The Game Of Life

By bjaybrooks on
Children playing on a school playground, including children using a wheelchair swing
Children of all abilities enjoy an energetic afternoon of play and friendship at Hillside Elementary School.

So here we are as August closes its doors. The DuQuoin State Fair opens Friday night and runs through Labor Day. We are heading into the BER Months. My favorite time of year. Vertigo is playing on Turner Classic Movies, followed by Rear Window. Hitchcock Movies for fall. The feel of fall is not quite with us. Too hot. That will change. It always does. The days are shorter and the nights longer. Time for reflection around the campfire. Ghost Stories, Frankenstein, Wolfman, Dracula. Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman. Getting old, feeling young. The wine of life seems sweeter each year. ‘It is the little things…kid,’ Neva J often said.

Comic scene with text: “STORY NIGHT AT FIREFLY CAMP,” “FALL CAMPFIRE GATHERING,” “And then...,” “Hahaha!,” and “CRACKLE!”
Friends and fantastical campers gather around a crackling fire beneath an autumn night sky.

Chapters we experience. We looked to the old ones to be our mentors; now we are the old ones. We live life as if it were War and Peace when it is a short story. Diving into the plot in the first chapter. The resolution of the theme, the big ending, may be before page 100. Each of us has a certain ending that makes our moments precious. Courage is magnified by the small time we have. Looking for a City is our credo.

Lives Unfolding as a short story: Beginnings—“We’re finally here, Leo!”, “Our first home!”, “In the beginning, we move in...”; Rhythm—“Morning, neighbors! Plants are lovely.”, “Always good to see you, Mrs. H!”, “...finding our flow, meeting others.”; Dreams—“Some chase dreams next door...” ; Moments—“...sharing small moments that bond us.”; Changes—“City, here I come! Bye everyone!”, “People move on, times change.”; Continuance—“They remind me of us back then...”, “...and life quietly continues. The story unfolds.”
This illustrated short story follows neighbors through moving, dreams, change, connection, and the quiet continuation of life.

We introverts sit silent in the tumult. Words change things. ‘A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.’ Harsh words divide us; words of peace unite us. As children, we loved everyone we met. Color or belief, money or political affiliation meant nothing. We opened our eyes to a gift. We could play and laugh, hope and dream. What a game life was. A ride on the Carousel at the State Fair. Pretty lights. Cotton Candy. Swapping stories and wondering how we got to this place…first we were not suddenly here we are. What a hoot, what a kick, a miracle. We had no special pass, no VIP designation. Life is better than a movie at the Orpheum Theatre!

Illustrated gratitude festival with dancing crowd, live band, lanterns, and text: GRATITUDE; GRATITUDE FEST!; THANKFUL!; CELEBRATE LIFE!; HA!; YAHOO!; HAHAHA!; THANK YOU!; GRATITUDE!; HAHA! THIS THE BEST!; CELEBRATE!; DANCE!; BEST NIGHT EVER!; SO HAPPY!; THANK YOU SO MUCH OH, HAPPY DAYS!; SO MUCH TO BE GRATEFUL FOR!; WOW! I AM SO BLESSED!
A joyful outdoor festival brings people together through music, dancing, and shared gratitude.

‘Some of our sheep friends look like their skin is rumpled,’ Larry Lamb said. ‘They speak louder than the rest of us and promise fantastic things if we follow them,’ Larry L continued. ‘A chicken in every pot and two cars in every garage,’ Larry L laughed. ‘The other day I saw one of the loquacious speakers take his sheep’s head off, revealing he is a wolf with a wide menacing grin,’ Larry L continued. ‘When the Wolf in sheep’s clothing saw me watching him, we winked and smiled,’ Larry L said with concern.

Comic text: “4,” “Don’t worry, I’m one of you!,” “Wink!,” “?,” “LARRY,” and “Wait a minute... Is that a wolf in sheep’s clothing?!”
A suspicious sheep realizes that a seemingly friendly companion is actually a wolf in disguise.

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