Thursday, July 21, 2011

Flying Free

DSC_0266 My Front Door

It’s just a simple front door yet for me it is the door to my freedom. After nine months of being afraid to go out that door due to a threatening upstairs tenant I am finally free! I can finally walk out my door without fear of intimidation or reprisals. The tenant moved out on the 4th of July giving even more meaning to Independence Day for me. In the days that followed I often found myself crying for what I thought was no reason but now realize it was just relief that it was finally over. So it was that on this past Sunday night I found myself yearning for a walk, and while I often walk to the bog which is out the back door and behind my house, tonight I wanted to go for a walk into town.

I took off my flip-flops; laced up my sneakers, and boldly stepped out my front door into the muggy gray summer’s evening. Though it was after 7:30 PM there was still enough light for me to see and to walk. I did not take my binoculars or camera. In all ways I just wanted to be free. At this time of night on a Sunday evening the traffic is relatively light as I walk down the street towards town. I pass a park where children play soccer while family and friends watch. The cement sidewalk beneath my feet is shifted this way and that from frost heaves and tree roots. I must be aware of my feet or I will stumble and fall. I look at the houses around me, admiring the New England Architecture. I try to take it all in and absorb the feeling of this place. A little ways past the soccer field I come to a stone bridge that crosses the Shawsheen River which meanders lazily below. I feel that tranquility permeate my being as I walk on.

Down Main Street I stroll gazing constantly around me. Green trees tower over the street, over the rooftops, framing the sky. I hear the twittering of chimney swifts and look up to see them fluttering through the bits of open sky. Though their flight looks so erratic, it is also swift; thus their name and I feel as if my heart were flying up there with them. For most of the rest of my way home I will hear their cheerful twitters as I walk. Could it be that they are celebrating their freedom as I am?

I turn on Harding Street to High Street and then head home past Sacred Heart Park. The night is advancing now to twilight and I must hurry back. I feel the sweat beading up on me from all the humidity in the air. When I walk past the Soccer Fields of Sacred Heart Park I see a flock of robins searching for worms in the fading light. I am still amazed that I am walking free, that I can come back home to my own front door and open it and step through and be safe. And whenever I want to I can open the door and fly free again.

I intend to take many more walks now. Next time I will bring both bins and camera and record what I see. I feel I can finally get to know this town I live in, and perhaps get back to being myself.

10 comments:

  1. Sounds like you were in a horrible situation. I hope you celebrate your freedom with many more walks.

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  2. Kathie, I hear the song of a free bird and rejoice for your opportunity to nest and explore your territory. Fly Free!

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  3. Hi Kathie, I can not imagine what you went thru with that nasty neighbor. I know you are very happy that he is gone now and you can feel safe and at peace. I enjoye dyour walk into town,have a great day.

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  4. What a relief for you to be rid of that tenant! I'd recommend the book "The Sociopath next door". You'll learn how to recognize such people.

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  5. Oh my! Thank goodness the nasty tenant has moved out. Now you can breathe a big sigh of relief. Sounds like a dreadful situation. At least now you have your freedom! What a glorious walk through your neighborhood! Thank you for taking us along. Fly, Kathie, Fly!

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  6. Okay everyone, your kinds thoughts have brought tears to my eyes! I wrote this because I feel better when I can express myself. For 9 months I have felt stifled, confined, restricted and imprisoned. Reading your encouraging and sympathetic comments is like a breathe of fresh air and gives wind to my wings! Thank you so very much!

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  7. Good for you and a pox on the bad tenant.

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  8. Happy Independence Day in more ways than one.Here's hoping that the rest of the year is a good one for you.

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  9. Larry, thank you, thank you, thank you!

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Welcome to my nest! I hope you will enjoy spending time here with me and the birds. Thank you for your comments. I will try to get back to you as soon as I get back from counting more birds.