For those of you uninformed and slightly curious, the above title references the book by the same name…the *last* book of the Wheel of Time series – which comes out this next week. I remember starting the series when George Lebo lent me the first book oh so many years ago…(ok, maybe not that long ago – 2008, I think)…anyway, it’s been a good run and I’m a bit sad to see the end come. I will try and slow my usual frenetic reading pace down and savor this last one. I’ll still probably finish it in a week – curse me and my quick reading abilities!! And maybe Laura will hurry up and finish up the preceding books sometime this year so she can read this one! (You know I love you, Laura!!)

Just now, sitting in Books and Beans(for the second time in three days!!) and as my coffee slowly gets cold, I think it’s almost time for lunch, but I wanted to write a little bit first! I’ve been doing my normal Saturday morning routine…reading(Psalms 59-60, Proverbs 5 and some more of 2 Samuel! Absalom is currently being a punk and David is hiding out…may I always have his attitude when persecuted/downtrodden! When Abishai wanted to decapitate the guy that was cursing David, David said, “Let him alone and let him curse…Perhaps the LORD will look on my affliction and return good to me instead of his cursing this day.”) and also have been having online time(checking on bank accounts and the all-important facebook..as well as trying to find a way to watch the Redskins/Seahawks playoff game Sunday night! Looks like my best bet may be to listen to it on BBC Radio 5…)

And I really am hungry, so I want to get a sandwich. First though…

Time and space and interwoven footprints in the snow,
the young man tilts his head and smiles and ponders,
and thinks of flickering fires and fragrant hot cocoa
and whispers of the violin
and his dream wanders…

Soaring rhythm accompanies lilting steps of heels upon the well-worn tiles
and eyes of sea-swept grey dip and gaze into sparkling eyes of richest caramel
and the dance of the heavens proceeds on unimpeded by the smaller cares,
and the music of the stars dazzles with the bliss of its perfect harmonies,
and sweetness as of raspberries and chocolate and honey swirling in the tea
and beauty as the sun twirling her skirts of cloud into the blue of the sea.

And his thoughts wander
ever towards that whisper of heaven,
and he thinks of cobblestone streets and sun’s gentle warmth
and the strums of that achingly perfect song in his soul,
dreams and well-loved pages and scarf tugged snug in the snow.