Mirror

By Zenobia Drummer

This book tells a story of a couple that fell in love, overcame challenges, and learned valuable lessons to win in love. Like with a magic mirror, it tells us all the good it sees, and gives us the answers we can only hope for, but what about the Dark Side of The Mirror?  A couple's journey opens a realm of discoveri

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Mirror
• Release date: Mar 15, 2022
• ISBN: 9798886279177

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

The start of a love affair – Sunny Days

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Long drives, short drives, shoppes, and cafes, wait! stop that train.  The day was glowing with sunshine, and Jonah and I were always overdue for a good vacation.  Day trip, or weekend trip, it was always a battle to free ourselves from life’s daily stresses, so when a weekend trip wasn’t near… we did the next best thing; we decided on a day trip to the mountains. 

Being in a trapped box, separated from the existence of every life form other than our own, had Jonah and I longing for this escape. 

So, we decided on a train ride just a few short hours away; open cars, closed cars, the smell of buttered popcorn in the air, oh what a breath of fresh air it is to catch the scenic train.  I can’t wait to ride across beautiful blue ridge mountains, one car, then the next, listening to the distant sounds of the other local trains.  The old town locomotive starts to head our way, pulling into the town station. Oh, it’s such music to my ears.  I can see it in a distance, all I can hear… choo choo! 

There are so many visitors today; families, couples, old people, young people, the local towns people are so full of excitement as they greet us full of cheer; popcorn, funnel cakes, everything is good here.  The train cars begin to pile up front to back as it prepares to depart the station and start on its way to its destination. 

The conductor, all dressed in black with his cliché small pocket watch, says with glee, Is everyone all set?

"Tickets,

"Tickets,

Tickets please. 

The old blue metal locomotive with a thin line of yellow trim begins to pull one car at a time.  I can hear the laughter of others nearby.  Jonah and I opt for a little privacy.  Red covered chairs, as far as the eye can see, spread like individual love seats, only two passengers per row please. 

As Jonah swipes the hair from face, my eyes glisten like an old gem in a mine.  As the train gets underway, a voice calls out from the rear.  Pictures, pictures ma-am, I would love to take your photo, says a nearby attendant.  This day trip just keeps getting better and better. 

I felt like I had left my body, with a bird’s eye view above of such a moment of peace.  Families filled with laughter and couples with love in the air, the train is onto its journey to the tiny little town of McCaynesville.

-Rolling Thunder Rivers

-Whitewater Rafting

-Tubing & Kayaking

That’s the little town of McCaynesville.

Faded green moss floated atop of the nearby spring as the train crosses The Old Steel Railway Bridge, an old rickety bridge.  Crossing my fingers, I begin to count one, two, three… Whew, we made it! 

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That old rickety bridge had been a part of the town for so many centuries; with stories to tell, so many people to see, it was a place of peace.  I was so excited to finally arrive to our destination, this small-town village lined with cute little trees, Riverwalk shoppes, and good ole homemade peanut butter fudge, oh my favorite. 

Oh, look there is a towns woman making candles you can spread that soothes your skin like butter. There is so much to see and so many new friends to meet. 

We are truly enjoying the towns people.  A nearby tuber waves to the train…and bellows welcome as the train passes by.

We arrive at the station; the conductor gives his little speech, Everyone back to the train by three, 3’oclock that is, and don’t be late. Enjoy the town and eat plenty of Ms. Ruby’s cake. 

Ms. Ruby owned the tiny town bakery.  Two at a time please, she encouraged sample taking, Will you be buying one, two or three?

With that southern hospitality ringing in the air, I hear …Take one, Jonah says.  Ms. Ruby’s pound cake was the best I ever tasted, moist and sweet with all the right flavors. 

This is such a quaint little town, I say to Jonah, all nestled and dear, that’s the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.  The town is filled with freshwater springs, lakes, and plenty of outdoor activities for everyone to undertake. 

A happy couple is in a nearby stream, all dressed in rubber overalls, with fly fishing poles jolting back and forth one pole at a time; happiness is definitely in the air here.

Jonah looks like he’s having a good time. He really likes it here, I can tell.  I haven’t seen him smile this much since that very dear special moment we shared on the train. 

"Welcome to the town of McCaynesville," says the conductor as people exit one by one. What a lovely town, who wouldn’t want to live here all year around, enjoying this day, one can only dream?  Things were great with Jonah and I; love filled everything around us that day.  Holding hands, long walks, sampling all the town had to offer.

