The term skeleton key perhaps stems from such keys' resemblance to a skeletel figure, with the circle at top..., resembling a stylized skull. Wikipedia
George pulled his hat off and sat down on the rotting wooden steps of the Adobe House. Gillian had gone off to find a bush or an Andy Gump. He was exhasted from the heat and the long walk down the trail from the road, and furious with himself for asking her to meet him here.
Sage, or Salvia officinalis , a wild undershrub, has long been credited as a charm against evil, snakebites, and more.
Clifford’s hands fascinated her when he filled her glass…strong and broad, with an odd scar on the back of the left one.
“Bad burn when I was a kid,” he said.
“Oh god,” she said. “I’m sorry for staring. It looks like that symbol for infinity.”
“Yeah, it does—or a lazy eight. You okay?”
What had made her reveal so much? Why did she feel she could tell him everything, anything? He must have listened for an hour, nodding and refilling her glass, and offering her another napkin when she started to cry again. Finally he ordered a cheese plate and some fruit, insisting she eat.
CHAPTER ONE
Adobe House San Fernando Canyon, built circa 1849
Kate drank her morning coffee standing in front of the TV, transfixed by a boa constrictor crushing a small pig. The pig was suffocating, its little legs frantically rowing the air. When the struggling stopped, the boa moved into position, fitted its jaw around the pig’s head and began to swallow. Before long the shape of the entire pig was visible inside the snake. “This process can take several hours or even days. We have used time lapse photography so you can see the entire feeding cycle,” announced a detached male voice.
Kate felt a great deal of sympathy for the pig. She took several deep breaths before snapping off the TV.
Well, snakes have to eat.
Stumbling, tripping, slipping – or how about just doing a face-plant?
When you are in a liminal place, on the edge or the verge or perhaps standing in a doorway, you must be cautious. Stepping into new space is always something that should be done thoughtfully, carefully, and maybe even reconsidered before you do it. And I do believe this applies to every age, although maybe age should be part of the equation.
This is important! We need to keep our bees happy.
Whenever I feel a need for a change, 
I rearrange furniture or clean out cupboards. When we were first married, this used to cause my poor husband some concern. He couldn't rely on where the couch or the coffee table might be at any given time. He pretty much likes things to stay where they are. I pretty much like to move stuff around.
In any case, we have been in the same house for almost 40 years, and I have made at least one hundred changes during that time. It works out mostly okay for him, since we are still in the same house. However, he still can't count on where the furniture might be or what room is currrently our bedroom, or where I've relocated the big pots. Marriage is compromise, though, so it is all good for both of us.
I have been having lots of trouble adjusting to retirement. I am 70 years old, and I know that I retired when it was time for me to move on to something else. But so far, I've been so caught by an identity crisis after "quitting" -- that I can't move on. I quit. And I had some good reasons for doing so. But that doesn't mean I'm sure what's next.
My job required a lot of travel -- I live in Northridge and I had to be in Sacramento at least a third of every working month, even though I was connected by computer, cell phone, fax machine, and every other more immediate method of staying on the job. That meant that I was away from home a lot. And although my dear husband was supportive and tolerant, it wasn't easy to have a sometimes-wife only sometimes in residence. This is an issue for lots of folks these days, and I hope that when you are young it is easier. But I doubt it.
Jigsaw puzzles are often found spread out in various stages of completion or disarray at our house. We clean around them, try not to knock pieces onto the floor, try to keep the grandkids from walking off with bits or disassembling what has been assembled. They sometimes serve as coasters for a cup of tea or coffee, and I wouldn't be surprised to see a piece in the dishwasher as a result of this somewhat unorthodox treatment.
Most of our friends pitch in when they visit. One family actually couldn't stand to leave the puzzle unfinished, so they took it home with them as it was midnight and we wanted to go to bed. I can't remember what elaborate system we worked out so that it would travel without falling apart, but I guess it worked well enough. I think it involved a cookie sheet and some cling film.
I think I have just fallen in love with apple blossoms. I have never known them so personally before. But four years ago we planted a Granny Smith tree in our yard, and after some false starts -- well, a start can be false and true -- this year we have some blossoms that have completely captivated me. The translucence of the petals and their call make me wish I were a bee.
