Friday, March 7, 2014

TALES FROM THE BAYOU: It's Time For The Witching Hour






It's hard being the baby of the family. Especially when the only playmates you're allowed to have is your own sibling and she's four years older than you. When I was just learning to walk Janet was getting ready to start school. When I was entering high school Janet was graduating and about to make her mark on the world. My whole childhood I had a path laid out before me by footsteps larger than my own. All I had to do was step into them. 

So I did.

I don't think my sister ever realized how much I looked up to her. How much I admired her fire, her drive, her spirit to follow her own dreams without regard to the consequences. She was outgoing and had friends and I could never understand how she did it. The mere fact she took pity on a terribly shy kid so much younger than she and played many a toddler game when she really would rather have been climbing trees with our older brother put her on a pedestal in my eyes.

There was a bond forged in those younger years that carries over to today and can never be broken. Too many amateur singing engagements, entertaining the pretend troops listening from the grass in our front yard as we strutted our stuff down the sidewalk. Too many tea parties on the front porch where Janet pretended to like playing with her younger sister when she could have been curled up somewhere with a good book.

But it was the game we played on our back steps which holds a special place in my memories. I'm sure Janet was the one who created the game but the Witching Hour was a way to be transported to a magical place outside the realm of our otherwise sad existence. As we laid on those steps and conjured up a world of witches and warlocks, we began our training in storytelling which I know is the foundation of all I am able to do as a writer today.

I can't tell you how the game was played or even how long we would allow the magic to swirl around us but I DO remember how special it made me feel. For one solitary moment in my childhood I could be as brave as my big sister and slay the demons in front of me. No, I'm sure Janet never realized back then how much it meant to me to have her take the time to hang out with me.

But now she does...



8 comments:

  1. For us, the Witching Hour was just before it began to get dark.I think those cold concrete steps were the portal into that magical realm. Why not end the day with a little fantasy? And I always thought you were just putting up with me. I didn't know you liked my company so much, you little weirdie.

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    1. Hi Janet! I THOUGHT we played that game just before dark but I couldn't remember for sure. I don't even remember the details...I just remember how much fun it was! And you were the best playmate I had...wait...you were the ONLY playmate I had! ;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  2. Awwww....... that is sooooo cute! You were so lucky to have a big sister like that Donna. I on the other hand was the oldest and only girl. Hence, I had to lead by example, looked after the boys, being mother, literally! Changing nappies to putting up with hair pulling etc... brothers' sheesh! :)

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    1. Hi Diane! Janet and I always said it was us against the world...and for a long time it was...

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  3. *mutters something about sibling* Glad you guys had fun together! :)

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    1. Lol, Erik, we had our occasional moments of head butting but for the most part we got along rather well ...;-)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  4. Hi Donna ... I don't remember sitting down with my brothers and playing stories ... we played forever out in the garden .. and climbed trees, which we were fortunate to have ... and played games .. but what lovely memories .. and the fact the two of you can interact now and remember different snippets ...

    Daydreaming Witching Hour stories .. lovely to think about .. I'd love to visit one day! Cheers Hilary

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    1. Hi Hilary! Remember Janet is 4 years older than I am so she had a chance to have more memories of that time than I have...but there are some memories that are clearer for me than her...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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