It’s experiences like these that make love reign, shine; it takes control of your mind.  It’s a good feeling every person should experience. If you could have it just once in your life, it’s so fulfilling.  This is the great little town of McCaynesville. 

Let the Good times _______.

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Jonah and I had a lot of fun times like the train ride to McCaynesville; local fairs, eateries, the kayaking, wineries, and just good times, but in reality, we all know, there are challenges to be faced, obstacles still left to overcome, avoiding death by the lethal weapon. You know, the fun things you get to talk about with the grandchildren as your facing challenges together.

So, I know what you’re thinking: "What happened to the good little town of McCaynesville?" That seemed like a dream.  It still remains intact with happy people everywhere around.  But regretfully, the day we got back on the train, we truly did not know what we had in store.  Would we fall deeper in love, or fall completely far away?

The journey of the unknown, it can be a bottomless pit.  Will it end, or be like floating on clouds, much more than nine.  We want to love, outlast, and avoid anything near destruction.  For Jonah and me, we wanted to run on solid ground and avoid the quicksand, something couples can always be destined for. 

So, what does it mean to be truly in love anyway?  Is it being true to another, because you admire each other’s characteristics, or is it that pitted feeling consuming your abdominal walls?  What does it truly mean to be truly in love, if you only know when the feeling takes over your very being?  For me being truly in love is dedicating myself to Jonah, having an understanding, being able to talk about anything or anyone, I truly enjoyed being around him.

The journey can truly be misleading though, with mind games and trickery, but it wants you to figure it out, set your own path, as it compels you to think outside of the box.  Comfort zones really do not exist in love space; you have to overcome any challenges and fears while riding the big bad wave.  This is what the Mirror is truly all about, it can give a true reflection, and a deeper look into your own soul. 

Getting ready for a hot date night, I say to the Mirror, I make this look good.

A long day ahead at the office, coffee, oh coffee?  Ugh! I’ll stay clear of the Mirror today.

I’m just finding out the in laws are coming, nothing’s prepared, you say.  I approach the mirror and say quietly, Please give me the strength to get through this day.

See the Mirror helps with many variations of our life.  It can make us feel good about what we see, or let us see what is truly there, that we may not want to see.  There are the good times, and then there are the not so good times; as long as you have togetherness and willfulness, you can overcome them all.  Jonah and I really enjoy all the good memories; we even found ourselves laughing at the bad ones.  You know you come a long way when you can laugh at the bad and bring in the good, but sometimes the challenges, oh the challenges we face, we just pray for good days ahead and prepare ourselves.

Personalities.

The clash of the ______

We like to think that we live in a world where things will just work naturally.  Wrong; it takes a little thing called work, which is why we learn at an early age that the square peg doesn’t go into the round hole. It helps us identify what is the right way and what is not.  So, we learn lessons early and set the stage for success, put the work in, and figure things out; the end result is a winning game.

Of course, then there are The Others, no not a thriller or movie about ghosts, facing the undue reality that really doesn’t existent.  The Others are the non-believers that have to realize there is no place at the table to not exist, you MUST grasp the concept of the square peg fitting correctly in the hole and overcome any undue realities just as you would in a relationship.  Remember, the Mirror is always there to see what could still be unclear on the surface and shows what lies beneath.

When you love someone, you work hard to put the right peg in the correct hole.  The challenge will begin when one just doesn’t seem to grasp the concept.  When you’re (1) dating, (2) falling in love, or (3) headed to the alter, you should be receptive to why something just doesn’t fit into the hole, the goal, overcome the challenge. 

These three stages are a time of learning and conquering the game.  This will help you to your road of popping corks of champagne.  And if you already made it to matrimonial bliss, congratulations, you could start all over again, stages (1)(2)(3).

Jonah and I found it overwhelmingly challenging at times, to stay in character, having to get ready for the office, work around the clock, and only have time for a shower and bed, but we managed to do it all over again, day after day. 

We had to decide will it be his foot or mine.  It’s like a promise ring; you make a commitment to something specific, and knock it out the park like Babe Ruth, straight down center field.  Jonah and I knew for so many years what it would take, having the stamina to rise with such conflicting personalities, yes that would be the key. 

