Someone's shed door near Conception Bay, Newfoundland

© Christine Mastroianni, all rights reserved

I am walking down the gravel path, feeling tiny pebbles wavering under my sandals but otherwise I am weightless. The air is almost suspended, just barely caressing my skin with a slightest hint of a breeze. The sun feels warm on my shoulders but I am not looking up to see if there are clouds in the sky today. I am thinking.. pondering.. imagining.. as I methodically step forward, one foot in front of the other, my gaze sliding ahead with each step to watch for the next spot to be occupied by my foot. My breath is slow and rhythmic as I let ideas randomly ripple across my mind, placing no real importance on any one of them, just letting them swirl.

My trance is gently interrupted by an energetic dragonfly that is flitting about in pursuit of a little winged morsel. I cease my ramble and pause as my eyes follow its erratic path through the sunny afternoon. It settles onto a tall blade of feathery grass, and in a moment is off again, in search of the next adventure. I decide to imagine that it is feeling content and pleased with its life, because that is how I feel as well, as I saunter down the gravel path on this quiet island afternoon.