Tales of a Trail of Life (3 page)

“Faithfully every year and they give
up their tasty yield to the maple camps and the Amish split the profits with
me. Some years are better flows than others but overall it’s my little fun
money I use for my hobby.” “I want to know all about your hobby and so much
more. It will be fun on the trail today. Come with me Dwayne, I want to show
you something and it’s about to happen in a minute or two.”

Ashley squeezes his hand and leads him
out onto her front porch. The two of them sit down on the swing and witness the
sun coming up, giving up its twinkling sparkles as it shimmers through the
trees. Then in a burst of energy the porch is glowing from a most gorgeous
sunrise. Well, the sun was up almost an hour ago but not up high enough to
crest the mountains and trees. Dwayne squeezed her hand, leaned over and kissed
their first sunrise kiss.

“In the short time I’ve lived here
Dwayne; I never witnessed what we just saw without thinking of you. Do you
believe in Law of Attraction Dwayne?” “How do you mean,” he asked?  “You know,
something you think about so much and mysteriously it happens and you think its
just coincidence.” “Do you think the two of us sitting here, not only on just a
porch but the very spot where we parked many times over 50 years ago and shared
our lives together is just by chance?”

“It does give you chills, doesn’t it
Ashlyn?” Correct me if I’m wrong but did we not lose our virginities right here
in the old Studebaker after the Junior Prom?”  Ashley leans back in the swing
and starts humming a familiar tune from back in the day. Some Enchanted
Evening. Oh Dwayne I didn’t know if it meant that much to you that you would
remember it now after all these years.” Dwayne smiled and admitted that a
fellow never forgets that special moment in his life,” ….nor a girl hers,”
Ashley sighed.”

Their arrival at the trail head that
morning began a day of joyous celebrating. It wasn’t how many miles they biked;
it was how many stories of catching up in their lives apart that were truly
remarkable in their similarities. At times they were within miles of one
another when vacationing with their families at the same time at the same place
and only a few rooms apart according to their memories.

Both were so in love with their
spouses and children and they each communicate daily in one form or another
with the children. Computer email mostly, some Facebook and cell phone texting
and though Ashley has a Skype account it’s rare she uses it. Dan’s daughters
and Ashley’s daughter are within a year or two apart in age, all three have one
child.

When Dwayne returned to the farm to
continue to recuperate from his military injuries, his mom and dad were ready
to give up farming and that’s when he suggested they move into town. He set up
the Amish to work the farm and live in the main house but instructed them to
not use or loan out the cottage but do keep it clean. It was always to be
available to his mother and father when they would get lonely for the farm.
They never used it.

Dwayne moved to Iowa to begin farming
his future wife’s parent’s farm. His wife was his army nurse and he promised to
visit her at their farm one day. That one day became 35 years of individual
days. True to Iowa he became a mildly successful spud farmer. He and Vivian
purchased her parents farm. Both daughters married farmers and together they
and their families own and operate the farm now.

John came to Myers as a Daredevil
Driver for the famous ‘Joey Chitwood Thrill Show’ at the county fair. He saw
Ashley and soon history unfolded in most unexplainable ways. It was John’s last
year as a driver but his first year as the publicity agent for traveling
seasonal entertainment. He scooped Ashley off her feet and they formed their
own publicity company in Indiana. She recently sold to an ad agency. Her
daughter and husband are accountants in Indiana.

Today Ashley is in for a treat. It
will be her first ride through the1900 foot tunnel. She affectionately now
calls it the tunnel of love. Dwayne encouraged her to walk the tunnel the first
time but being the daredevil Ashley she chose to ride into the tunnel. Within
100 feet she was scraping the walls. Dwayne was right but she gave the excuse
that she wanted to walk with him. They paused half way, looked at the faint
opening on either end, confirmed their aloneness and the two broke out into
song. An enchanted event indeed and just as they were making their exit there
was applause. A ladies bike and bird watching club were about to enter the
tunnel but didn’t want to disturb the duet. This time Duane shared in Ashley’s
embarrassment.

Hours were spent sitting on the trail
benches just outside the tunnel overlooking the vast valley below. So much
talking and listening, tears and laughter brought them together even more
intimately in their life’s trails. Both agreed that they probably bored Mother
Nature and all the creatures within a mile radius of their bench.

Their return trip back to town found
their topics more centered on the present and near future and that will be
setting the tone for their evening plans of dining out at a new restaurant in
town and to what follows on their official second date.

Dwayne and Ashley were becoming very
comfortable around each other and both knew they wanted to share their
remaining years together. Their conversation on their second date at the new
restaurant in town was interrupted a few times by some local old timers who
heard they were back in town. Some actually asked how long the two of them were
married now.

Those misunderstandings were
testimonials of just how popular they were their sophomore, junior and senior
years and many assumed that they were destined to live their lives as husband
and wife. Ashley and Dwayne were flattered but each new that their separate
lives until now was meant to be. An unexpected tribute to their evening came
from a recently reunited high school rock band that was the evening’s
entertainment.

When George of the Delltones
recognized who was in the audience he stopped the band in mid song. He couldn’t
believe what he was seeing. “Dwayne and Ashley, its Dwayne and Ashley, my god!”

