One Time Only

Sometimes you find things and you have no idea what they are or how they can be used. Other times you may find things and figure out a use for them other than for what they were intended; like using a newspaper to cover your head when it’s raining.

There are things like bottles. If you find a bottle you can use it as a container. You can recycle it or you may choose to display it. Its original intent has now been superseded by other uses.

But, sometimes you’ll find a thing that has that unique special purpose, or perhaps a universal purpose that is recognized by anyone that ever lived or tread by the water’s edge. Before I spill the beans I want you to think of the innate purpose that comes to mind when you find a nice flat round stone. It is about two to three inches in diameter and it is between a quarter inch and a half inch thick.

That’s it! It’s a perfect skipping stone. When was the last time you skipped a stone across the water? I loved doing that as a kid. I’d even go to a gravel quarry and spend a few hours collecting perfect specimens that would all end up on the bottom of lake or a pond before the day was done.

There is something about the hydroplaning wonder of skipping a stone and watching the trajectory of the stone across the water’s surface. The cadence of the beats increasing until the stone is swallowed under the surface tension to spend the rest of its ageless rock-hood days submerged in a quiet eternity; never to be skipped again.

It’s sad to have a great performing stone that can only be used once; like a firecracker.