It's a gentle Spring evening. The sun is nearly down behind the mountains and the sky is golden blue, glowing pink and soft gray. The leaves and grass are every shade and shadow of green, and outside the window, which looks out at the bird feeders, there are two cardinals, and that rare treasure: an indigo bunting. He's been visiting the feeder for three days now, following right behind the rose-breasted grosbeak. This week the hummingbirds appeared, and we had our yearly two-minute sighting of an oriole. I'm not an expert bird-watcher, but few things bring me as much peace as watching them at the feeders, or sitting on the porch in the morning and watching the constant activity of feeding, nesting, squabbling, foraging.
I had two other visitors today...unexpected and welcome, leaving me filled with wonder, excitement and gratitude. Magic and Creativity came knocking today; arm-in-arm they found me in an unlikely place, but I opened the door, picked up a pen, and wrote down everything they had to say.
Linda and I picked up our 42 lavender plants at our favorite greenhouse (Greene Bee) and went on from there to a friend who lives just up the road. Linda was going to help this friend with some beehive issues, so while they worked, I pulled out my notebook and a scrap of paper with notes scribbled last week. I took a few deep breaths, and just began writing. That's when the charming, generous couple, Magic & Creativity, came meandering over. Magic put a hand on my shoulder and Creativity whispered in my ear. I picked up the pen and just kept writing what they told me. When I would stop, pen motionless on the paper, pondering a question or contradiction that had arisen, the two of them would put their heads together, discuss it for a moment, and tell me the solution.
After an hour, Linda and her friend wandered over, pulling off their beekeeper jackets and veils, and I closed the notebook, somewhat dazed. You see, Magic and Creativity gave me the entire plot line, story arc, major themes, and character profiles for the book they first mentioned to me about three weeks ago. I don't quite know how to explain or pass on the wonder of all this...it came unbidden, unexpectedly, and without explanation.
I still have to actually write the thing....but I know how to do it, where it's going. I can wander into its cool green depths now, bathe in the sun-kissed stream, touch the ancient moss, hear fog dripping off the trees, and tell a story as old as time and as new as tightly curled fiddleheads.
My week has been blessed with visitors, each bringing its own joy and awe. What about you? What unexpected guests have come knocking on YOUR door?