I promise to love you, as you- always
And for tomorrow, if it should ever come
Until the sun shines no more
And the moon has lost its glow
When Alpha and Omega sit side by side
Only to hear his majesty's calling
And we as one take that last walk
Toward eternity........
"Excerpt from "Love's Promise"
By Jacqualine Rippy
I promise to love you, as you- always
And for tomorrow, if it should ever come
Until the sun shines no more
And the moon has lost its glow
When Alpha and Omega sit side by side
Only to hear his majesty's calling
And we as one take that last walk
Toward eternity........
"Excerpt from "Love's Promise"
By Jacqualine Rippy
Savannah Snowden smiled as she caught the last rays of an autumn sun that peered through a magenta sunset. The purplish swirls appeared to swell and swallow the day's end, as darkness seized its last remnants. Only one exception escaped the unwanted invasion, and it now prevailed as a lonely twinkling gem perched on the horizon.
As she gathered a few personal belongings strewn haphazardly along the grass, Savannah remembered how often this special place had provided an oasis of tranquility to her as a child.
So many memories surfaced and evaded her thoughts, as she struggled to complete the tasks at hand. The soft grass that cushioned her feet felt better than any plush carpentry, as it sprung with each anticipated step. A flock of melodious mockingbirds chirped, as a lone eagle soared to an unmentionable height. The smell of the majestic pines, as they sway and yield for the subtle curve of the Appalachian Trail. Yes, this was where Savannah belonged and one day she would build her rustic cabin tucked neatly away from prying eyes, in these Great Smoky hills.
As night approached the urgency to vacate her fantasy drove Savannah even further down the trail. "One day I'll stay for eternity," she exclaimed to herself in a soft hush. And then she paused momentarily to steal another quick glance.
"Be still my heart you're so beautiful, let us make you immortal!” Savannah spoke. And then she tugged at the strap of her trusty Pentax and swung it into action. "Click!" "Click!" "Now you're mine."
For once Savannah would grant herself this one tiny concession and relinquish all constraints. As she inhaled the fresh air and slowly released it she felt compelled to dance to the peaceful sound of serenity.
Savannah was immune of all sound, both distant and near, with nothing to pierce the trance-like state that she had succumbed to. This solo performance, by an amateur ballerina resembled the tender mechanisms of a jewelry box, when opened and the careful notes of the "Nutcracker Suite" escapes its confines. A little toy ballerina perched on top, with arms fully extended and void of inhibition spinning around in a perpetual motion.
When the loose swirling pages of her notebook gradually settled on the ground she could almost hear, the slight clinking sound, as the contents of her purse spilled onto the road. And then out of nowhere a bright light appeared accompanied by the sound of screeching brakes. As a sudden jolt of pain reclaimed her senses it was then that she was fully aware of reality, before she tumbled into darkness.
As the chilly mountain air sifted gently into her nose, and filled her lungs, she caught a quick glimpse of a distorted figure that suddenly appeared within the mist. It seemed to grow and take shape, as each moment past. And then he was there.
"Who was this mysterious tall dark raven-haired man?" His head was crowned, with long flowing locks that glistened and swayed in the moonlight. And as Savannah glanced further upwards, she noticed a magnificent pair of jet-black eyes, which seem to search her own, as his full lips murmured incoherently to deaf ears. In her mind his questions appeared to race, at break neck speed, as her lips fought to form sound.
"Who was he?" "A name, I must have a name." Savannah screamed inwardly. "Please tell me, oh God . . . can't you hear me?" "Why can't he hear?" And then her mind registered a lone phrase, "I'm Jay Wirthfeather." The brief moment of consciousness was now lost, as the haze began to pull Savannah further away, and then Jay was gone.
As Savannah struggled to reclaim each moment she began to ask questions although she was still unaware of her surroundings. "Is this heaven?" "Why am I moving upwards, yet I feel nothing?" "I hear nothing, but I could swear that I can see light ahead." Savannah thought quietly.
The light continued to grow brighter with each passing moment, as she moved closer towards its origin. Savannah now finds herself in awe, as the stories from her past childhood seem to take shape right before her eyes. From generations of old the tales become reality, as she now finds herself crossing over into another dimension.
