May 5, 2014
That's the Way the Ball Blows, er Bounces

Once upon a time a little girl owned a beautiful pink ball.  To her it was the prettiest thing she had ever seen, and was adorned with all manner of pretty little girlie decorations.  Many delightful hours were spent bouncing the ball – thwack, it would softly hit the sidewalk and gently bounce back up to her waiting hands. There was something magical about that beautiful bouncy orb.

The ball had once lived in a towering cage in the middle of the supermarket aisle, and every time the girl went to the store with her parents she begged them to buy her a bright, shiny ball.  But the answer was always "no".  One day, for some reason or other,  her dream came true and her mother finally said “yes”!  Of course the little girl chose the biggest, brightest ball in the upper most spot of the display case.  It was no easy fete to retrieve that special toy but once in hand, the magic began.

As is wont to happen, that lovely ball  one day took on a life of its own when the prairie winds turned up a notch to near-hurricane force.  And like that, it was gone (with the wind). 

My thoughts turned to those memories the other day when fierceful winds struck yet again in the area this spring.  Lodged under the car was found a lovely bouncy ball, all bedecked in princess, girlie graphics.  The ball had stolen unknowingly from some youngster's care and darted down the street in reckless abandon by those breezes. Hard to say from where the ball originated and with the gale force winds in these parts, it could have come from far and beyond.  

The forlorn toy seemed in dire need of an owner. There it sat, unneeded, unloved and alone.  

But alas, one day, along came a little lass in search of a ball.  And so it was to pass, this little darling came to be the new owner of a beautiful bouncy ball.  Finders keepers, what's old is new again, or something like that.  The little girl walked away, ball in hand, and a smile on her face.  

Oh such a simple joy to behold!!  The motto of this tale is, hold fast to your dreams. For the winds are a force to be reckoned with.  And if you lose hold, never fear, for the joy you have lost will surely fill someone else's heart to the brim.