Another First

Another First

I see it as your foot skips over, its tail whisks and snaps as it rushes into the safety of the brush.

It’s our second walk in the forest this week he and I. Happiness pours into my soul knowing he wants to spend more time with me!

"Stop!" I say a little too hurriedly, excited about our find, never really knowing when a sighting will take place. "Be still, easy, don’t move too fast", I whisper, as I slowly creep to spy its resting place. My motion is quick and steady as I lock my fingers around it as gently as possible, not allowing it to slip away. As I stand holding our prize he reaches quickly without hesitation, wrapping his tiny little fingers around its wiggling body, the look on his face is of stunned exhilaration.

"Nana, it’s my first time to hold a snake."
"Hold him gently but firmly behind his head and allow his tail to wrap around your wrist; now he is secure, as you are when your feet are planted firmly on the ground."

Our firsts started eight years ago when I watched him unfold out of the safety of all he knew. Looking like a little Pterodactyl his limbs long and skinny grasping for that safety, just as the snake hanging in midair tips his tail to connect with that which he knows.

We find many more prizes on our short excursion that day, each one gently scooped up and released, and with each find I remind him,

“With gratitude thank them for their presence and your connection with them, for mother earth has many gifts to share.”

 And for the second time that week he skips along the path and tells me “you’re my spiritual Nana”.

He and I we have many things to teach each other.  We have many more firsts ahead of us. Some will be grand and some will be small, but with each one my heart and soul will be as full as the first!

 

Angie    September 2019