Her Hundredth Birthday Party

It was quiet in the meeting room just down the hall, as I came in. I knew that she would be, as well. And there she was, propped in her wheel chair, body in pink jumpsuit, cocked far to the side, not quite asleep. For her, there was no false facade. One saw, and got a mumbling ancienne and no apologies. Then suddenly it was time for people, punch, and platitudes, kids and candy mints and cake. The honored guest, forsaken just as if she were not there, reached out...I saw her once, accepting then one small remembrance, but too late, the speaker had already turned away and I, but for the press of day, had need to cry; they missed it-- souls who turned hello into goodbye. The small ones never really knew you, mom, and that's ok; your spirit longs to break away. The authors of the books you knew, will soon make room for Elna in their dusty rooms along a corridor in paradise where dusty reticence is blown away by one enchanted newborn spirit soul and her new spirit breath of joy. ~