Memories – Fragments of Loia

last night while sleeping…

Last night…
in my dream…
I was Forrest Gump—

only for a little bit
and not nearly as smart as him 😁

But seriously…

I was sitting on a bench—
in a town square—
just like the movie

As I do in all my dreams…
I scanned everything first—
taking it in—
inspecting the air
the place
the feeling—
before diving in

Sitting beside me on the bench—
was a man I recognized

Gary

My neighbor from when I was about fourteen—
he lived directly next door
he used to play football with me and my friends
he took me fishing often—
he loved to fish—
and he didn’t like going alone

He didn’t really have friends either

He and his wife Nancy—
were from upstate New York
they’d moved to the Atlanta area for work—
and I assume—
to eat grits 🙃

Gary was older than me—
about twenty five
I was fourteen…
and still missing the toilet when I pissed

I looked up to him—
like a big brother

The last time I saw him—
was a few months after my friend’s funeral
not long after that—
he and Nancy moved away—
I think back to New York—
if I remember right

There we were—
side by side—
on that bench

I spoke to him…

He turned toward me—
but he didn’t know who I was

So I told him—
reminded him of our past—
the fishing
the football
the neighborhood

Then he remembered…

His eyes lit up…

And then I told him—
that God loved him

His face changed…

He became sad—
started crying

He told me—
his family was very worried about him—
very concerned

And that was it…

I woke up…

End of dream…

I went downstairs—
made coffee—
then breakfast—
in that order

I’ve thought about him all morning…
I prayed for him…

For some reason—
I have the feeling that today—
this very moment—
he’s in a storm

Unless…

maybe it isn’t about him at all…

Maybe it’s about me…

…….<3~~~<3→†→||→†→<3~~~→†”’ `’.~°.♡♤◇♧\|( -;-_

Memories… like fingerprints… are slowly raising…

Salt Life needs Mountain Life…

Beach or Mountains ??? which do you prefer ….?→~≈↔^/’…❓

Both places preach.. one with waves.. one with wind..
I’ve always been an outdoor sportsman.. at least I used to be..
These days work and ministry keep me busy..
but that part of me is still alive somewhere in there..

I lived in Florida for twelve years..
and I got used to the salt life..
I had a kayak.. and I’d fish the hidden corners of Tampa Bay.. mostly alone.. but sometimes with my friend Jimmy..
Bishop Harbor was my favorite..
I’d take whole weekends and just disappear..
camp on those tiny islands.. fish day and night..
no clock.. no noise.. just water and sky..
a kind of backwater solitude I still miss..

I also did a lot of freshwater bass fishing down there..
I’d bounce back and forth between saltwater and fresh..
Florida gave me both flavors.. and I never got tired of either one..

For a few years I even lived in a beach house on Anna Maria Island..
At high tide the waves from the Gulf broke about fifty feet from my back porch..
When I wasn’t working or fishing or swimming..
I’d sit out there.. play my guitar.. sing into the night..
and just watch the water drift through its moods..
In the dark I’d lay in bed and listen to the waves crash..
a steady sound that felt like the world breathing..
It was a sacred season in my life..
My roommate Nathan was there too.. a good friend..
He died of an overdose a few years later..
Good times.. memories I still smile about.. and I miss him..

But I also love the mountains..
I grew up fishing and exploring the North Georgia mountains..
Every summer.. me and my friends.. sometimes my dad or my uncle or both..
would drive ten miles off the main road on a gravel trail
to get to our camping spot on the Tallulah River..
It was quiet.. beautiful.. hidden away from everything..
We pitched tents.. built fires.. fished.. talked.. laughed..
and mostly fished haha..
And yes.. I catch fish 😁🎣
Even when you don’t catch anything.. it’s still great..
but I always catch them..
I fish for people now …..t`

Up there we always ate what we caught..
trout for breakfast.. lunch.. and dinner haha..
By the end I didn’t want any more fish for a while..
but I always looked forward to going back..
year after year.. from a kid into an adult..
those mountain memories run deep in me..

So therefore I can’t choose..
I’m part tides.. part timber..
Both preach..
Both shape me..
It’d be like choosing between your mother and your father haha…

…….🌊⚓❤️→⛰️🌲❤️→❓→👩‍👦👨‍👦’…….~≈<3→/\^<3→?→||’……….🌊🐟🏖️<3→⛰️🌲🏕️<3→🤷‍♂️→👩‍🦰❤️👨‍🦳’…….~≈→<3→^/\→<3→?→(M+F)’…….👬→<3→🥹→⏳→👀👋🌤️→🧠💙’…….<3→…→⏳→^↑→∞→[]💙’……`~°•▪︎-¡-.○}`-.