Līgo Haibun Challenge – Invisible Footprints

Photo by Brenda Harsham 

It was a choice between two photos on Līgo Haibun Challenge this week, and the footprints led me in this direction…

I adored her from the very first moment we met. A pair of impish chestnut eyes within a wool bundle in the colour of caffé latte, proudly leading her “gang” around the yard. It looked almost like a parade, though quite odd and clumsy one, with all six participants jumping over each other, tumbling and even going for a playful bite. There were some suggestions about choosing another one that might be easier to handle but I couldn’ t change my mind. So what that she had quite a character? She was a riot – I wouldn’ t have expected anything less.

I never regretted the choice I made that day and I hope Sāra didn’ t either. We loved her, unconditionally, as she grew up and from a playful puppy turned into a real dog. A big and strong one as briards are supposed to be but with a touch of grace like real ladies do. Always bursting of energy, occasionally a bit stubborn like me but still respected and respectful. Knowing how to make a stranger to keep a distance with one strict bark in her solid baritone. And that special move of quietly putting her head on my knee, looking closely through her strands and understanding without words. Mutual love and friendship – so honest and strong till it was her time…

She left footprints in my life simply by being herself. They won’ t disappear under the freshly fallen snow, nor turn into puddles under the first spring sunbeams. Invisible ones deep inside. They are there to stay. Have been for a couple of years and always will.

four paws and tail
footprints down memory lane
unerasable

Līgo Haibun Challenge

Līgo Haibun Challenge – Für Elisa

There are two proverbs to choose from for this week’ s Līgo Haibun Challenge:
It is not enough to know how to ride – you must also know how to fall. – Mexican Proverb
or
It is solved by walking. – Algerian Proverb
For a while I couldn’ t see too clearly where any of these prompts could take me until I received a message on my mobile this morning: “Thank you for yesterday – you charged my batteries of joy but I don’ t think they will last till January.” January is all another story but in that moment the words I wanted to say had finally found me…

I must admit we have really walked together. Quite a lot and quite…everywhere! I looked back, trying to do some maths on the walks we have shared, and the number “13” was the one that came up. 13 years. No, I won’ t say it seems like yesterday because it doesn’ t and couldn’ t anyway. It seems exactly like 13 rich and colourful years where our lives have crossed in all the possible and impossible ways.

of all the people
we had to meet
for the lone street
to enliven

Funnily enough for the first time we met on stairs, and since then… Well, it has been up, down and up again. Sometimes in circles. Or standstills. Through the seasons and countries, weddings and funerals. Dancing down the path and stumbling through the mud, celebrating tomorrows and trying to glue together todays – again, piece by piece. Pushing and pulling but not letting to fall. The roads haven’ t pampered us but then…we haven’ t been too sympathetic to them either. All those high-heels, wellies, sandals, leather boots – you name it! With conversations that hardly stopped and comfortable silences, understanding things before they were even said. Loving and hating others, while learning to appreciate ourselves. With many differences but also as many similarities. And always being there for each other, no matter what.

Walking is much more meaningful when there’ s somebody with whom you can simply be yourself. Without any need to keep up appearances or hide behind masks. Just walk through life like only friends can.

journey of life
despite the differences
friendship blossoms

Līgo Haibun Challenge

Travel Theme: Sweet

Love planted a rose, and the world turned sweet. /K.Lee Bates/

Friendship is always a sweet responsibility, never an opportunity. /K.Gibran/

Like all sweet dreams, it will be brief, but brevity makes sweetness, doesn’t it? /S.King/

Ailsa’s Travel Theme