When she eyes the end of the tunnel she braces herself for the impending approach. There is only one path, and this was it. As Savannah placed one foot into the entranceway, a gold-rimmed portal suddenly appeared, and Jay stood on the other side. With an outstretched hand he motions for her to enter, and she cautiously follows his lead.
When she entered the room, everything that surrounds her seemed to transform into a golden haze. Hundreds of silhouettes, in various shapes and sizes glide swiftly by, or appear to move around them. Glancing backwards, she noticed that the portal no longer exists.
"Where are we?" Savannah asked.
"Would you believe . . . eternity." "Isn't this what you've dreamed for all of your life?" Jay said.
Savannah thought long and hard, and then she spoke. "Yes, I have envisioned eternity, but not like this." "It's too soon, and I still have far too much to do." "What will happen to my dreams and fantasies?"
"Savannah when you enter eternity dreams and fantasies no longer exist." "Everything is full-filled, and you desire nothing, because even that is no more. "No desires, no more pain, no sense of longing." "Only pure love and eternal bliss await, for all of eternity." Jay spoke.
"Savannah, you must now choose your fate." Jay exclaimed. And then Savannah spoke to Jay, in a hushed whisper for the last time. "Then I choose to go." Savannah spoke while choking back tears.
Jay slowly turned Savannah around to face him, and she now peered upwards at the bronzed being that faced her. If one moment could last for eternity then let this moment speak for itself. For now Savannah truly saw the full beauty of this gentle spirit. He was an angel who stood glowing in a radiant light, which seemed to embody the height of six feet. As a huge pair, of magnificent wings unfolded just beyond Savannah’s sight, she glanced directly into the eyes of the most kind and gentle soul that her heart could ever imagine. With wings fully extended, he wrapped them neatly around her, as she felt held and bound to him. As tears flowed uncontrollably down her cheeks, Jay smiled and reached down to gently brush them aside with his fingertips. He then whispered, "Tears are not permissible here." "You must go and return after you've found your destiny."
With the speed of light she found herself being pulled away into yet another direction. Savannah slowly forced her way through the darkness that surrounded her, and then awakened once more. Only this time Jay was back, but there was something different about him. Jay didn’t have his wings. Savannah thought in silence. Only Jay the black leather-clad man knelt before her, and at the present he appeared to be gently cradling her, as a child.
Savannah glanced upwards into the darkest depths, of eyes that peered into hers, and spoke in direct words. "My name is Savannah Snowden," she said.
Jay seemed to nod in agreement, as he hoisted Savannah’s small frame into his strong muscular arms and then carried her to his `72 Thunderbird convertible. As he leaned down to open the door, he gently took his fingertips and slowly brushed a few tears from her cheek, and gently eased her slowly inside the car.
"Are you all right?" Jay asked. "Yes," but I'm a little bruised and sore, but I think that I’ll survive." "What happened anyway?" Savannah questioned.
“Well..I was on my way back from the studio.” “You see, I’m a musician and I have a summer cabin about a couple of miles from here, that I use whenever I want to find a little peace and quiet away from my hectic schedule.” "Well, then you appeared out of nowhere and I almost wrecked to avoid hitting you." "I blew my horn, but apparently you didn't hear me." "What were you doing?" Jay asked.
Savannah glanced sideways at Jay and smiled. As Jay leaned forward to adjust the buttons on the radio, "Meredith Brooks, "What Would Happen" sprung to life, and the sudden jolt caused each to jump in surprise. The gentle laughter seemed to ease the moment, and both appeared to relax a little.
As the excitement began to falter, Jay glanced once more at Savannah. "What would happen if we kiss, Meredith sung . . . as Savannah and Jay smiled at each other. As time seemed to hang between them Jay reached out to shift the car into gear, but instead paused briefly and decided to lean over towards Savannah. As the space between them grew closer his lips slowly secured hers they found the answer to Meredith’s question.
When Jay gently drew away from Savannah he slowly exclaimed. “If you’re hungry I can rustle up a couple of peanut butter sandwiches, and maybe a cup or two of latte, if that's okay with you?" "Then we can find something to clean up those cuts." "Is that all right Savannah?" Jay spoke slowly.