Jonah and I had a lot in common; our personalities were similar yet still quite different.  There were times when I wondered if this was something that we could bear.  We liked the same foods, taste in movies, both had small groups of people near and dear, yes, we were both quite introverted to the outside world, but with so many things in common. 

For some reason, I started to become increasingly distant from Jonah.  We have so much in common, why isn’t this working?  Were our personalities too much alike in the not so good way?  Jonah held onto this darkness; in a way I sometimes couldn’t bear.  He never liked to talk about it, so I played the blame game, which was not the perfect solution. 

Skeletons in my _______.

We all have our skeletons.  Some of us have a darkness that we never seem to overcome; it haunts us, prevents us from living our true potential.  For Jonah, it was hearing that he could be responsible and never accepting blame.  For me, it was not knowing when to let go or live in (agony).  Real life can take hold and face us with demons and childhood traumas.  Just remember you have somewhere, you can go to see yourself, the… The Mirror.

Looking in the mirror –

Facing realities, meeting face to face with the image, set off great possibilities. 

First, be open. 

Second, be willing to see your true reflection

Third, be receptive to what you may find. 

It’s like having open mic night at the local comedy corner, with no one in audience. It’s all on you in the mirror.  Picture this, opening scene, a story of a married couple that was always in disagreement. 

The husband always wanted to prove his wife was wrong.  Although it’s quite funny because she was right, most of the time, he just didn’t like his wife confronting him about his mistakes. He was in control, or was he?

One of these days.

Now he loved his wife, he just didn’t like her being right. It was his way of deflecting while having some dignity left to move past that moment… 

…It’s such a funny thing, but it holds true. We have to find it within ourselves to move past a not so comfortable moment, whether we want to be right when we’re not; you have to accept your role in creating not so good moments.  Admitting our wrongs is not always so easy, but it’s quite DOABLE.  Jonah and I love the idea of being right, ok, maybe I a little more Jonah, but ultimately the goal is not whose right or wrong, but how you overcome the challenges. 

Becoming ONE –

Conjoined, hinged, but able to break free.  As you become one, you open yourself up to a much greater spectrum.  The possibilities that Jonah and I would want to give more of ourselves and take less is exciting; this is something I continue to learn new ways to accomplish each and every day. 

When you battle with those deep dark places rising from the very core of your soul, take a journey to the depths of… The Mirror.

The Mirror can set you into a motion, steering you in a directional path of positivity, creativity, and those feel-good moments.  Yes, there are going to be challenges; facing those together is what we set out to accomplish. 

Do I hear a knock on the door?  As I spend time relinquishing my own demons, looking into the depths of the mirror…

Knock

Knock

Knock

Who could that be, I’m not expecting anyone, afraid to answer, is there someone lurking outside for me?  Oh whew! it’s Mrs. Trimble.  She’s my next-door neighbor always bringing me and Jonah good treats to eat.  Mmmm, she makes the best peach cobbler pie, more sauce, and less peaches, just the way I like it.  Mrs. Trimble is married to THE Mr. Jonathan Esquire Trimble of the popular Trimble Dairy Farm. 

Mr. Trimble also raises the cutest little mini pigs you have ever seen; I really enjoy visiting with them all the time.  Yes, the absolutely sweetest couple I have ever met, married for fifty-four years, with two of the nicest children you’d ever meet.  Jonathan Jr., a handsome pediatrician, and a local schoolteacher, Jenny.  They visit from time to time to check on their parents, but I think Jonathan Jr actually likes his mom’s peach cobbler pie as much as me.  Jonathan and I dated, prior to Jonah, but I just couldn’t compete with good ole Trimble's very busy medical career.  Still, we remained friends and it was always good to see him. 

He and I would go to the pig farm and spend half a day.  So much fun feeding those little mini pigs, so cute and so cuddly.  Ok well back to Mrs. Trimble.  She has always been my inspiration, because of her love for her husband, her support to her friends, and because of the love she has for her two children.  Who wouldn’t want to model after that? 

Mrs. Trimble came from a very humble environment; she lived a very humble life.  Growing up in a large family, eight sisters and five brothers, and she grew up quite poor.  Her mother a seamstress and her father a coal miner, they had very little money, but what they did have was the support of a very large family with a very small pocketbook, purse, and handbag. 

So, when you think about Mrs. Trimble, she was well bred to be the