Welcome to winter!
Well, the drought has broken. I know that I was echoing
the words seemingly on everyone's lips.”It's so dry – we really really
need rain.” Absolutely it was needed. But put your hand up if you
actually wanted it! Those lovely long sunny days were wonderful. The
garden died, huge cracks opened up everywhere, the roads were filled
with water tankers, but the raincoat and umbrella remained in the boot.
Tennis, golf and the sea beckoned every day!
But – now I've got a freezer full of lovely mushrooms,
my broad beans are eighteen inches high and I now have every excuse to
light the fire of an evening. During that huge downpour last week my
roof leaked and the chookens (are they chooks or chickens?”)went off
the lay, having finally got on to it! The dog resumed leaving muddy
prints everywhere, and of course the firebox has to be cleaned out
daily.
It's all part of life's cycle, isn't it? There are many things to enjoy
each season although we all have our favourite. Mine is Spring, and
just thinking about it fills me with joy. So many shades of green, the
lambs, the lengthening days. The blossom, the strawberries and fresh
lettuces and asparagus. Just three months and it will be here again – I
have just three months of looking forward to it!.
I had a real wake-up call yesterday. At the Bridge Club
someone mentioned a lady I hadn't seen for several months. I looked
around for her, hoping to catch a glimpse – a lovely smiling and very
articulate lady, with a beautiful home and garden, a lovely husband and
family. When I didn't see her I enquired about her, only to learn that
she had quite suddenly become very ill, with cancer. My heart goes out
to her, and her family, and to those of you who are facing similar
realities of life.
Recently I listened to a former solo-mother speaking.
She told how she had been in a Post Office queue one day with a baby on
her hip and a toddler at her knee. As she reached the counter the baby
started to cry, and she struggled to comfort the child and to juggle
her bag to get her money out. Several people in the queue huffed and
puffed, making the mother of the restless child even more stressed.
Then a smartly dressed woman stepped up, smiled and asked if she might
hold the baby for a minute.
That was a formative moment in that young woman's life. She said it was
the first time she could remember that someone had actually gone out of
their way to do something to help her. It was just a small gesture, but
what a wonderful one. I found it very humbling, especially as I
realized that the helpful woman was unlikely to be me – I would
probably be huffing and puffing!
As I go through each day, grizzling and coping with the
small problems that occur, I intend to make a real effort to appreciate
the every day good things. You are my witnesses, and may remind me of
this as necessary.
Carpe Diem!
Beulah
