Breaking Through

It started out like just another day. Roy had just gotten home from a long day at work when his wife Terri ran out to meet him as he was walking to the house.
"They are shutting down the city!", she told him, her eyes like saucers.
"What do you mean they are shutting down the city?", Roy said as he walked in the front door and put his cap on its hook.
"Haven't you heard anything on the news or radio?" "There is a virus that is racing through the city, and they don't have a cure."  Terri started to cry.  "I'm so scared, Roy." Roy sat down and pulled her onto his lap.  "It will be ok, Terri." "You know how the news media always blows everything out of proportion."  Roy gently wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes, then kissed her gently.

Terri and Roy had been married one year by this time and it seemed like yesterday that Roy saw her walking by his house on her way to the park with her little dog, Gizmo. She is the best thing that ever happened to him, and Roy blesses the day she became his wife.

Roy didn't like seeing Terri so scared, so he asked her to show him what she had seen. Roy owned his own construction business, and rarely saw or heard anything when they were working.  Terri showed him on her computer what she was talking about.  "Major Virus Hits the United States".  It went on to tell of a virus that could kill thousands of people in a short period of time by making them unable to breathe.  The government wanted everyone to go get a vaccine for the virus even though they had really had time to test it long term.  

He looked at Terri.  Though, Roy was a little nervous himself, he told her not to worry, they were both healthy and would get through whatever came their way.  

Terri smiled at Roy.  "I knew you would make me feel better about this", she said as she went to start dinner.  

Chapter 2

The next morning Terri got up and started the coffee, before she and Roy headed off to work.  She couldn't help herself and went online to see what was happening now.  

Life as I Know It! Tuesday, November 9th

 Life as I Know It!

Tuesday, November 9, 2021

I was thinking today that I will go up against anyone for my friends, but when it comes to myself, I'm kind of a wimp. lol.

So snow is coming late Thursday night and into Friday. There is no longer "snow days" at the school because the students can do online learning on storm days from home. Wonder how that will go. I know how much I used to look forward to snow days and sleeping in. grins. Things sure have changed. But on a positive note, the kids won't have to make up the days later.

Tip of the day!

I don't care how good the soap smells when you walk out of a restroom. DO NOT SNIFF YOUR FINGERS, ha ha.

Trick of the day!

If you have to release gas, make it worth your while. After doing so and there is a group of people around, say, "Do you smell popcorn?" and see how many people take a big whiff. LOL. Terrible isn't it. I'm going to remember that if anyone says that.

Joke of the Day!

One day at a busy airport, the passengers on a commercial airliner are seated waiting for the pilot to show up so they can get under way.

The pilot and copilot finally appear in the rear of the plane and begin walking up to the cockpit through the center aisle. Both appear to be blind; the pilot is using a white cane, bumping into passengers right and left as he stumbles down the aisle. The copilot is using a guide dog. Both have their eyes covered with sunglasses.

At first, the passengers do not react thinking that it must be some sort of practical joke. After a few minutes though, the engines start revving, and the airplane begins moving down the runway.

The passengers look at each other with some uneasiness. They start whispering among themselves and look desperately to the stewardesses for reassurance.

Yet, the plane starts accelerating rapidly, and people begin panicking. Some passengers are praying, and as the plane gets closer and closer to the end of the runway, the voices are becoming more and more hysterical.

When the plane has less than twenty feet of runway left, there is a sudden change in the pitch of the shouts as everyone screams at once. At the very last moment, the plane lifts off and is airborne.

Up in the cockpit, the copilot breathes a sigh of relief and tells the pilot: "You know, one of these days the passengers aren't going to scream, and we aren't going to know when to take off!"

Have a great evening.

In Cahoots Cindy

The Invisible Trail by Roy Klipping Chapter 20

 

Chapter 20

…wasn't there. I checked my other pocket hoping I put it in there, but it wasn't there either. I sat my backpack down and grabbed the satchel out of it. I'm not sure why but I wanted to see if for some reason it was back in the satchel. I knelt and opened it up and started pulling things out of it. The letters were all folded up just like the first time I found them.  I slowly opened them up again and there was the map from before and the letters. I unfolded them hoping to see her locket of hair, but it wasn't there.  I paused for a second then turned over the satchel and dumped everything that was in it onto the ground. The compass fell out and rolled over to the back side of it.  I noticed something etched on it and wanted to read it but all I could think of is where her lock of hair was.  I had a urgency as if I lost something precious to me.  I guess in a way it was though I didn't know why.

