one, popping the glass stopper off the top. I gingerly took a whiff and the smell reminded me of the bushes near my house.
“These are essential oils,” said Ana coming up behind me. “They are thought to have healing powers. What you have there is lilac. I like . . .” Ana scanned the wall, looking for something, “Ah ha! I like this one.” She selected a deep green bottle and unscrewed the top. She handed it to me and I smelled. The aroma was exquisite.
“What is this?” I asked, highly impressed.
“Night Queen – a southwestern desert flower that blooms only one night. I love that it smells like Lilac and Lily of the Valley and Rose. I think it’s like a combination of all the best flowers.”
“It is fabulous! I may have to get some, ” I replied, looking around the room.
“Dalca has shown me how to combine some of the oils with herbs to make healing salves. I actually used one concoction on myself when I burned my hand working on an engine. It took away the pain and healed really fast. Pretty cool. People like Dalca have some amazing knowledge.”
“You mean Gypsies?” I said, jokingly.
“Gypsies and witches and some more earthy individuals,” replied Ana matter-of-factly.
“Wait a second. You’re serious, aren’t you?” I asked, stunned. “You’re telling me that she really is a Gypsy? And that, what? Witches exist?”
“Just because you read all sorts of crazy stories, doesn’t mean there aren’t people out there who have special abilities and insights into the natural world,” said Ana, picking up a sea green bottle with swirls of silver lacing through it.
I thought back to that morning, in the hall, and the freshman with the glasses. “What do you mean, ‘abilities’,” I asked, unable to shake the vision of the shy boy who had looked at Ana and then was suddenly confident.
Ana seemed to chose her words carefully, “I just mean there are all different kinds of people out there, that’s all.”
I could tell that a conversation about whatever I saw in the hall was not going to happen. I’d pry it out of her eventually though.
She changed the subject abruptly, dodging any further questions, “Come on, let’s go eat.”
I followed her into the kitchen, which was laden with so many objects it was a visual overload. More books and countless baskets with herbs and root veggies hung from overhead beams.
Dalca had laid out quite a snack spread on the dark oval table, and I pulled out a chair and sat down, starving, “Oh, thanks, I am famished!”
“More than happy to feed you, my dear,” said Dalca with a warm smile. She sat down opposite Ana and me. “So, how do you like the Cape so far?” asked Dalca, pouring me a cup of dark coffee.
“It is a lot different from where I lived in Kansas, but the people are really nice for the most part,” I said smiling and glancing at Ana. “And I love your shop. Such great stuff. How did you get into all of that?” I asked, taking a bite of steaming scone.
“I am sure Ana told you that I am from Gypsy blood. Our family has handed down our traditions through centuries. We are more or less born with the instinctive knowledge and taught the finer points by elders as we grow up.”
I turned and looked at Ana, who seemed to be studying the book she had brought with her from the shop. It was an obvious attempt to avoid any questions I may have aimed at her. Ana had a talent, I was sure. Earthy my ass.
I sipped the hot coffee. It was strong enough to make hair grow in unwanted places.
“Understanding elements and nature can be truly helpful,” said Dalca, warming her long hands on her mug of coffee. “Essential oils, for instance, can be very powerful at healing and reducing pain. Some herbs are more potent than any modern medicine when in the hands of the right person.”
I nodded, as if I understood a darn thing she was saying. “The room is magical. I love all the crystals and bottles. And your necklaces are just
“These are essential oils,” said Ana coming up behind me. “They are thought to have healing powers. What you have there is lilac. I like . . .” Ana scanned the wall, looking for something, “Ah ha! I like this one.” She selected a deep green bottle and unscrewed the top. She handed it to me and I smelled. The aroma was exquisite.
“What is this?” I asked, highly impressed.
“Night Queen – a southwestern desert flower that blooms only one night. I love that it smells like Lilac and Lily of the Valley and Rose. I think it’s like a combination of all the best flowers.”
“It is fabulous! I may have to get some, ” I replied, looking around the room.
“Dalca has shown me how to combine some of the oils with herbs to make healing salves. I actually used one concoction on myself when I burned my hand working on an engine. It took away the pain and healed really fast. Pretty cool. People like Dalca have some amazing knowledge.”
“You mean Gypsies?” I said, jokingly.
“Gypsies and witches and some more earthy individuals,” replied Ana matter-of-factly.
“Wait a second. You’re serious, aren’t you?” I asked, stunned. “You’re telling me that she really is a Gypsy? And that, what? Witches exist?”
“Just because you read all sorts of crazy stories, doesn’t mean there aren’t people out there who have special abilities and insights into the natural world,” said Ana, picking up a sea green bottle with swirls of silver lacing through it.
I thought back to that morning, in the hall, and the freshman with the glasses. “What do you mean, ‘abilities’,” I asked, unable to shake the vision of the shy boy who had looked at Ana and then was suddenly confident.
Ana seemed to chose her words carefully, “I just mean there are all different kinds of people out there, that’s all.”
I could tell that a conversation about whatever I saw in the hall was not going to happen. I’d pry it out of her eventually though.
She changed the subject abruptly, dodging any further questions, “Come on, let’s go eat.”
I followed her into the kitchen, which was laden with so many objects it was a visual overload. More books and countless baskets with herbs and root veggies hung from overhead beams.
Dalca had laid out quite a snack spread on the dark oval table, and I pulled out a chair and sat down, starving, “Oh, thanks, I am famished!”
“More than happy to feed you, my dear,” said Dalca with a warm smile. She sat down opposite Ana and me. “So, how do you like the Cape so far?” asked Dalca, pouring me a cup of dark coffee.
“It is a lot different from where I lived in Kansas, but the people are really nice for the most part,” I said smiling and glancing at Ana. “And I love your shop. Such great stuff. How did you get into all of that?” I asked, taking a bite of steaming scone.
“I am sure Ana told you that I am from Gypsy blood. Our family has handed down our traditions through centuries. We are more or less born with the instinctive knowledge and taught the finer points by elders as we grow up.”
I turned and looked at Ana, who seemed to be studying the book she had brought with her from the shop. It was an obvious attempt to avoid any questions I may have aimed at her. Ana had a talent, I was sure. Earthy my ass.
I sipped the hot coffee. It was strong enough to make hair grow in unwanted places.
“Understanding elements and nature can be truly helpful,” said Dalca, warming her long hands on her mug of coffee. “Essential oils, for instance, can be very powerful at healing and reducing pain. Some herbs are more potent than any modern medicine when in the hands of the right person.”
I nodded, as if I understood a darn thing she was saying. “The room is magical. I love all the crystals and bottles. And your necklaces are just
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