine performance. Shaking hands, and offering heartfelt congratulations for a job well done.

Tired fingers, turning page after page after page or book after book after book. Gleaning new knowledge, new understanding, new ways of seeing the world.

Sacred fingers, poised in prayer, palms together, or facing up to the sky, waiting for Divine guidance, space, and light to flow in.

Aching fingers, longing to release their grip after the third set of fifteen reps. Arched backs, s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g out after a strong, hearty workout.

Scabbed, scratchy, windburned fingers, with countless hours spent cutting, carving, sanding, and preparing a special gift. Burning the wood (and sometimes his skin) to etch the words “I Love My Mom” into a heart-shaped block of red oak.

Pointed fingers, aimed at one who recognizes their own value as the “ah-ha” light bulb comes on in their head, and we make progress on their goals.

Nimble fingers, counting the money, the ideas, the successes of their action plans.

Tightened fingers, wrapped around a plane ticket, passport, suitcase. The hope of unseen things and delight of traveling to new places – overseas and my own country, too.

Raindrops and roses have nothing on these favorite things.