Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Winter (the season) (08/13/09)
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TITLE: Everythings Perfect... Isn't it? | Previous Challenge Entry
By Pamela Hill
08/19/09 -
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She and Jim were six months into their “full-time RVing” adventure, they’d traveled from the Pacific to the Atlantic and were wintering in Florida. How often did they look at one another and smile, both thinking; “It just doesn’t get any better than this!”
Molly had such wonderful memories of their travels, she had loved the lighting ceremony at Mount Rushmore. As the crowd sang ‘God Bless America,’ it took her breath away when the lights suddenly came on, dramatically illuminating the night sky with the faces of those four grand Presidents. At the end of the ceremony, when everyone serving the country was asked to come onto the stage, and each was recognized and told “thank you for serving,” she was sorry all she had was one crumpled little napkin left over from her ice cream cone. What she’d needed was a whole box of Kleenex.
When they came to the Mississippi they’d taken a two day Riverboat trip. The night before boarding they stayed in a small RV Park on the east side of the River. Right about sunset the park host came around in a truck telling everyone to “get to higher ground, there’s a storm rollin’ in.” Molly and Jim laughed at the timing of this rollin’ storm, why couldn’t it have given it’s notice before they were all settled in for the night? But move they did, Molly standing in the pouring rain, guiding Jim as he backed into a new spot on “higher ground.”
They’d enjoyed two leisurely days of chugging up and then back down the Mighty Mississip’. Because they were the last couple to sign up there was ‘no room at the inn,’ a nice, but typical motel, where the rest of the group was booked. So Molly and Jim were put up in a wonderfully quaint, Victorian Bed & Breakfast. The riverboat crew apologized for this but Molly and Jim felt like they’d drawn the winning straw. It was a two story older home, beautifully restored, elegantly furnished, very comfortable and owned by a delightful couple that served them fresh coffee and breakfast to order the next morning.
Molly felt a pulling on the dog leash and looked back to see that she was dragging poor Josie, who had assumed the position and was desperately trying to take care of business. She laughed and said; “Sorry girl, I guess I was a little distracted, go ahead, I’m not gonna move.”
Taking Josie for walks through the RV Park was especially enjoyable. Molly hadn’t worn a coat since last winter when they were at home. They’d been warm all through September and October in southern Georgia. The warmth continued when they’d moved to Florida in November as they “followed the sun.”
Molly didn’t miss the cold weather back home, she hated being cold, but it did seem inappropriate to be dressed in shorts and sandals in December. At home the world would look barren by now, the trees would have lost their leaves, everything would be brown. They lived in one of the most beautiful places in the country, but in the winter there was nothing decorative about it, except Christmas. Winter begins with stringing lights, decorating trees, and filling our lives with beautifully wrapped gifts. It’s beautiful! It’s stunning! It raises our spirits. Molly loved Christmas. She lifted her heart with joy and gave thanks to God. He chose the beginning of Winter to celebrate the birth of His Son. A time when nothing else is shining.
Molly looked around her and saw that there were Christmas decorations on many of the RV’s in the park. But in a land where the orange trees never loose their leaves and the grass stays green all year long, they just looked like the few houses everywhere she’d ever lived that leave their lights up all year long.
That was it! That’s what was wrong! Molly was missing Christmas, or was it Christmas at home, or was it Home? They’d seen such beauty and had memories that would last them their lifetime. Molly raised her head in laughter as she acknowledged that timeless truth… “there really is no place like Home!”
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