Up In The Attic

Up In The Attic

By Fran Hafey/Mysti

In the house where I grew up, we had a door, and behind this door was a set of stairs that led up to the attic. In the attic there was a window that looked out over the roof and the treetops and in the attic I always felt safe.

I would go up there on rainy days and hide out from the world, laying on my back on a blanket and pillow or a pile of clothes taken up until a different season, or toys put there out of the way, writing with chalk on the rafters, spelling my name in six year old handwriting.

I could lie there and hear the rain beating on the roof and sometimes I would wake hearing my Mother's voice calling to me. No one knew how often I would sneak away to the attic where I could read a book or listen to the voices down stairs while I sang a song or talked to my friends that no one else could see, but me. They were always with me, but some days I needed them more to just daydream with and fly away.

I loved being around the "old" things up there in the attic, the trunk filled with treasures that used to belong to my GranPapa that I don't remember because he died when I was very young, the old quilts my Granmama made by hand and the old clothes we wore only on Halloweeen. I always felt surrounded by love and a time when things were simpler. I suppose I felt being upstairs high in the attic protected me from many things, like being in a tall castle where I could see everything down below and feel safe.

My family was all right you see, just they didn't seem to understand me.

I felt different and out of place sometimes and then you would find me out sitting in a tree listening to the birds sing and wishing I too could fly.

Often I would feel I was flying and then I could see the ground far below.

I could feel the clouds touch my face and say hello to the birds nearby. I could see the farm across the street, the stream, the pond and the cows too.

I loved the feeling of flying and all too soon I would have to come down from up high to wash my hands and help set the table for dinner.

I would spend my summer days outside rolling in the green grass, hunting lightening bugs at night and dancing with the faeries and our animal friends. I was scolded for daydreaming and told I spent too much time out in the woods and maybe I should stay closer to the house. I was told stories of how wolves had eaten a little boy not far down the road and I should be more careful. That snakes and other things lurked around and little girls shouldn't go roaming too far.

I never knew what fear was until it was taught to me. Oh, the innocence within a child is so big, beautiful and honest, what a shame to destroy it with stories and lies that have been past down for far too long. Should we not all dance and smile and believe anything is possible until we prove it's not?

I have now come back to the days of dancing more often and starring at the stars at night more and talking to the trees and hearing the wind whispers all around me. I believe that anything is possible and when we have faith we see as a child and know that we don't have to fear anything if we choose not to.

I still like to go up in the attic now and then... and let the house know it was me, (I think it knows), up there daydreaming and listening to the rain and talking to my friends that no one else could see, and ya know... they're still with me today when I walk in the woods, read a good book or need a good cry and call my Mom and Dad to see how they are and tell them I love them, no matter what... and they still live in that house, with that great attic with my name written in six year old hand writing... in the rafters.

About the Author

Fran Hafey is a Spiritual Teacher, Healer, Visionary Writer, Human, Earth and Animal Activist, Ecologist, and Relaxation Therapist, living in the mountains of Virginia, Shenandoah Country. She provides guidance, inspiration and love via her Website, groups and newsletter on the World Wide Web. She's currently working on publishing her own books about love, inspiration, magic and nature stories for Children of all ages. http://Mystickblue.com

~ Where we believe in Miracles and Magic~ Everyday of the year!!