In a subtle-dimention

Super Sensitive—  If you were forced to give up one sense, but gain super-sensitivity in another, which senses would you choose?

An early morning in June, clear but not yet hot, the air rich with scent of the warming earth. Celeste stands leaning against the big white pillar on her front porch and reads an article on the fresh crisp Sunday newspaper. She does not want to stay in the living room or in the study or in the dining but in the front. Because her front garden is a show stopper with the gorgeous flowers of Dianthus, Gardenia, Nicotiana, Garden Phlox and the rose bushes in different shades of pink, yellow and red. The iron post next to her front door is covered by a honey suckle vine releasing a very powerful and sweet smell. Drawing in a deeply scented breath she feels an awe for the delicate, gentle beauties of the flowers.

“Give me odorous at sunrise a garden of beautiful flowers where I can walk undisturbed”. ~Walt Whitman

Celeste loves nature and its beauty.She decides to share that privilege with the people who need eyesight. So last time in her driver’s license renewal she signed up for the eye donation.

Aside from gardening, reading and writing her other indulgence is her taste-bud. Celeste loves sweets; like bees to honey.The other day after her last trip from India, in the doctor’s office suddenly it seemed very quiet and it was so quiet that the silence actually hummed. She remembers that in her trip, she visited most of her relatives and friends. Their surprise and happiness reflected in delightful ways; lots of hugs, tea and delicious different types of sweets. Celeste did not hesitate at all to eat. She eat them all one after another. And the result; the sudden blast of calorie. Dr Biscett read and re-read Celeste’s blood test report and looked at her then sighed. ” I have to tell you something which you may not like. I know, that you go to work out regularly, eat health foods but this report is very loud.”

O’ no. Celeste says adjusting her eyeglass. ” Is it very bad? Please go on I am ready to hear”.

“It is about your sugar level. You need to keep it down. We will schedule for another test in three months to check otherwise I have to prescribe a medicine.”

So Celeste has decided to control her taste bud and to limit her sweet indulgence, even she is ready to give up the sweet. It is not that easy! During the visit to the grocery store the beautifully decorated sweets from the different shelves of the bakery department stare at her from the corner of their eyes, wink at her, invite her and even sometimes beg her to take home. Celeste shields her eyes with her hand and walks away from the aisles. Really it is very hard but Celeste is determined, cold as a steel.

Another beautiful morning. Rain has decided to take a break and a marvelous sun has blossomed. In the wood-floored hall, Celeste  approaches the piano from a angle and sits on the bench, bends over, head characteristically suspends just above the keys as she plays a famous piano  piece Gymnopedie. Suddenly she stops playing. She runs in winged steps to get her cell-phone and calls her son. The phone rings but there is no answer so she tries again and again.Her heart is pounding at a frantic tempo and her sixth sense gets stronger and stronger. Her thoughts are shuttling through her brain like fast, frantic centipedes. Something has happened! Celeste gasps. she tries to catch and pin-down her thoughts. She walks around the house, then opens the back door and meanders in the garden .What is wrong with me? May be I should meditate a little more to get positive vibes. She thinks.She can hardly sit still. Then the phone rings and she answers”Yes this is she. What? When? Where? O’ No! Yes officer I will be right there.” Celeste’s son is in a car accident. Celeste sits a ambulance besides her son and thinks, it is really a blessing to have the sixth sense.

Monday morning. During the office meeting Celeste tries hard to sit still. She keeps fidgeting crossing one leg and then the other.Random thoughts march in her mind.This time all her thoughts are of her mother. She lives in a huge house all by herself back in India. Sometimes she does not want to share her troubles. After the meeting Celeste marches into her office room, closes the door and sits on a chair. She leans back, trails her long index finger across her hair and cups her chin in the other hand. She picks up the phone and decides to call her mother to check on her. ” This is Celeste. How are you mom?Why do you sound so weak? Are you ok?Really? Listen sit in one place mom, do not move and I will call somebody to help you.” Celeste hangs the phone and calls one of her cousin who lives in the same city to help her mother. Celeste is grateful to have her powerful sixth sense. She may not save the whole world but at least she can save a few lives.

