Do you like an Epilogue? Here's one you might see sometime.

Epilogue Daisy realized she’d had all she could stand of this so called “quiet life” she thought she’d have when she had moved back to Birch Lake years before, and Jesse never did see her again. In the weeks that followed, the name Bjorn Olafson was found to belong to the second murderer, and his body was also flown back across the seas to Oslo, Norway, to be met by the FBI. After months of investigations his body was finally released to his family for burial. Realizing she could never relax in her home in Birch Lake again as she’d always be fearing the reappearance of the snakes, Daisy decided to contact a realtor friend and sell the house after it was redecorated, and also her manicuring business. During her stay in Minneapolis she found she loved the city life again and would look for a home in a western suburb. She called Ed and they agreed to meet from time to time in the city, and she also discussed her life change with Reed Conners. She had enough money to live comfortably regardless of the sales of her properties so she could make the change anytime. And if, that inheritance from Roma’s estate came through, maybe she’d do that special something she had always dreamed about. She smiled then as she raised the cup of coffee to her lips and sipped at its dark roast. The End

A Joyous Mystery

As we were approaching the Christmas holiday again one year, I was tired and resented the interruption. Now I had to grapple for more energy and spend extra hours cleaning the corners of my house, cook, entertain and shop. Why do I do this, I mumbled. What a bothersome task! No, I decided this year I would just send money and be done with it. No cards, no gifts. Just a Christmas Eve dinner, thats all. What a commercial hype of my time. It felt wonderful not to trample from store to store, sweating in my winter coat, staring at lists with glazed eyeballs puzzling over new fangled toys, fashional new colors, vocalists I'd never heard of and videos that used to only suggest. What a relief, I thought to myself. A good decision! I saw other people race around breathlessly, taking time during their lunch and every possible evening and weekend to put together their stash of briberies. When someone would ask me if 'I had my shopping done yet,' I would say, 'I'm not buying anything this year.' And I would chuckle at their astonishment, at my audacity to break away from the tradition. Then I'd catch a raised eyebrow. Well! Days passed, colored lights abounded on houses and in windows. The atmosphere was charged with everyone's expectations of the approaching holidays. Me--I was doing my usual, relaxing and I must admit, feeling somewhat smug. Now Christmas Eve day was here and company due. I had to grocery shop and cook. I had planned a simple dinner with a pie for dessert. I rushed into the store and fought my way among the throngs of harried shoppers and found one of the last empty carts. I was still relaxed and taking my time. But before I knew it, my cart began to fill up. Darn, was it too late? I suddenly had this unexplained need to buy everything in sight. I found a turkey, a ham, buns, cookies, cider, candy, lefsa and the tradional potato sausage. My hands were flying, my short list forgotten. It's late! And it's much to late to do anything more now, I said as I checked my watch. But I had this irresistible need to give. I had to buy some gifts! I calculated the time left before the stores closed, and cussed that I didn't have a list. And I ran! The evening came much too fast. I was tired and the house needed dusting, the cupboards were messy again and the closets overflowed. Darn. Well. I started the oven, opened cans, peeled vegetables and found the good tablecloth and dusted the house with a dishtowel. And soon delicious aromas began to come from the kitchen as the windows steamed up. Grandma came early and complained of stomach gas. Friends and kids in their outfits of leather, in suits and jeans arrived. Short hair and long, carrying guitars and vedeos. As I stood in the middle of this confusion of coats, laughter and hugs, my head was in a whirl. My house was vibrating as I busied myself warming cider and browning buns and I listened to the merriment going on around me. The Christmas carols blared on the stero as I served cinnamon flavored drinks to the kids. Then I saw it. Then I remembered. I realized this is why we rush around, grasping at last bits of energy, overloading our charge accounts, and cleaning the far corners in our homes. I saw the warm, wonderful feeling of real love, amidst the laughter, cnd catching up of times, belonging and acceptance that we all seek and need on this special holiday. Later, my back hurt and legs ached as I put things back in order. But, almost too late, I found it had all been worth it, and the mystery of why we do it was solved, once again. -Lyn Miller Lacoursiere (Written sometime years ago)

A view of this world.

An acquiantance, a relative through marriage of one of my children died yesterday. He came to my book-signing last Sunday and we visited for a few minutes. I could see then that he didn't have too long left in this world. In his day he was a robust handsome man, married and father of seven sons. I have heard he wasn't always a kind man and also not an easy partner to live with either. In the end, I'm wondering- is all forgiven when we leave this place? Will there be a second time around in that new place and will our mistakes be erased and we'll get a chance to start anew?