I fumbled through everything, but it just wasn't there.  I started to think maybe it had fallen out when I was sleeping in my tent, so I untied it from my pack and unrolled it and looked all through it, frustrated that it wasn't there.  I sat there thinking of where it could have gone and thought back to when I was in that other place.  I remembered looking at my clothes I was wearing.  Could it have stayed wherever that place was? I looked all around my area, but the blurry time hole thing wasn't there. Again, my mind was bouncing in every direction almost to a point where I was starting to feel like I didn't even know where or what place in time I was at. I looked down at the things I dumped out of the satchel and the flint caught my eye as did the compass.  I reached down and picked them both up. As I did, I looked at the etching on the back of the compass. Maybe there was some kind of clue or something on it. I held it closer to my eyes and could see words in a very small print along with a symbol that looked like a small planet. I started to read what it said "this day June third, 1866, you found a moment in life where destiny connected a soul you've been searching for. Always, Lynn." I just sat there for a second with a lump in my throat. I could feel every word written and the more times I read it the more I wanted to somehow find her…..

 

The Invisible Trail by Roy Klipping Chapter 19

 

Chapter 19 

What felt like second that had passed, my eyes opened and for a second, I thought I was nestled in my bed back home.  It didn't take long for my eyes to focus though and my mind started remembering where I was. I laid there for a little while then sat up and crawled my way out of the tent, stood up, and stretched.  I was still feeling kind of tired and thought I must have only dozed off for a few minutes.  I looked up to see where the sun was, but it was cloudy out, so it was hard to tell. It almost looked like the sun was about to set but something was off, because where I think it was looking west maybe it wasn't west after all. I remember a trick my grandpa told me when I was around eight years old. He said if I ever got lost in the woods and wanted to go in a straight line all I’d have to do is look at the base of any tree. He said the moss that grows around the trunk will be the highest on the North side of the tree and he was right.  My brother and I always used to be in the woods back home and I have used this little trick a few times. I walked over to a group of good size pines and checked where the moss was highest. Several of them were all the same so I was pretty sure that I knew where north was, and it was exactly where I had thought it was. I looked back up to the sky and realized it was morning and not going into evening like I had thought.  Puzzled I scratched my head and then looked around, just to get my bearings or something.  I just brushed it off that I must have just slept right through the late afternoon and night. I guess I was tired and emotionally exhausted as well. I walked over to my tent and tore it down and rolled it up, then tied it to my backpack.  I put the satchel inside it and then grabbed the map.  As I started to look it over, the trails were still gone from the map, except for the ones leading North by Northwest. I just wanted to head back but everything behind me was as if it had never seen another person and it sure didn't have a trail.  I thought about following the river back and I could have pretty easily but something inside of me wanted to keep following the trail ahead. I was getting so lost as to what I should do so instead of milling it over anymore and waiting for daylight I got up. I cleared the firepit for any hot coals and then headed up the trail. The morning was cloudy, but the temperature felt perfect, maybe around fifty above, and not a lick of wind.  I was walking and kept looking at the map.  I noticed about five miles up the trail there was a hand drawn cabin or shack drawn in, it wasn't on the map before, at least I didn't think it was. All I knew is if I keep up this path I should be there by mid to late afternoon. My mind started to wander again.  I started thinking of the letter I had read from the lady named Lynn.  I didn’t know how or why but I felt like I knew her.  It's like I can imagine her voice or the way her dress sounded as it brushed against the floor as she walked. I knew the color of her hair by the lock I had found earlier, then remembered pulling it out when I was in that other place. I stopped and reached in my pocket but it……

The Invisible Trail by Roy Klipping Chapter 19

 

Chapter 19 

What felt like second that had passed, my eyes opened and for a second, I thought I was nestled in my bed back home.  It didn't take long for my eyes to focus though and my mind started remembering where I was. I laid there for a little while then sat up and crawled my way out of the tent, stood up, and stretched.  I was still feeling kind of tired and thought I must have only dozed off for a few minutes.  I looked up to see where the sun was, but it was cloudy out, so it was hard to tell. It almost looked like the sun was about to set but something was off, because where I think it was looking west maybe it wasn't west after all. I remember a trick my grandpa told me when I was around eight years old. He said if I ever got lost in the woods and wanted to go in a straight line all I’d have to do is look at the base of any tree. He said the moss that grows around the trunk will be the highest on the North side of the tree and he was right.  My brother and I always used to be in the woods back home and I have used this little trick a few times. I walked over to a group of good size pines and checked where the moss was highest. Several of them were all the same so I was pretty sure that I knew where north was, and it was exactly where I had thought it was. I looked back up to the sky and realized it was morning and not going into evening like I had thought.  Puzzled I scratched my head and then looked around, just to get my bearings or something.  I just brushed it off that I must have just slept right through the late afternoon and night. I guess I was tired and emotionally exhausted as well. I walked over to my tent and tore it down and rolled it up, then tied it to my backpack.  I put the satchel inside it and then grabbed the map.  As I started to look it over, the trails were still gone from the map, except for the ones leading North by Northwest. I just wanted to head back but everything behind me was as if it had never seen another person and it sure didn't have a trail.  I thought about following the river back and I could have pretty easily but something inside of me wanted to keep following the trail ahead. I was getting so lost as to what I should do so instead of milling it over anymore and waiting for daylight I got up. I cleared the firepit for any hot coals and then headed up the trail. The morning was cloudy, but the temperature felt perfect, maybe around fifty above, and not a lick of wind.  I was walking and kept looking at the map.  I noticed about five miles up the trail there was a hand drawn cabin or shack drawn in, it wasn't on the map before, at least I didn't think it was. All I knew is if I keep up this path I should be there by mid to late afternoon. My mind started to wander again.  I started thinking of the letter I had read from the lady named Lynn.  I didn’t know how or why but I felt like I knew her.  It's like I can imagine her voice or the way her dress sounded as it brushed against the floor as she walked. I knew the color of her hair by the lock I had found earlier, then remembered pulling it out when I was in that other place. I stopped and reached in my pocket but it……

