Mr. Kraft does life

I woke up, donned a face mask to cover my eyes, and sat up.  My friend would act as my caretaker and guide if I needed assistance.  I spent the entirety of the day without vision, and also without speech.

I played and sorted through vinyl and my thoughts, for much of the day.  The voices of my friends were fresh.  Flavors were savored.  The pace of the day; slow.  He took me on a trip to a destination that was kept from my knowledge.  Windows down, the air was so refreshing against my face.  I felt so deeply grateful.  It was a time that permitted me to turn off all effort and to relinquish any control – real or imagined – that I am typically highly tuned into.  This type of release and acceptance is something I rarely experience.  After the drive we arrived in a space without the sound of traffic or voices.  Grass was beneath my feet – we had left the city.  He guided me through challenging terrain and set us up under what smelled like pines.  Shoes off, pine needles and soil beneath my feet, I did some exploring.  It was intuitive, finding a sunny spot.  He then set me up to sit against a large wood.  He brought apples and grapefruit which we accompanied the sunshine and silence.  Boys passed us, lost on a trail.  I felt them staring at me.  He brought with us also a singing bowl whose sound provided much detail and subtlety and beauty.  We hiked back through the woods; this time my shoes stayed off and my only guidance from my partner was the sound of him walking a few steps in front of me.  This is an experience I highly recommend.  Balance and the tactile feedback from bare feet along with the senses of smell and sound become heightened.  A drive back, punctuated by a stop for coal-fired pizza – so delicious!  Again, strangers around me.   Are they looking at me?  Do they wonder?

Music, oranges, meditation, sounds, the soft thin mattress.  Rest.

Thank you to my friend and guide.  I will repay you with the same experience you gifted me.