December 27, 2014
(This is part of a 365 project during my 70th year where I write and
illustrate a blog on each day's gift.)
My mother used to sing to my sisters and me when we were
little. She did not think she had a good voice and she only sang to us when we
were young enough that we had no critical ear. So in my memory, she was a
singer. Some of her favorites were Let Me
Call Your Sweetheart, Put Another Nickel in the Nickelodeon, Me and My Teddy
Bear and Me and My Shadow, from
the late 1920’s. Even today after more than 60 years, those tunes still stick
in my memory. Musically, I always liked the way the fourth note of the chorus, “Me
and my shadow…” changed from major to minor. It sounded like it slid just the
way shadows slide over the ground as I walk.
It is a good thing that some things never change. For
example, if my shadow became erratic and didn’t follow certain rules (I’m
serious), it would confuse me. It keeps me grounded knowing how my shadow always
behaves.
Shadow Rule #1: Shadows
sleep when the sun sleeps (or when the lights are out.)
Shadow Rule #2. All
shadows must belong to someone or something.
Shadow Rule #3: Shadows
must always be near their owners unless there is no strong light.
Shadow Rule #4: Shadows do not have faces.
Shadow Rule #5: A shadow must imitate its owner.
Shadow Rule #6. Everything has only one sunshine shadow
Shadow Rule #7: Shadows begin long in the morning, shrink,
and then grow longer again at the end of the day.
Growing up in a stable and loving family, I always knew that
the love that surrounded me would never change. This grounded me too and
followed me throughout my life, just like my dependable shadow.
Today’s gift is constancy.
You can read my other posts on this project here:
:-) Me and My Shadow . . . .
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