Then George announced to the audience
that Dwayne Donaldson and Ashley Biggly were high school sweethearts and that
Dwayne and he started the band together way back then. He said this must be
fate, that he and Ashley would be in the audience on grand opening night and
the Delltones were last minute replacements to fill in for the evening’s
entertainment.

It was then that Dwayne walked up to
the stage and embraced George and whispered into his ear. George was obviously
trying to get his composure back to make an announcement. “Ladies and gentlemen,
Dwayne and I go way back to when we were in first grade; we started the band
when we were 14. One year later Dwayne began dating Ashley in 10
^th
grade. She was our biggest fan. Dwayne has a few comments.

Dwayne was nervous but he took command
of the microphone and explained that this was so unrehearsed and so unreal but
he shared that the past few days became living proof of what the future is
intended to be. But until he asks a question of Ashley, it can’t begin. “Ashley
Biggy, will you marry me?”

Drum roll, cymbals crash and a guitar
twang on cue from George and the band leads to total silence in the audience.
Eyes focused on Ashley while she senses an instant white out in her vision from
the spotlight with sparkles coursing through her mind and body and the twang of
the guitar giving up its echo from the powerful speakers. Unlike the blackout
on the trail this very emotional scene is actually happening and she is too
stunned to be embarrassed. George took his wireless microphone out into the audience,
bumping into a few tables on the way to Ashley.

The emotions sent Ashley’s mind back
in time in slow motion and it coursed its way to the present. Nothing has ever
caused such emotions in her life and here in this one moment it seemed that the
entire Universe orchestrated this and that their deceased spouses cleverly
produced this moment.

Dwayne was so shocked that he did this
to Ashley, it was so unlike him. He was caught up in the moment, her hesitation
could mean a totally lost opportunity to grow older as husband and wife and
maybe his actions could cause a complete separation even as friends.

He felt nauseated and was about to
leave the stage when he heard a faint reply. George’s microphone wasn’t turned
on. The audience knew Dwayne didn’t hear her answer and in unison they yelled
out with their excited applause. Yes, yes, yes, yes…they sang out.

The audience was on their feet,
pushing chairs and tables away to make a straight path for Ashley to navigate
to her future husband. They embraced on stage and then they returned to their
table, floating by many who had napkins pressed to their eyes. George and the
band began playing their crude hurried up version of “Some Enchanted Evening.”
Was this really their second date?”

Waking up the next morning with Ashley
cradled in his arm and her warm breath brushing across his chest, Dwayne’s
aroused memory of the past few hours of their togetherness was reviewing
everything in detail.

The band, the announcement, the
acceptance, the walk in the moonlight around their small town’s quiet streets,
the return to Ashley’s home, her invitation to spend the night, not in the
guest room but in her bed, the long talk before they reopened their teenage
familiarity with each others bodies, it’s all real, its all so natural.

Ashley was awake but she was so
comfortable and content lying on Dwayne’s chest while he cradled her in his
arm. His strong beating heart was synchronized to her own. Less than eight
hours ago she gave her teenage lover the remaining years of her life as his
wife when she said yes to his on stage marriage proposal.

The walk on the quiet streets, just
like they did in high school and then the drive to their favorite parking spot
after their walk was so perfect. Just as they did in their favorite parking
spot in their teens, they romanced each other. Instead of the Studebaker back
seat this time it was in Ashley’s bed. Instead of being driven home from their
romantic oasis, they spent the night in each others arms, waking a few times to
confirm this wasn’t a dream.

Ashley is suddenly aware of Dwayne’s
increased rhythmic heartbeats. “Are you alright Dwayne?” “I’m more than alright
Ashley, let me to prove it to you,” Dwayne teased as he began touching her
sweet spots and rolling gently over and having her realize just how alright he
was in the moment. It was noon time till they realized they had a community
picnic to attend in a few hours and they should try and muster their strength
to get ready.

“How many years has it been since they
were in the shower together,” Ashley tried calculating. She so vividly
remembered the time they had the opportunity to have that experience. They were
both so nervous that they kept the lights out but their slippery embraces left
squeaky clean memories of how they explored each others bodies in the shower
and then their first actual bedroom frolic afterwards.

“Surely not again Dwayne, act your age
or act our age,” we are in the shower and our agility will not let that happen.
Dwayne was so passionately excited that he was ready to throw caution to the
wind and find a position that would allow it but realized a fall at their age
couldn’t be risked. “It could be days until help arrived,” Ashley laughed and
then both began laughing so hard that the moment was whisked away into their
memory banks.

The end for now,

Ashley and Dwayne

There you have a snippet in time that
I’ve been given opportunity to write about from a very special couple who have
been given another opportunity to enjoy a continuation of life in romance and
companionship. Picking up from their familiar past and blending it into their
married lives and families apart and then into their future explorations
together along with their extended approving families blessings and seemingly
from their former beloved spouses who surely must have had a joyous hand in
bringing them back together again. So pure, innocent and romantic.

BestOfAnnGraham-ClickHere-Only$1.99

StoryOfHope

Story Of Faith