"Yes, I think that will be just fine," Savannah smiled.
"Good…I thought that I had lost you...to eternity." Jay exclaimed.
Savannah slowly turned to face him, and spoke in a hushed whisper, "I almost was."
Savannah Snowden smiled as she caught the last rays of an autumn sun that peered through a magenta sunset. The purplish swirls appeared to swell and swallow the day's end, as darkness seized its last remnants. Only one exception escaped the unwanted invasion, and it now prevailed as a lonely twinkling gem perched on the horizon.
As she gathered a few personal belongings strewn haphazardly along the grass, Savannah remembered how often this special place had provided an oasis of tranquility to her as a child.
So many memories surfaced and evaded her thoughts, as she struggled to complete the tasks at hand. The soft grass that cushioned her feet felt better than any plush carpentry, as it sprung with each anticipated step. A flock of melodious mockingbirds chirped, as a lone eagle soared to an unmentionable height. The smell of the majestic pines, as they sway and yield for the subtle curve of the Appalachian Trail. Yes, this was where Savannah belonged and one day she would build her rustic cabin tucked neatly away from prying eyes, in these Great Smoky hills.
As night approached the urgency to vacate her fantasy drove Savannah even further down the trail. "One day I'll stay for eternity," she exclaimed to herself in a soft hush. And then she paused momentarily to steal another quick glance.
"Be still my heart you're so beautiful, let us make you immortal!” Savannah spoke. And then she tugged at the strap of her trusty Pentax and swung it into action. "Click!" "Click!" "Now you're mine."
For once Savannah would grant herself this one tiny concession and relinquish all constraints. As she inhaled the fresh air and slowly released it she felt compelled to dance to the peaceful sound of serenity.
Savannah was immune of all sound, both distant and near, with nothing to pierce the trance-like state that she had succumbed to. This solo performance, by an amateur ballerina resembled the tender mechanisms of a jewelry box, when opened and the careful notes of the "Nutcracker Suite" escapes its confines. A little toy ballerina perched on top, with arms fully extended and void of inhibition spinning around in a perpetual motion.
When the loose swirling pages of her notebook gradually settled on the ground she could almost hear, the slight clinking sound, as the contents of her purse spilled onto the road. And then out of nowhere a bright light appeared accompanied by the sound of screeching brakes. As a sudden jolt of pain reclaimed her senses it was then that she was fully aware of reality, before she tumbled into darkness.
As the chilly mountain air sifted gently into her nose, and filled her lungs, she caught a quick glimpse of a distorted figure that suddenly appeared within the mist. It seemed to grow and take shape, as each moment past. And then he was there.
"Who was this mysterious tall dark raven-haired man?" His head was crowned, with long flowing locks that glistened and swayed in the moonlight. And as Savannah glanced further upwards, she noticed a magnificent pair of jet-black eyes, which seem to search her own, as his full lips murmured incoherently to deaf ears. In her mind his questions appeared to race, at break neck speed, as her lips fought to form sound.
"Who was he?" "A name, I must have a name." Savannah screamed inwardly. "Please tell me, oh God . . . can't you hear me?" "Why can't he hear?" And then her mind registered a lone phrase, "I'm Jay Wirthfeather." The brief moment of consciousness was now lost, as the haze began to pull Savannah further away, and then Jay was gone.
As Savannah struggled to reclaim each moment she began to ask questions although she was still unaware of her surroundings. "Is this heaven?" "Why am I moving upwards, yet I feel nothing?" "I hear nothing, but I could swear that I can see light ahead." Savannah thought quietly.
The light continued to grow brighter with each passing moment, as she moved closer towards its origin. Savannah now finds herself in awe, as the stories from her past childhood seem to take shape right before her eyes. From generations of old the tales become reality, as she now finds herself crossing over into another dimension.
When she eyes the end of the tunnel she braces herself for the impending approach. There is only one path, and this was it. As Savannah placed one foot into the entranceway, a gold-rimmed portal suddenly appeared, and Jay stood on the other side. With an outstretched hand he motions for her to enter, and she cautiously follows his lead.
