Doug Deeson's musings

He stood at the trail head, the valley stretched out before him, a sea of trees that seemed to stretch on forever. He couldn’t see an open field, nor a large stream where he’d had such a momentous afternoon. Just trees.  Looking down the path before him he could see it slope down into the green shaded bower that the valley represented. And he could feel the draw, the need to follow that path.  The tug, stronger now that he was here, urging him onward, almost pulling him down the trail. He’d packed as he did for most of his hikes, a large collapsible tripod, selfie stick, coffee supplies, these were always in his go bag, along with clean socks and underwear, some snacks.  The pack was heavy, but it was all that he’d need for his time in the woods. He stood at the trail head, lost in his thoughts, he stared, unseeing, out across the valley. His focus, or lack of it, shifted and he stared down the path, without thinking, he took a step, then another. Unconsciously he proce...

 We’d had a little spat that morning, nothing crazy, just one of those things couples get into, but I left angry.  My anger didn’t last long, and I realized how trivial the whole thing had been, and at my first work break, I was ready to call and apologize.  But Jack called first.  He was still mad and said that we needed to talk.  We were both working, but he asked if I could swing by his work and discuss this morning.   I said I could. “Could you be here, around 1? I have a staff meeting at 2 and want this off my chest before I meet with my team?” he asked. “Sure, I’ll be there at one,” I said, and we disconnected. Work was work that morning and I left about 12:30 for the short drive to his workplace I arrived a few minutes before one and wandered through the store, saying hey to the few people I knew.   I got a few knowing looks and nods from a couple of them, as well, even though I was sure that they were wrong, given the icy day we’d been ...

I wake up the next morning and I’m kind of amazed that he’s still laying there by my side.   All 5’11” of his lean frame stretched out in my bed.   I lean on my arm and admire him for just a few moments, let my finger trace his bicep as he sleeps and then just glide across his chest.   But it’s morning and nature calls.   I get up and take care of that business, brush my teeth and splash some water on my face.   When I come out of the bathroom, he’s laying on the bed, left arm tucked behind his head, his hairy pit, on display, his bicep gently flexed.   There’s a smile in his eyes and I could fall into those things for days.   “You started something, before you went to the bathroom,” he says, and the smile spreads from his eyes to his lips.   Such a bright shinning smile.   I climb back into bed and lay across his torso, and I know he can feel my weight settle across him, as I stare into those beautiful eyes. I begin lowering my head slowly...