With Everything, Turn, Turn, Turn

I sense change coming. From this side of nearly six decades, a most profound lesson I’ve internalized is that we will always face new challenges. Sometimes the current season feels like trouble that’s here to stay. When you have a two or three-year-old throwing a fit as they work out exactly what they can control while you’re trying to get them to an appointment, it feels like the time of toddler tantrums will last forever. This, too, shall pass, Unless it’s won’t. Then, whatever the never-ending battle is, it becomes a season unto itself.

For sure, life will be different after my mother-in-law moves in with us. That will change everything. There will be many new experiences.

Our aging dog’s liver is dying, has been for a few years now. She’s really slowing down and keeping herself to herself more than was typical. She’s the best dog in the world; fight me.

We haven’t had any stretches of sunshine to remind us summer is on its way, and the cold, gray skies bring a general malaise for those of us who already treasure our precious few months of warm, sunny, blue skies. Take away regular short periods of enough sunshine to give us hope in the lead up to summer, this outdoorsy population gets grumpy. For me, it’s looking forward to days warm enough to have my morning coffee on the deck. A wee bit of gardening flowers in a few large pots brings me joy, though a far cry from the borders, rocks, and variety of flowerpots I’d plant myself, feed & water, and clean for the season. Our newly-acquired, small, hanging birdbath and cute, wooden cabin full of birdseed occupy opposite sides of a tall shepherd’s hook, and I’m happy to say we’ve become quite popular with all manner of songbirds. This tickles me and there’s joy in that. I’d love to be out there all day but heavy winds and rain most days sends all of us birds to our nests.

Transparency will not extend to familial relationships because they didn’t sign up. There’s nothing wrong, no conflict, just that I dread the next season.