I have been thinking about a time when I was quite young.  I was running the neighborhood with a couple of pals, and we decided to pick flowers.  Mostly from people’s yards.

It really wasn’t my wish, and I am not sure it got my vote.  I can’t remember picking any flowers in fact.  Instead, I was preoccupied with looking for really good rocks in those flower beds.

Thankfully, I think.  When Miss Knuge came out of her house screaming at these three ruffians, I was empty handed.  It probably saved my butt.  However, I believe my counterparts were scolded quite harshly by their parental units.

Nevertheless, I loved rocks when I was a kid.  I had them all over the place in the backyard.  I snuck them into my room when I could. My pockets were always filled with them.

I  haven’t changed in that way, at all.  Yesterday, at a party, I had a long and involved conversation with someone about our love for rocks.  There is a constant quest in my life… always looking for that “great” rock whenever I am… welllll…..  anywhere at all.

Why do I love rocks so?  I am not sure. Why do people like refrigerator magnets, or glass figurines, thimbles, beer can collections, or fancy spoons?  We are drawn to different likes and interests…. because our brains are different.  Thank goodness for that, I’ll tell you.

We do what we do… because we each have our own way here.  Our own path… our own road we travel.  We make our steps along the way… by what is in our heads, and our hearts, and our souls.

Back to the rocks.  For me, it isn’t so much about “collecting” something.  It is more about the way that particular rock makes me feel.  I think some are beautiful, while others are mysterious.  Some look mean.  Oh, it goes on.

These days, I surround myself with rocks. They are in our house, in our landscaping, and anywhere else I can manage to put them.

I am drawn to them, with such an interesting force.  It could be their slower molecular pulse.   Maybe. You see… their motion is operating at a much lower frequency.  Perhaps…. they help me to slow down… especially when my pockets are filled with them and I am walking uphill.

“Be curious, not judgmental.” — Walt Whitman

“Each of us inevitable; / Each of us limitless—each of us with his or her right upon the earth.” — Walt Whitman

“Not I, nor anyone else can travel that road for you. / You must travel it by yourself. / It is not far. It is within reach. / Perhaps you have been on it since you were born, and did not know. / Perhaps it is everywhere — on water and land.” — Walt Whitman

“Do anything, but let it produce joy.”  — Walt Whitman