Lost Paradise

It was dark yet!

Why dawn was loitering behind the horizon for so long?

I was fretful waiting for that elusive light.


In the seven years of life I had, it was not easy to remain calm when your most wanted desire delays its presence.

At long last, there was the small orange line on the sky, I ran into Mommy's and Daddy's room crying: Get up! get up! it's already time!

Daddy looked with one eye at the clock on the night table and grunted:

Oh, my goodness!! It is just 5:50! Will you stop making such noise!

But Mommy, rose and said smiling:

Let him alone, it's always the same!

Finally, we started our trip, and a couple of hours later we were standing in front of the high wooden doors, Daddy took me up to ring the bell.

As always, the high door opened to the most beautiful smile I will ever see!

The house smelled of roses and jasmines, I could not decide where to go first, the garden in full bloom took my fancy, I flew over all this beauty in wonder; then the soap smelling bathroom, the old tub with lion's paws feet, the bedroom with the beautiful mirror framed in the big ancient wood wardrobe, where I could see myself from the head to the feet, the lavender scent that pervaded the chamber, the old daguerreotype of the little girl that I have seen peering playfully at me from the grey eyes over the most beautiful smile I'd ever seen, and then the call to breakfast in the warm kitchen, the big bowl of milk with just a cloud of coffee, this was the only place I was allowed to drink coffee. The white loaf of just baked bread, and the syrupy orange marmalade under the thin coat of home made milk-cream.

The loving embraces, the smiles, and the long tales about how I came to be born, always told in different ways, making me think I was a different person each time.

The tasty simple lunch, which prepared the tummy for the regal supper, after a very slight meal at mid-afternoon repeating the bread, syrupy jam, and milk-cream. 

This way, leaping from new things to repeated bits and pieces, but in a different light each time, the day flew away in beautiful minutes as a wonderful gift.

I will never forget all those marvelous days I spent finding new the old things, feeling to be the hub of the Universe, and 'knowing' I was the most important person in the world!

With a little pang of regret because they cannot be repeated now, I will always remember all the visits to my Granny's house!


The music is "Memory" by Andrew Lloyd Webber for the musical "Cats", performing Richard Clyderman.

© 2013 Od Liam.