The Invisible Trail by Roy Klipping Chapter 18

 

Chapter 18 

Jumping all over the place, thinking every scenario possible, I realized how crazy this whole thing was.  I closed the bag of flour or whatever it was and then stood back up then looked all around and realized the spot where I had walked through was still there. 

Hesitant on what I was going to do, I found myself walking toward the blurry area.  I took one more look around and then stepped forward.  When I did everything turned dark, and without as much of a thought I found myself standing next to a camp fire.  I glanced all around and saw that I was back at my campsite, and my tent and back pack were just as I left them.  

Relieved for some reason but still half in a daze I started to look all around. I noticed something… the sun was up and the way it looked it was around two or three in the afternoon. I turned and looked back towards the blurry area but it wasn't there anymore.  I just stood there in almost like a trance, not really understanding what just happened.  

After a few minutes I made my way over to my backpack. As I reached down I noticed my hands. They were mine again! I mean they weren't weathered or older looking now and my clothes were mine again.  I shook my head and closed my eyes for a second, then opened them. Thank God, I thought.  I am back to being me again.  

I started to go over everything that had just happened. Was I dreaming all this?  Maybe falling out of the tree had me all messed up. As it went through my mind about the tree I remembered that I had lost my watch, so I walked over to the big pine and looked everywhere but it just wasn't there. I even looked up and down the tree in case it had hooked a branch when I fell. Giving up on that, I went back over to my back pack, and opened it up.  Crazy as it sounds I was feeling hungry and I had some snacks and water in there.  I was also feeling pretty tired too and before I knew it I had crawled in my tent and closed my eyes..

The Invisible Trail by Roy Klipping Chapter 17

Chapter 17 

….. a noise just off to the side of me and as I turned toward the sound, I could see something that looked very large in the shadows just below the tree line. I slowly folded up the letter and map and placed it back inside the satchel then stood up trying to be as quiet as possible.  My eyes were focused on the dark spot and I wasn't about to take my eyes off of it either.  I stood there for a few minutes and then shouted, " Who is there? " When I did that, I saw it move but no one said anything back.  I hollered back again, “Hello there!” “I am not here to mess with any of your things.” “I think I'm lost and am trying to figure out where I am." Again, the shadow moved but didn't say anything. My eyes focused harder and the more I looked at it the more I could see the shape better. I took a few steps closer and when I did, I heard the sound of a horse. I stepped closer and closer but moving cautiously because I wasn't sure if it was a horse or if it's owner was with.  As I got closer the horse shook its head up and down and then stepped closer toward me. It was as if it knew me or at least it wasn't scared.  I held out my hand and it walked right up to me and put his nose in the palm of my hand.  He had a halter on but no brace or bit in its mouth.  I grabbed the reins and then walked him closer to the camp. When I did that I could see it had a saddle with a couple bags tied on the back part of the saddle. I stood there looking back into the shadows of the woods thinking all along that soon whoever owned the horse, and this camp site would be coming back. I must have waited a good twenty minutes, but no one came so I started to take a closer look at the horse and what he was carrying. The horse was a grayish color with spots of black mixed throughout its body.  I was thinking when it gets light out, I bet he’s a beauty.  then I made my way to the bags that were tied on the saddle.  I untied one of them and pulled it off the horse and set it on the ground, then did the same to the other one. As I did that the horse looked back at me and I almost felt like it was wondering what I was doing. I chuckled and then gave it a pat on its back side and said, " Don't worry I'm not going to steal anything. I knelt and untied the first pack and opened it up and looked inside. I could see there were some smaller leather bags inside of the bigger one, so I reached in and took one out and opened it up to see what was in it. As I reached inside, I could feel something soft like baby powder or something and when I pulled my hand out of the bag it was white. Not knowing what it was I put it up to my nose and then stuck my tongue and tasted it. I wasn't one hundred percent sure, but I think it was flour. That's when my mind jumped back to the letter I had read. I remember reading that she had asked for James to bring back flour. Could this be what this was?  Is this his horse? Did he maybe fall off or get hurt and was laying somewhere?  My mind was…………