Cricket Walker

You are the kind of friend that only comes along once in a lifetime.

You know the good, the bad, and the ugly about me, and you still put up with me anyway, because we are friends.

We share tears during heartbreaks, words of encouragement during challenging times, and above all we share laughter.

Even now, as I look back at all the hilarious stories you have told me, they still make me laugh until my cheeks hurt.

You have never been afraid to tell me when I have done a good job, nor to tell me straight up when I am being stupid.

You just tell me how it is.

Lord, we have played so many late night games of online pool, just to keep us sane when life was threatening to overwhelm us.

Have you ever admitted to a single soul how often I win?

When Haley goes through those times of wanting to rebel against the system, lashing out in anger and crying tears of frustration, you talk to her for hours and always end up singing Skippppppppy for her, never failing to bring a smile back to her face.

When y’all are done talking, she gets that silly grin and reminds me that Mikey said I needed to buy her Doritos and Skittles.

You have always been there for the friends in your life, giving all you have to give, expecting nothing in return. Once I asked you why you had done something for us, something we did not ask you for. Your response was so simple - because we are family.

You cannot explain friendship like that. It just is.

We miss you so very much Mikey.

Please get well soon.

We were gonna spend the day doing a photo shoot, but . . .

Sometimes, ya just have to take time to play.

Hang on for dear life, and enjoy the laugh.

Dang! It is harder to climb these than I remember!

This little girls seems to be explaining to Haley that there is a much easier way to climb to the top.

I think that little kid just kicked me off the monkey bars!

Ya still have to stop to take time for phones calls.

Smelling the flowers . . .

And eventually . . .

A nap in the afternoon sun.

Sometimes life throws us a few curves, like the wind picking up when we are simply trying to get a drink of water.

Instead of giving up, block the wind, and take a drink anyway.

When I saw the look on her face, with a camera in her hands, I recognized the feeling immediately. She was lost in another world.

I am never going to get my camera back, am I?

It was clear from the start that she was completely at ease with a camera in her hands, almost as if it were a part of her.

For the next several hours, I never saw her without the camera in front of her face, concentrating on the world through her lens.

Unless of course, she was walking away, looking for the next shot.

Since I already had 347 shots of the back of her head, I thought I might as well wander off and find a shot of my own. (I figured she had to run out of memory or battery power sooner or later.)

I grabbed a quick shot of some of our flooding around here. I love the way the creek drops off, making a miniature waterfall. One of these days I will get better at water shots, but it sure aint gonna be today.

All of the sudden, the kid decides to grace me with a look at her face and a cute lil grin. What did I do to deserve it? I’m a great mom?

Nope! She was about out of natural light and battery power.

You won’t be seeing the pictures Haley takes here on my blog. She wants her own domain to post pictures and stuff she writes.

How did I know that was going to happen?

Sometimes, no words are needed . . .

Running into the wind, the sun setting on my back
tears blurring the winding trail beneath my feet
hoping I can run hard enough this time
to escape from what, I do not know

My pulse pounding in my ears
drowning out every thought
but not the emptiness

Wondering how far I have to run
before it all begins to subside
afraid it is me I am running from

The sweat pours down my face
gasping for air, for one little breath
searing pain races through my muscles
reminding me I am still alive

Craving peace and tranquility in my life
praying God will send an angel to my soul
to put all the broken pieces back together

Then I see it there
one little dandelion
just defying the wind
daring me to make a wish

Sometimes I see the world in black and white, with huge looming challenges blocking my view of the world.

Soon though, I see the guardrail keeping me safe, keeping me from wandering too close to the edge.

Then the storms begin to clear . . .

And once again, I can see the beauty all around me.

Well, we were gonna see some great shots of Haley sweet talking the new spring calves, but she appears to be a bit preoccupied right now.

So, while Haley is busy texting, let’s take a peek at these gorgeous geese. Okay, I am just a Southern girl, so maybe I have missed something here. Are those Canadian Geese?

Are they lost? Or, do they instinctively prefer life in the South too?

