“How are you feeling today?”
“Oh, so so. Maybe we could go outside?’ I squatted beside his lounge chair and he reached for my hand. We sat, just so, for a while as he dozed off. Later, when he roused I suggested the walk again.
” Yes, yes, I do want to go out. I don’t think I can walk far.”
“No need, I’ll do the walking and you do the talking! We can use the chair.”
By the time we got to the door he was shaky. The wide granite step was in shade, or “shadow” as he so charmingly says. He sat as I rubbed his back and looked at the sky. “There are no clouds!” he proclaimed. It was true, the sky was azure blue and clear.
I bent to deadhead his wife’s riotous garden. We tried to name every variety and when we got it wrong, she called out from the breakfast table with a correction. I caught him watching me intently. Then a smile broke over his face. “Are you OK?” he asked. I grinned, stood up, and dance a little jig. Being allowed/encouraged to be silly for no reason is a gift. The chickens murmured under the apple tree. They suddenly squawked in protest when a small, hard orb crashed down on them. Newly cut hay was drying in the field. We breathed deeply together.
He dozed again as I continued my light massage; just the act of touching with no plan or remedy for his state calmed me. Slowly he awoke, twinging from a pain I can’t soothe. “There! I see a cloud!” I turned and indeed a bright, white, cotton-puff appeared from behind a massive oak. We watched as it bled itself into streamers and disappeared. Others soon drifted by, high and vaporous; they shape-shifted across the tree-tops.
A jet flew so far above it made no sound. “Where do you think it is going?” I asked.He took a minute then replied, “It doesn’t matter. Those people are seeing the clouds too, but not seeing us.”
Stealing a line from Joni Mitchell:
I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
It’s cloud illusions I recall
I really don’t know clouds at all
Therapeutic Misadventures 
Sometimes I imagine my troubles are in the clouds and as they drift away I can feel the weight lifting from me. I prefer the fluffy, cotton-ball clouds to a cloudless sky. It seems to add depth to the sky.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a wonderful way to think of clouds, Laura! Thank you!!
LikeLike
We all age, and I have to commend your friend for aging with humor and wisdom and kindness.
LikeLike
I felt like I was sitting on the granite step right beside you…. watching and listening.
LikeLike
Clouds seem to have become a rare thing this summer. It’s very dry right now, but maybe the lack of rain means he can get out more.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Allen. I thought it was just me and working so much that clouds seemed to be missing lately. Glad you noticed it too. Being out in enjoying the summer is a huge lift to his spirits, and allows me time to just take in all the sights and sounds slowly.
LikeLike
I’ve noticed because it’s so hard to take photos of flowers in bright sunshine. It seems like that’s all I’ve done all summer. Not a cloud in sight!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t get out enough!
LikeLike
That line of pink clouds were here about 7:30 last night.
Going outside is so important. (love his quote about them not seeing him…great connection to that song)
LikeLiked by 1 person
One of my favorite songs, Phil. Thanks for stopping by.
LikeLike
We love the days we drive north to ‘play’ and return to the southern part of NH near sunset. Often physically exhausted and our desires to enjoy our environment sated, we are rewarded with incredible sunsets created by cloud formations. I understand the palate of colors and shapes that are so unique are often the result of environmental happenings or pollution from the ‘other’ hemisphere or another state. Hmmmm—–
LikeLiked by 1 person
We’ve had very few blue sky days but lots of cloudy ones this summer and high humidity but not proper heat. Maybe we have all your clouds? He sounds quieter and frailer these days but your time with him still stands out as an oasis of calm.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Marie, the calm is nourishing for me.
LikeLiked by 1 person