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A confident Heart

I Have Confidence in Me

Monday morning. It is hectic but Flora is always confident that everything will play out nicely. She finishes her stretching on the living room floor. As she rolls up the pink yoga mat, the voice of a lady in front of her front yard gets her attention. Flora wraps a  light purple woolen shawl and walks swiftly towards the front door. She twists the door knob,opens the door and steps out.  She glances at  the familiar face of the old lady Mrs Archer. She stands with her walker close to her front lawn and commands her chocolate tri-color beagle to go inside the house but the puppy wags his small tail and runs through the lawn towards the road.The poor lady tries hard but  with a walker it is hard for her to chase the puppy. Flora grabs a few treats from her kitchen and walks towards the puppy. The treat bag and a stranger both attract the beagle. He comes wagging his tail, sits close to Flora and quietly pants. She carries the puppy gently in her hand and walks with Mrs Archer to her house. “Thank You again, Flora, you are an angel!” She says. Flora smiles, hugs Mrs Archer,pats the puppy on her head and leaves.

Flora steps inside to  her house and closes the front door. She turns her head to see that both her cat and the dog are ready for their breakfast. The dog Lucy stands close to Flora, wags her long brown and black tail, looks at her like the round hearts of Daisies: feed me, then take me for a walk. Flora smiles affectionately, bends down and scratches around the ears of  both the tabby and the dog. She looks at the large walnut wall clock. It is almost six thirty. She walks on the soft white tile of the kitchen, prepares two cups of  cardamom and ginger tea and  oat meal  with milk, raisin ,almond,a pinch of salt and a few pieces of apple and banana, the way her children like. Then Flora opens the white double door refrigerator, brings out all the ingredients to prepare salad for lunch and the lentil soup. Her children are grown up, working but some days they come home late, tired from work. Flora likes to pamper them so she prepares and make the food ready before she leaves to work. Flora loves the sunrise. She opens the back door, steps into the back porch and walks on the deck to the lawn. O’ such  a beautiful day! She says, then linger to rest, draws a few breath of the soft, sweet air then walks back to the kitchen. Flora likes to bake any type of  sweets for her colleague birthdays. She opens the refrigerator takes out the vanilla cup cakes with sweet and crunchy toppings of brown sugar, almond, topped with few blue berries. She decorates them nicely in a big round white plate and then covers with a foil. Around seven-thirty in the morning, she leaves for her office.

Flora pushes the big double glass doors and walks into her office. As the new semester starts, she gets real busy with the students. Flora loves to help the students regarding their course, books, study guides and loans. She pulls the black pillow office chair, sits comfortably and looks at the computer screen. She  adjusts the keyboard  and starts typing the important points to discuss in the Monday meeting. This meeting is very important. All the other managers from different cities will be there. Flora is real nervous. She drinks a glass of water, runs to the restroom and practices few lines in front of the mirror, just before the presentation in the meeting. She is very confident about her presentation but, shy to talk in front of so many people. She leans against the bathroom wall and repeats in her mind, I am determined and positive that I can handle the presentation perfectly. She takes a deep breath and enters into the meeting room. At the end of the meeting and her presentation, Flora walks towards her chair, sits, wipes her sweats from the forehead, drinks one more glass of water, looks around and smiles nervously. She lifts her eye and notices how her boss smiles. Then he stands and congratulates Flora for the wonderful presentation and the delicious cup-cakes. Flora smiles. During the lunch break she closes her office door from behind, sends text message to her husband. She sits comfortably on the chair, tips her head slightly, calls her mother to check her health and then calls her son to ask if he enjoy the salad. Flora brings out her laptop and writes a beautiful birthday wish to her best friend. Afterwards she leans back more to the cushion of the chair, adjusts her eye-glass  and reads a few wonderful blogs in the daily prompt posts.

It is almost seven. Flora drives back from office. The early evening sky is a prism of colors with last of the sunlight fading from the horizon. She notices that at one corner of the road, to the left, just before the freeway, a tall lady wearing a Blue t-shirt and grey pant stands there with a sign Homeless, needs food. Flora’s heart cries out, she stops her car, grabs the mix nut packet from her black handbag. She rolls down the left window and hands over the mix nuts packet that she always saves for the one hour drive to home. The lady walks closer to the car window, smiles richly, takes the nut packet, touches my hand and says, “Thank you”.