Yup, Haley is still preoccupied but we get this great shot of her knee in her favorite old jeans. Can anyone tell me why we pay so much for jeans that the kids are just gonna rip up?

We had to make a quick stop to visit the horses Haley met last week because she PROMISED she would be back to visit.

As soon as we pulled up they came running in from the field as if the recognized her. She had to take time to sweet talk each and every one of them before she was ready to move on.

So, how did they manage to capture her undivided attention?

The cell phone seems to be out of her thoughts as hunger sets in. Yup, if ya want to get a Southern girl’s attention, just mention barbeque and she will drop most anything.

Except maybe her cell phone. Lord have mercy, hasn’t that battery gone dead yet? How does she do that so fast? It takes me 20 minutes to find the letters to text message 3 words!

Wouldn’t it just be easier to TALK on the cell? Should I be worried when the text messages start making her grin like this?

Okay kid! Close the dang phone, put it down, and let me see you smile. This will only take 5 seconds. I promise!

All that text messaging on a warm Spring day leads to a quick change in hairstyles. How can such a messy ponytail look so dang cute?

Does she still seem preoccupied?

107 text messages later, we had an incredible day!

Huh Haley? What do you mean you aint in the mood to have your picture taken today? What am I gonna take a picture of in the middle of Batesville, Mississippi for heaven sake? A dang water water spigot?

Awwww… C’mon! Just one picture?

Nope, forget it Mom. It aint a picture taking kind of day.

Okay fine. How about a Starbucks Coffee sign? Oh wait a minute. Lord have mercy they are open, let’s go have some coffee!

Okay kid, you leave me no option but to call this day Grab Bag Day Friday Photos, cuz now I am taking pictures of an open sign.

How stupid is that?

Okay wait a sec, I kinda like this lil baby bloom starting on this tree.

Ya know I still wonder about this railroad crossing signal. Have you ever seen a train come through here? Nope? Me neither.

Okay, I may have reached my limit on pictures of train tracks.

Ya know what Haley? This lil pavilion would sure look better if there was SOMEONE in it! Like YOU maybe?

Never mind … This bird is begging to have his picture taken.

Okay this picture sucks, but this lil guy was a zillion feet over my head on the highline wire and he was singing at the top of his lungs.

If ya keep looking back, you are gonna run into something in front of ya. Be aware of what is behind ya, but keep your focus forward.

It’s true. The very best things in life, really are free.

If you try to explain to the officer that the light was NOT red, it was just a little pink, he is gonna crack up laughing, but he is still gonna give ya the ticket. The judge isn’t gonna fall for it either, so ya might
as well go ahead and pay the stupid fine.

When the water is cold, sometimes ya just gotta close your eyes and jump in or you are gonna get stuck watching everyone else have fun.

Laugh more often, especially at the stupid things in life.

Someone once told me that the definition for insanity can be found in doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results. I do my best to keep this in mind with everything I do.

If you are going to love someone, do so with your whole heart.

It is easier to find tranquility in your heart if you live your life by the serenity prayer. Change the things ya can. Forget the things ya can’t change, and make dang sure ya know the difference between the two so ya don’t waste a lot of time.

Some people just weren’t meant to be city folks.

Hey look y’all! Humans! What do ya suppose they want? Oh crap. One of them has a camera. I bet the dang kid is gonna try to pet us.

Yup! What did I tell ya. Hey! She is kinda cute though!

This blond kid aint the sharpest knife in the drawer, is she? This is like her 100th trip back and forth bringing us dried out grass. Doesn’t she realize we have a whole field of it over here?

Yeah, well the grass is a bit greener over there.

Look how the cool blond kid tricks our brown buddy.

She just keeps on talking to him while she reaches her arm over to sneak us some food too. I wonder if she can teach him to share?

C’mon kid, don’t make me stretch for a little dried out grass.

Am I not the most beautiful mare you have seen in a long time?
I really should be on the cover of a magazine. 

Yeah, keep it coming kid. We are starting to like all the attention.

Any chance I can sneak a little kiss from ya kid?

