Spring has finally arrived.
The once shimmering sparkling snow white covered ground has given way to new life. Walking along the country road in my small town I can see the beginning sprouts of wild flowers doing their best to break through the winter ground and change the dreary landscape into a stunning display of color and beauty.
Intoxicating fragrances, climbing honeysuckle, wild jasmine, the scent of new spring blossoms teasing my senses give me a sense of dreaminess. Sweet magical potions floating in the air that just encourage me to breathe deep and take in as much grandeur as I can.
Signs of new life are everywhere. You can barely, however clearly, if you listen closely, perceive the insistent cries of young chicks begging the attentive mother to tend to their hunger. The parents fly in tandem searching for the juiciest prey for their energetic babies and when they're satisfied she cuddles them in the warmth of her protective body while her mate continues to provide for her comfort.
I try and walk every day. I tuck my earphones in, raise the volume and lose myself in the music. There are times it causes me to be somewhat unmindful to the sounds and movement around me. This particular morning the jolt of a wickedly loud blaring horn brought me back to the here and now with a shudder.
"Get the hell off the road! You should be more careful and walk your ass closer to the side of the road!" Clearly I had interfered with his joy ride.
Turning my head to my left I couldn't help but see a grubby old man in a beat up ancient truck glaring at me with obvious contempt. My initial thought, what a mean old coot.
"Coming around the curve I almost didn't see you, could have been a nasty mess."
My instinct was to tell him that if he'd been driving at the posted limit instead of flying at warp speed he'd have had no problem seeing me walking on the side of the road completely out of his path as I made sure that I wouldn't put myself in harm's way by meandering into the oncoming traffic.
"If you were driving like a normal person instead of a race car driver you'd have no problem seeing me."
"Smart ass huh?" Not the reply I expected from a gentleman.
"Let's just say I'm certainly smart enough to know that you were speeding and to keep my very sweet ass off the road old man."
"Smart mouth too! Screw you bitch!" I had obviously struck more than a nerve.
"You're obviously in a hurry so please don't let me hold you up. There must be something really important waiting for you although I can't for the life of me believe that anyone or anything is looking forward to your arrival." I was doing all I could from just telling him to go to hell.
"Fuck you!" Such a gentleman.
"Not in your sad lifetime old man!"
With that courteous retort he sped away. I know, you immediately thought that his being an old man would temper my response, not on your life. It seems even old men can be jerks. I truly don't understand the nasty mindset, never have, probably never will.
I stood there for a minute and realized that as beautiful a morning as it was there were obviously people who couldn't or wouldn't appreciate it no matter how bright the sun was shining. I could have easily turned around and gone home however I would be letting someone else dictate my actions and that wasn't my style.
I smiled to myself and wondered exactly what my style was these days? It appeared as though my predisposition and attraction to older men could easily become a distraction and in most cases I would have taken the time to pacify his mean spirited attitude. Obviously even for me some old men can be a total turnoff.
By the time I arrived home I had walked approximately five miles, somewhat further than my typical distance but the day was so delightful I just lost myself in my music and by the time I realized where I was I had walked considerably further than my usual stretch and quickly turned around before I ran out of steam to get home.
These days I found myself getting lost in my thoughts more than was normal even for me. Maybe the combination of my new surroundings and ever growing list of personal goals were becoming somewhat overwhelming. I had recently moved to New England into a new home and was experiencing all the trappings and changes that any major change in life bring.
I took a long hot shower, threw on some comfortable clothes, poured a glass of ice tea and headed to the comfort of my small sitting room. I'd always imagined a ladies' parlor right off my upstairs bedroom and had finally accomplished that goal. I had deliberately designed this space to be warm, feminine, very frilly. My house was built in the early 1800's and has all the charm and coziness one would expect. A long desired fantasy had become a reality.
As long as I can remember I always dreamed of living in a very old house. Quite by accident I found this gem. When it became apparent that I could make my lifelong dream a reality I jumped in and have never looked back or regretted my decision. I suppose you could say that I waited until I was sure I could have what I've always wanted and now that I had it I was content. I suppose you could say that; I suppose although I had attained a major goal, this house, there were still parts of my life that needed shall we say some fine tuning.
Settling into my favorite chair, soft green polished cotton with tiny white tea roses and layers of ruffles around the bottom, so very girly I appreciated the simple fact that it felt comfortable and luxurious to me, cradling my body just as I planned it should. I moved a bit closer to my antique roll top desk, keyboard ever ready, hit enter, waited for the welcome screen to appear on the monitor of my not so old gateway to the modern world.
I'm smiling, the combination of old and new still amazes me. I love deep dark wood, antique furniture and old things yet couldn't picture my life without certain modern conveniences like air conditioning and this computer. There is something to be said about wondering who sat at this desk before me? Was it common place using perhaps quill and parchment only now to be the center of twenty-first century means of communication?
As you know, my name is Layla Chapwell. I've defined, characterized, branded and described myself ad nauseam. Perhaps I'll practice self-restraint and abstain from offering the same redundant and repetitious self-portrait which by now would be quite mind-numbing. If there isn't a mental picture for you to imagine of me after all this time I seriously doubt that adding anything would enhance your perception?
However, it suddenly occurs to me that perhaps you're a first time reader and in that case you wouldn't know what I expect you to know? In the vain of being helpful, alright a brief synopsis then.
I am blessed with dark auburn shoulder length hair, deep green eyes, very Irish fair complexion, a curvy full figured woman's body, men appear to admire. For the most part a personality that would be described as unusually and predominantly happy. I often think I should be dancing, sipping champagne, painting the town red and singing in the rain. You'd think by now I'd have learned all there is to know about men and love. There are times I simply enjoy romancing the blues.
I compose and write usually with a sense of the sweet and romantic. Yes, my stories are sensual, erotic tales, some based on fantasy although even in my fantasies there is always some practicality of fact.
My preferred principal point of consideration is the older man. If he's in his so called golden years of life, in his seventies or older, a perfect man or perhaps my perfect man. Not so sure that men in that age group actually consider this the golden phase of their lives. If it were within my power, I would make it so for each and every one.