When she entered the room, everything that surrounds her seemed to transform into a golden haze. Hundreds of silhouettes, in various shapes and sizes glide swiftly by, or appear to move around them. Glancing backwards, she noticed that the portal no longer exists.
"Where are we?" Savannah asked.
"Would you believe . . . eternity." "Isn't this what you've dreamed for all of your life?" Jay said.
Savannah thought long and hard, and then she spoke. "Yes, I have envisioned eternity, but not like this." "It's too soon, and I still have far too much to do." "What will happen to my dreams and fantasies?"
"Savannah when you enter eternity dreams and fantasies no longer exist." "Everything is full-filled, and you desire nothing, because even that is no more. "No desires, no more pain, no sense of longing." "Only pure love and eternal bliss await, for all of eternity." Jay spoke.
"Savannah, you must now choose your fate." Jay exclaimed. And then Savannah spoke to Jay, in a hushed whisper for the last time. "Then I choose to go." Savannah spoke while choking back tears.
Jay slowly turned Savannah around to face him, and she now peered upwards at the bronzed being that faced her. If one moment could last for eternity then let this moment speak for itself. For now Savannah truly saw the full beauty of this gentle spirit. He was an angel who stood glowing in a radiant light, which seemed to embody the height of six feet. As a huge pair, of magnificent wings unfolded just beyond Savannah’s sight, she glanced directly into the eyes of the most kind and gentle soul that her heart could ever imagine. With wings fully extended, he wrapped them neatly around her, as she felt held and bound to him. As tears flowed uncontrollably down her cheeks, Jay smiled and reached down to gently brush them aside with his fingertips. He then whispered, "Tears are not permissible here." "You must go and return after you've found your destiny."
With the speed of light she found herself being pulled away into yet another direction. Savannah slowly forced her way through the darkness that surrounded her, and then awakened once more. Only this time Jay was back, but there was something different about him. Jay didn’t have his wings. Savannah thought in silence. Only Jay the black leather-clad man knelt before her, and at the present he appeared to be gently cradling her, as a child.
Savannah glanced upwards into the darkest depths, of eyes that peered into hers, and spoke in direct words. "My name is Savannah Snowden," she said.
Jay seemed to nod in agreement, as he hoisted Savannah’s small frame into his strong muscular arms and then carried her to his `72 Thunderbird convertible. As he leaned down to open the door, he gently took his fingertips and slowly brushed a few tears from her cheek, and gently eased her slowly inside the car.
"Are you all right?" Jay asked. "Yes," but I'm a little bruised and sore, but I think that I’ll survive." "What happened anyway?" Savannah questioned.
“Well..I was on my way back from the studio.” “You see, I’m a musician and I have a summer cabin about a couple of miles from here, that I use whenever I want to find a little peace and quiet away from my hectic schedule.” "Well, then you appeared out of nowhere and I almost wrecked to avoid hitting you." "I blew my horn, but apparently you didn't hear me." "What were you doing?" Jay asked.
Savannah glanced sideways at Jay and smiled. As Jay leaned forward to adjust the buttons on the radio, "Meredith Brooks, "What Would Happen" sprung to life, and the sudden jolt caused each to jump in surprise. The gentle laughter seemed to ease the moment, and both appeared to relax a little.
As the excitement began to falter, Jay glanced once more at Savannah. "What would happen if we kiss, Meredith sung . . . as Savannah and Jay smiled at each other. As time seemed to hang between them Jay reached out to shift the car into gear, but instead paused briefly and decided to lean over towards Savannah. As the space between them grew closer his lips slowly secured hers they found the answer to Meredith’s question.
When Jay gently drew away from Savannah he slowly exclaimed. “If you’re hungry I can rustle up a couple of peanut butter sandwiches, and maybe a cup or two of latte, if that's okay with you?" "Then we can find something to clean up those cuts." "Is that all right Savannah?" Jay spoke slowly.
"Yes, I think that will be just fine," Savannah smiled.
"Good…I thought that I had lost you...to eternity." Jay exclaimed.
Savannah slowly turned to face him, and spoke in a hushed whisper, "I almost was."
