Parchment Paths

  It’s getting dark as you make your way home after a difficult day.  The walk is supposed to clear your mind, but so far it isn’t working, and you are th inking of cutting the walk short and just going home . Suddenly, a lovely aroma gently wafts your way. It smells of hot chocolate, cinnamon, and perhaps freshly baked cookies.   Where is it coming from? Taking a step in the general direction of the delicious scents till you turn a corner down a street you’ve never seen before. It is lined with charming shops and eateries, but the scent leads you past these to a shop whose sign is shaped like a cat napping on a large cinnamon roll.   You can’t help but smile as you look into the bay window to see a padded shelf lined with sleeping cats of all descriptions .   You eagerly enter the c at cafe where the delightful aroma is even stronger , verifying that this is indeed the source.   You continue to follow the scent to a bakery case filled with cinnamon rolls, cookies, cupcakes,

  A light rain taps against your window as you pull on your jacket . It’s already getting dark but your dog needs his evening walk and it’s finally cool enough to enjoy it.   The two of you head off down the street towards the small park. Rain puddles are forming as you walk along, your dog happily sniffing at the ground, wagging his tail and watching a leaf drift down from a tree. He even barks as it lands on his nose.   You smile, gently tugging on the lash to guide him into the park. Once under the trees that line the main pathway, the sounds of the city seem muffled.  You keep walking till you are nearing the center of the park. The large, ornamental fountain and the rain seem to be the only sounds. You sit on the fountain’s edge as your dog sniffs a t the damp grass.   A pale light beyond the fountain catches your eye. It seems to flicker, giving the impression of being a campfire , but campfire are not allowed in the park. Your dog looks in the same direction and bark hap

  You really need to get more sleep. You know how important it is to all aspects of your health, but you just can ’t seem to get enough meaningful sleep. You need some help you realize as you lay in bed . If only there was a store with helpful clerks to help you find what you need to get some rest.   You see the cloud shaped sign gently swaying in the cool night breeze. Sleep Store it reads in whimsical font surrounded by tiny, shimmering stars. The shop windows are shaped like crescent moons . You look inside to see a cozy little shop dotted with comfy armchairs and even some chaise lounge chairs.     Curious, you open the door to be greeted by the scent of fresh lavender and vanilla. You wander over to the nearest arm chai r and notice that the table next to it has an inviting cup of chamomile tea and a book of bedtime stories all ready.   “That’s for you,” a kindly voice assures you as an elderly lady walks from behind the main counter. “Having trouble sleep ing, dear?”   Y

            It’s been a very hot week, so hot that you’ve begun to feel lethargic and uncomfortable. You love summer , but this has been a bit much. You settle into bed at the end of yet another, long, hot day, but you are having trouble falling asleep no matter how you adjust your fan.   You take some deep breaths, trying to relax and empty your mind of the days wants and tomorrows plans, but all you can think of is how good a bowl of nice, cold ice cream would be. Hmmm, ice cream......   You close your eyes only to open, finding yourself on a humid city street you know well, but this version feels different somehow . You ponder this as you walk , but a side street, more like an alley, catches your eye. “Well, that’s new,” you think as your feet guide you down the narrow street paved with cobblestones and lined with shops you have never heard of, at least, not in the city you know.   A pale blue sign creaks in a light breeze, causing you to look up. It features an ic e cream cone