Today was one of those days.  One of the days you wish you could bury yourself in a hole and not come back out until the sun comes out and the storm has passed without any more damage.

Today I learned several important lessons...

1. When the spring on the garage door breaks (which happened this morning with my car stuck in it), both must be replaced.  Apparently this is due to tensioning on the springs.  It makes logical sense when you really think about how a garage door opener works.
2. Some people just do not have a back bone and do not deserve their role in this life.
3. Prioritization and plans do not work for everyone
4. I have grown as a person and have more patience and more diplomacy than I thought.

Live and learn my friends...

Trust if you dare

I sit, listening to the piano playing on my iPod, dreaming dreams that never were; day dreams.  I have day dreams all the time.  So often, it can be hard to tell what's real and what's artificial.  I like it that way.  Although, it makes concentrating a little difficult.

Today I was day dreaming, thinking about Trust. 

What is trust?  To me, it's that feeling in the pit of your stomach or the depths of your heart - the one you believe in no matter what. 

What makes me trust someone?  Experience and gut feeling. 

Is that what makes everyone trust?  I don't know, but I am definitely a little more leery of trust than others. 

Why?  Well, people are selfish in nature and tend to be self gratifying.  Which makes them less trustworthy in my mind.  I will give anyone the benefit of doubt, but I still hold back at least a little (self preservation).

Part of learning to live is learning to trust.  If you can't trust someone, then there's probably a reason.  Look at the real reason and ask yourself if it's worth not trusting them.  Think hard.  Not trusting someone can cost you.  Not trusting yourself can cost you more.

Live to learn my friends.

Jameson's Quest Part 2

Waiting is better.  It wasn't right to risk everyone's lives.

Cynthia, I need you here tonight.  I don't want the family to know what we're doing.  Come after everyone has gone home.  I'll ask Sandra to take Connie to our place.

Why?

I have the ring, map, and Aunt Josie's hiding place.  We need to move fast.  He'll know I have everything we need to banish him before he decides to come after us.

I'll be there.

Returning to the women, Jameson could see she hadn't missed much.  A few more self assurances for Sandra and drinks all around.  Everything was winding down for the evening.  Several people got up to leave.

In a hushed whisper, Jameson told Sandra she had better stay at her and Cynthia's place for the evening.  With sad eyes, Sandra nodded.  She didn't want to see another family member die from him, but she couldn't get involved either.

After everyone left, Cynthia appeared at the front door.

Jameson was relieved to see her twin.  "Thank you for coming, we need to get the other part of the map tonight.  He's too close."

"Sis, you know you only need to ask and I'll be with you."

Even though they were identical, Cynthia and Jameson were still fairly different.  Jameson was sporty, but Cynthia had a ballerina's grace.  Cynthia enjoyed meditation while Jameson enjoyed kickboxing. Cynthia enjoyed reading books, and Jameson enjoyed watching movies.  Cynthia could see any future that wasn't her's or Jameson's.  Jameson could levitate objects.

Both could push thoughts into people's heads, which was why they were able to talk without speaking.  Together they were strongest.  Together, they had the best chance at defeating Nazar.

Nazar had been born many centuries ago.  Back when magic wasn't a superstition, it was a part of life.  Nazar had killed many people and recked havoc on many villages across the globe.  Then he met Alexandria and Eva, the last set of Cartwright twins born nearly 500 years ago.   Together the twins took Nazar's talisman and banished him to the netherworld.  But were unable to destroy the talisman.

Nazar waited for his chance to return to Earth.  He knew that while there were no Cartwright twins on Earth, he wouldn't be able to find the talisman.  Alexandria and Eva had made sure of that.  So he waited, patiently.  Waited until he saw Cynthia and Jameson looking for the talisman. 

Jameson and Cynthia walked expectantly toward their childhood bedroom.  Both waiting to feel the energy that would shift before Nazar appeared.  Both knew he wouldn't arrive until after they had located the talisman.  Inside the bedroom, Jameson showed Cynthia the double spacer.

"Why didn't we see this before?  We lived in here.  We searched this whole room."

"Sandra said we weren't meant to until we were ready.  There was a cloak put on it many years ago.  They foresaw Nazar coming back for his talisman.  They had to protect it's location."

"We better seal the room, before we go up there."

Both women drew their wands.  They made a line around the doorway and whispered the sealing enchantment.  They weren't worried about Nazar tonight.  The map wasn't what he was after, but it never hurt to be careful.

With a quick glance and simultaneous nod of the head.  Jameson and Cynthia joined hands and spoke the words they knew would be the beginning of an adventure they weren't sure they would come away from alive. 

