Each step down the hall was light so that the cold floor just barely teased her bare feet .

Warm cup of tea in hand she headed towards a sweater .  The raucous sounds of the winds

had quieted a bit now and the tension in the air had dissipated .

She began humming nothing in particular and it was , after all , absentminded .

The preparations for an outing continued .  The anticipation for having an adventure  was

revealing itself in the beats of her heart .  The well worn softness of her favorite sweater being

pulled down over her head was comforting and brought a smile to her face . “Mmmmm….” as

she stretched .  A light heartedness came over her and her thoughts became  most optimistic .

Pausing at the window nearest  to her bed …” how are the birds doing in all of this wind ? ” she

thought . ” They know what to do .  An internal , ancient guidance  alive and well in their veins

unlike humans with so much left to the fickle fate of wants and desires . ”   She twirled  and

twirled  again  humming louder and her feet warm with woolen socks .

THUD .  She jumped , just a little . A small rock had been kicked up by a random wind and hit a

window pane .

……to be continued