LUCKY by Lee-Anne Muntelwit

One day while I was just browsing in a shop, not really looking to buy, not really affording too either. I came across this beautiful ¾ length coat. It was woven of multi-coloured wool and felt soft and inviting. For some strange reason it made me feel happy, joyous and tingly all over. I tried it on.. Wow, I felt gorgeous, like a model or something. But I daren’t look at the price tag so I put it back, gave it one last loving stroke and walked from the shop.

The coat would not leave my thoughts. I dreamt of it following me down the street and saw glimpses of it in all the shop windows that I passed on the way to work every day. Finally it got too much for me and I just had to go back to find out how much it was.

As I entered the shop I recognized a new range of colours in the window, new styles and garments. I searched and searched almost frantically for the coat and then collapsed from disappointment as well as exhaustion onto the small chair in the corner.

The shy shop assistant hesitantly approached. ”Are you ok miss?” she asked? “oh, sorry, I was just looking for something, but it is no longer here” I replied sadly. “What was it and I will see if we can get another” she smiled, but I knew that there would only ever be that one coat for me. Still, I began describing that beautiful thing. Tears welled in my eyes and the shop assistant looked shocked at my account of such a simple piece of clothing.

“Just let me check something will you, I’ll be right back, don’t go away now?!” The assistant left me in a hurry, weird concern filling her face. I had a thought to flee. Could she be phoning the local hospital for the infirm to come take me away? Maybe the police, did she think I was on drugs? Just as I got to my feet the assistant appeared before me. Motioning me with her finger to follow her, she led me to the back of the store. There stood 3 bags full of assorted clothing and apparel. On the very top of the last one was my coat! I almost gasped and whooped with delight.

“Oh, Thank you… can you please tell me how much it is…I must have it now that I have found it again” I gushed , with little breath left in my lungs.

“Well, I’m afraid it’s not for sale, it’s been withdrawn and is being taken away” the assistant replied sadly as she saw my face fall into despair again.

“But, it wants to be with me, it is mine already, I know it and feel it constantly” I sob, almost uncontrollably now.

“We have been directed not to sell these out of date styles and must shift them to the Op shop across town.” The assistant’s eyes light up as an idea came to her.

I bet those Op shop ladies thought they were mighty lucky the day they found that $50 note in with 3 bags of clothes left on their doorstep. But not as lucky as I am to own my ¾ length multi-coloured coat. My lucky coat caught the eye of the man who became my husband, was there at the birth of all my children, was lost and found…twice and is still with me 20 years later.. loved and worn out a bit, Just like me.. I’d say that’s truly lucky!

Lee-Anne Muntelwit, 2006 ©

TIME, WHAT TIME! by Lee-Anne Muntelwit

Time is that illusive thing that we never seem to have enough of.

It should be more important to us than food or shelter or money.

There is never enough of it to spend on our family and friends.

There is never enough left over to allow us to make a difference to war or hatred throughout the world.

Time won’t wait for us to catch up with it… it just marches on.

It shows its effects on our bodies everyday.

Then, just when we think we’ve got it all worked out and changed our whole life around to find more of it… something else takes it away from us again.

Time should be blown up!

Why is there a time to sleep or eat or go to work?

If there were no time then we could ‘reap before we sow’.

Who said that there is 60 seconds in a minute and 60 minutes in an hour?

Why do we just blindly follow this time structure from day to day and year to year?

I suppose that we might find the answers to all these questions if only we had the time?!

God knows how trivial time should be for us on earth.

His offer of Eternity with him shows no limits of time.

Well, it’s about time!Put time in perspective.

Make the most of all the time you have.

Try living for a time without time….. we need no such limits?!

Love is the only timeless thing we can share with others.

More love of learning, love of achieving, love of one another.

We should let love take over time… then we might help save the world…in Time!

Lee-Anne Muntelwit ©