"Aperi letho jani"

The beginning of Jameson's Quest

Part 1

Walking down the darkened neighborhood street in the moonless night, it was easy to see how someone could be afraid of this time of night.  Even with the street lights lit, there was something erie about a street that was built during the early 1920's. 

Jameson  Cartwright was not scared.  She knew she could protect herself in a way other people would find frightening.  Magic was within her; her wand was conveniently strapped to her back and Cynthia (her twin) was a 'call' away if needed.

Stopping at the familiar blue with white trim cape cod style house, an unknowing person would picture this house as the perfect family style house.  However, Jameson could see the inside was not what a normal person would call ideal. 

Looking through the large picture window in the front, Jameson noted there was a familial argument brewing.  Jameson couldn't help but wonder if she should really stop?  It is mother's day, but her mother wasn't inside.  Her mother was far far away.

Jameson paused at the red door, listening for clues to her future if she were to go inside.  Sandra was inside, crying about her recent divorce.  Sandra's ex-husband, Randy, was the normal type of cheating bastard.  It was only made complicated by the recent delivery of their child, Connie.  Sandra wanted Connie to grow up in a happy family.  Who wouldn't?

All the other family members were trying to console Sandra.  Nope, this was very normal for Jameson's family.  Tonight would be like any other night in the Cartwright household.

Not bothering to knock, Jameson walked inside the front door, removed her jacket, and suppressing a shiver, joined the rest of the family.  Happy Mother's Day wishes were exchanged all around.  Jameson thought this was a silly custom, but didn't feel the need to cause any extra stress by stating so today.

Jameson strategically took a seat at the end of the table, all the while thinking about how she could get Sandra alone for a few minutes.  Jameson was here for a specific reason, and she needed answers.  Answers that Sandra would be the most likely to provide.  The others would worry too much about the why's behind the questions.

Placing her hand on Sandra's, Jameson put forth the necessary energy and requested to speak with Sandra in private.  Sandra looked shocked, she could feel the energy and knew what this was about.  She had been expecting Jameson to bring it up sooner or later, but she didn't think tonight was a good night with all the other family members around.

Silently, Jameson and Sandra rose from the table and walked down to Sandra and Connie's temporary bedroom.  The same bedroom Jameson had once shared with Cynthia.

"I need the ring and the map." Jameson stated point blank.

"You know, it won't do you any good to be looking for that treasure.  We searched this house when we were kids.  We never found anything.  Why do you want it now?  Is it because of the dreams?  Is it because of him?  He can't hurt you if you don't have the treasure."

Jameson had gone through this argument many times before she came tonight, and she knew tonight she would win.  She would get what she needed.  "The dreams showed me where we went wrong.  The bathroom was the right place to start, we just looked at it all wrong.  The bathroom was remodeled, so the map needs to be looked at differently.  Plus, your mom's secret hideout is more important than I ever thought.  There's more to the map there.  I don't want you to get involved.  You have a child now.  He won't come after you if I get the talisman.  I'm the only one who can stop him.  You know the stories say so."

"Fine, you can have the ring and the map, but that's all.  You're right, I can't be involved.  Not with Connie so young.  I won't leave her without a mother and a father."  The tears escaped her already red-rimmed eyes and flowed silently down her cheeks.

"Connie will be fine Sandra.  You know there's no reason to worry.  Cynthia has seen your child's future and it is good.  Find solace in that.  I also need one other thing, before you return to our family.  I need to know where your mom's secret hiding place was."

Sandra looked up at the ceiling.  Jameson's eyes followed.  On the ceiling, Jameson noticed something she had been too young to notice before.  There were two spacers between one tile.  Why hadn't she ever noticed that.  "Why am I seeing this now?  Why did you have it cloaked?"

"You weren't ready before.  You can't see it until you are ready.  I didn't cloak it.  Our great grandmother did.  I need to get back to the family.  Take as much time as you need, but be careful.  You could summon him here just by looking for the talisman."

How long had Sandra known and hadn't said anything?  Why did she hold these secrets?  Jameson and Cynthia were foretold to have more strength together than any of their foremothers.  Hadn't they already proved they were strong?  Could they not talk to each other telepathically?  Were they not moving objects and casting spells since they were 5?

Jameson sat and pondered the double spacer and what lies above.  Should she go up there now?  She really should have Cynthia with her.

End of Part 1

Dream Additions

I've been told that my dreams can be rather interesting at times and I should write them down.  Well, I do write them down in a dream journal, but I've been thinking about adding some of the more interesting ones here.

From now on, you will see an occasional dream.  I will distinguish the dreams by calling my dream self 'Jameson'.  Note: any real people will be given new names in my dreams in order to protect their and my privacy.