My Feet

Picture courtesy of Lotfy Musa ©2009

I wrote this little piece back in 2009 when I came across the picture by my friend Louie Mousa. Somehow, the picture spoke to me. I instantly opened a new document and within minutes the piece was done. I’m still not quite sure where the words came from. All I can tell you was that I felt inspired. When I first published it, a great many people wrote to me telling me how much they liked it. I thought I might dust it off and run it again. I hope it will give you pause for thought.

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The tough calluses, dark skin, and scars on my feet tell the tales of places and things I have seen. My feet are not soft and pretty, but neither are all the stories.

Once I had shoes to protect my feet and keep them warm. They are but a distant memory now. Once my feet were covered with sheets and blankets at night in the home my family had built and lived in for ten generations. Those too are gone and barely remembered.

Now, we are in a refugee camp near Hebron hoping and praying for better days; days without war and fear and privation. We are at the mercy of the occupiers, but we never lose hope. We have lost so many of our friends and family, but we have never lost faith that one day Allah will allow us to go home.

Five times a day I face the holy city of Mecca, reciting the well-known and comforting prayers and words from Holy Qura’n. All the day I am guided by an unseen force. Somehow I am able to find a scrap of bread and a drop or two of coffee to get me through the day.

As I walk the length and breadth of the land looking for work, my eyes are drawn to the skies. I am looking for the aeroplanes and gunships. Will they attack us today? My ears are tuned to the distant hills. Will the convoys of supplies and medicines be able to reach us today?

All round the globe, our cries of anguish and despair are heard. Millions send food, money, building supplies and medicines to help us. Each ship, boat, aeroplane, and truck is stopped by the Occupier and once again we are attacked by deprivation.

When will it end?

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About Ol' Big Jim

Jim L. Wright is a storyteller with a lifetime of experiences as colorful as the characters he creates. Born and raised in Piedmont, Alabama, Jim’s connection to the land, history, and people of the region runs deep. His debut novel New Yesterdays is set in his hometown, where he grew up listening to stories of the past—stories that sparked his imagination and curiosity for history. Today, Jim lives in Leeds, Alabama, with his husband Zeek, a tour operator who shares his passion for adventure and discovery. Known affectionately as “Ol’ Big Jim,” he has had a diverse career that includes time as a storekeeper, an embalmer, a hospital orderly, and a medical coder. There are even whispers—unconfirmed, of course—that he once played piano in a house of ill repute. No matter the job, one thing has remained constant: Jim is a teller of tales. His stories—sometimes humorous, sometimes thought-provoking—are often inspired by his unique life experiences. Many of these tales can be found on his popular blog, Ol’ Big Jim, where he continues to share his musings with a loyal readership. Jim’s adventures have taken him far beyond Alabama. For seven years, he lived in Amman, Jordan, the world’s oldest continuously inhabited city. His time there, spent in smoky coffee shops, enjoying a hookah and a cup of tea while scribbling in his ever-present notebook, deeply influenced his worldview and his writing. When Jim isn’t writing, he’s thinking about writing. His stories, whether tall tales from his past or imaginative reimagining is of historical events should read from his past or imaginative reimaginings of historical events, reflect a life lived fully and authentically. With New Yesterdays, Jim brings readers a rich tapestry of history, fantasy, and human connection. Visit his blog at www.olbigjim.com to read more of his stories, or follow him on social media to keep up with his latest musings and projects, one of which is a series that follows Bonita McCauley, an amateur detective who gets into some very sticky situations. His book, New Yesterdays, can be found at Amazon US, Amazon UK, Smashwords, and Barnes and Noble.
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6 Responses to My Feet

  1. honestly u just moved every single emotion inside of me with this piece , now when i,m writing the comment i could,t stop going back and read it again , it,s so sad how much sorrow and pain there is in the world , but inshalla the dawn will come soon 🙂 amazing one Jim i,v missed you,r posts 🙂

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  2. This is very insightful and moving. The world as a whole I think has become more polarized, the peace lovers vs the war mongers. When will it end, in deed…

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    • Ol' Big Jim's avatar olbigjim says:

      Thank you so much for stopping by. It seems so simple to get along and live with our neighbors in peace. Putting it into practice is what’s so difficult. These troubled times are so frustrating!

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  3. Norma's avatar Norma says:

    A lot of truth in this one son, I always knew you could write I’m finally seeing that you have learned it. Love you

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