A Home For Her Heart

" I forgot to call you.  I.didn't forget your birthday, I knew it was today.  Is it too late to call?" the e-mail said. 


She didn't care.  People were involved in their own lives.  She needed to be involved in hers.  But it was okay.  The card she received left her laughing hysterically.  And the gift was great, too.

"Oh, I am so sorry, so very, very sorry" said the voice mail. The pleading, desperate voice said it all.   Her cell phone was left in her car, along with the rest of her things.  There was simply too much to carry to get inside her home.  She didn't even know she left it until she looked for it the other day.  She felt sorrier for the caller for sure. She was glad to have her purse again.  Glad she hadn't left if in the restaurant.  Or at a friend's house.

But morning came as it always does.  Cloudy.  Cool.  Snow was in the air.  An unusual wetness that was too familiar. Leaves continued to fall.  Hurricane Sandy didn't leave much untouched in her wake. So many without electrical power. Gasoline. 

The elected officials got on the media soon enough.  Rationing.  That was the answer.  The police were everywhere in combat gear.  Joy wondered who the enemy was. She wondered what rights people would lose.  This time.

But it was life review day.  Again.  Definitely time for more chocolate.  More home.  More familiarity.  Sameness.  She felt lost.  Her heart was somewhere else.  She knew where.  She knew it was time to reclaim it. To bring it home.