Rubies, Rubies, everywhere.

Solvitur Ambulando . It is solved by walking. That's what the saint named Augustine said, so that's what I did.

Today the sun came out. Blue blue blue of sky. Yellow cups of jonquils peeking from every clump of green. I am in Raleigh staying at my daughter's, in the intimate neighborhood called Five Points. I am holed up in my own oh so sweet suite - complete with a view of the garden and my own 1920's bathtub. This is a healing place for me, and I am grateful about everything right this minute.

So, in keeping with the admonition, and as the sun began to wane, I went for a walk in the neighborhood with the two beautiful dogs, my Italian Greyhound, Beau, and Hadley's tiny Yorkie, Nutkin. The area is a delightful one, with an old pharmacy, The Hayes-Barton Grill, decorated with posters of Hollywood stars of the 1940's,serving desserts like "Ava Gardner's Delight." There is an art movie house, with one enormous screen showing Crazy Heart tonight. Since I have been that lately, I am walking back down there right now, to see it.

Oh, the ruby slippers! So on the return home, down and around lanes of old bungalows, my feet stumbled upon a lost ruby, a necklace, fallen from grace, that somehow found itself tangled in my toes. A shining red ruby-like jewel suddenly stared up at me from the sidewalk. Like the story of the Arabian Knights tripping on the handle that held the lid that covered the jewels. Or like Dorothy's ruby slippers. In my hands, I now held a shining red jewel, a gift from the universe.

It said, yes, click those heels girl. Get on with it.