It's the comings and the goings...the arrivals and departures...the transitions and in-betweens that are the hardest. It's the indecision. It's the not-knowing. It's the looking back and letting go. And it's the needing to hold on to the vision of what the future might bring.

Up there she stood in the autum mist. One last look...and a final good-bye before stepping over to the other side. Into a new place...a new time...a new and different season.

She is. I am. We are.

All on our own paths and personal journeys. To somewhere.

And yet - today - we're only here. In this place...in this time...in this season.

Her courage inspired me. She smiled. I nodded my head and waved. Her tail swished and swung from side-to-side acknowledging that I'd been seen. She heard me.

Somehow we knew and understood that in spite of our differences...we are so much the same.

With hands at my heart - I bowed deeply. To our life journeys...to our bright lights...to all that we know and all that we don't...and to the spirits that live in both of of us.

Safe travels - I thought - as I said my good-bye. I watched as she quietly walked away.

She turned her head...taking one last glance back. As if to say and remind me.

I was. I will be. I am.