Hey, the weird camera lady wants us to look at her. Doesn’t she realize the cute blond kid has the food?

Okay fine, we’ll look at ya, but we don’t have to like it. It sure would have been nice if you would have brushed the mud off our faces first.

What the heck is that? It’s a what? You can’t be serious!

Oh my goodness! The gorgoeus mare is a stallion???

Hey kid! Camera Lady! Y’all aint leaving us, are ya?

Oh I really gotta check this old shack out. It’s not like trespassing or anything Mom. The fence was already down.

C’mon! Where’s your sense of adventure? You aren’t scared are ya?

Okay, so maybe it is a bit darker in here than I was expecting it to be.

Hey! Let’s check out the deer stand. Ya think there is anything in it?

What am I gonna do if the sheriff shows up? Is that what you asked me? Well first I am gonna bat my long eyelashes at him . . .

Then I am gonna show him my killer smile! Ya think that will work?

We’re not hunting dang it!

Okay, we may be kind of, sort of trespassing, but not hunting.

Ya know, I may be a blond, but I think someone has been hunting!

Can I finish my Caramel Macchiato now Mom? Oh wait. Too late!

Can I just finish this chapter real quick? It will only take a sec.

Okay, fine . .  I will explore for a bit.

Mom thinks I am looking for snakes, but I am really I wondering if HE is gonna call . . . (The cell phone is in my pocket just in case)

Hold on a second, the world must pause because HE is calling!

Oh yeah! I knew he would call! Okay forget the river Mom. Can we pick him up and and head to the lake? Can we Mom? Can we?

We could just sit here and talk like we are mature individuals . . .

Oh we can say to heck with it and run in the water!

Dang it JJ! You got my hair wet on purpose! Awwww Haley girl . . .

The day started out innocent enough as we headed out to one of my favorite places in the country, but then we realized we had wandered further than we had ever been, and we were pretty sure we had taken a few extra turns.

Turn left Mom. Let’s see what’s up this way!

When we came across this old train track, we had a pretty good idea that we didn’t have a clue where we were, but we were definitely in the mood to do some exploring.

Hey Mom? Where is Calhoun county?

I don’t know Haley. I have never heard of it. Why?

Well Mom, that county road sign over there says Calhoun county.

And Mom? I can’t remember the last time we saw a car.

Ruh roh . . .

I gotta get a shot of this old railroad bridge.

I can already see this old bridge in black and white, so wait a sec.

Umm . . .

Haley? Did you say Calhoun county?

Yeah Mom? I told ya we should have turned right!

Ya say what Haley??

You know dang well if ya don’t smile for the camera it’s gonna be black and white, right?

Hey now Mom! I am the one that found the train tracks!

Yeah, turn left. I remember Haley.

As soon as I mention we need a new pic for Mikey, you suddenly find a huge smile huh? I’ll remember that girl!

So Haley?

Yeah Mom?

Did we bring the cell phone?

Nope Mom. Ya said we wouldn’t need it.

Haley? Ya happen to have an idea which direction home might be?

Go straight Mom. The road has to end up somewhere eventually.

Not in Alabama though, right Haley?

Haley?

Did we happen to pass a gas station?

Young love . . .
 
It’s so sweet and innocent. Just seeing them sneak peeks at each other brings back memories of Junior High School.

Do you remember your fist kiss?
 
The problem is, that as I am taking the pictures, my brain panics.

WAIT!

This is my little girl, my baby!

Then the scene in front of me changes to this.

Omggggg! Stop looking at my baby like that!

And, in my mind’s eye I stop seeing this sweet boy next door look.

And instead, he takes on that bad boy look, as if he has put on a black leather jacket and just pulled up in the driveway on a Harley. 
 
 Lord, I really need to buy a shotgun.

C’mere . . .

Escape from the world with me for a little while

Just for the moment, shut everything out

Rest your weary eyes

Find that place in the very middle of the field

In your heart

That is where you will find me

I have been there all along, right beside you

Let me be your safe haven in the storm

C’mere sweetheart . . .