A Fellow Traveller

My red geraniums that have blossomed so beautifully have stopped blooming and any nutrients are going only into the leaves. I have neglected to fertilize this season and yet am still expecting the blossoms to grow anyways. How can the flower develop without the punch of nutrition that comes from fertilizer? This summer I'm finding myself renewed by very simple things. A manicure, a pedicure and even a facial have helped to make me feel beautiful again in very simple ways. Time to read and talk with my husband has nourished my spirit, helping to make me feel loved just for being me. And time spent with girlfriends has encouraged me greatly through having coffee together, going out for lunch and just taking the time to chat about things close to my heart. With these weeks to fertilize and pump nutrients back into me, I'm hoping I'll be ready to bloom once more where I am planted.

A house in our neighbourhood that was becoming neglected and run down, gained new owners about ten years ago. These people have consistently made improvements, starting with an in-ground pool that replaced a sandy beach volleyball site in the back yard. Flowerbeds and lawns have become more impressive, and the roof, front door and windows have recently been replaced. This last month, a new surface of brown stucco replaced weathered wood siding, enhancing the brick around it. This morning I had a chance to talk to one of the owners as she left for work. "You must feel good, now that you have things looking so nice," was how I greeted her. Her response of, " Now we have to work on the inside ," made me start thinking. Is there no time to enjoy what has already been accomplished? They had painted inside as soon as they arrived and I thought things still looked good. Renovating seems to be a cycle that continues as we get more resources and our needs change. As I made c...

It was the fourth of July twenty-two years ago when our morning wedding was followed by an early afternoon reception. After celebrating with family and friends, we headed off to Toronto to begin our honeymoon. We recall being hungry and finding a Red Lobster Restaurant across the street. Last night we gathered once again at a Red Lobster, only this time with four teenagers and two sets of parents. It was nice to celebrate in this way, since it is a rare event for all our kids to be home at the same time. We were also celebrating the realization that when you marry an individual, you can't really separate them from their family of origin. You leave your parents to marry, cleaving to someone else and forming a new family unit. Yet that person you marry comes with a whole set of expectations and needs arising from how they were raised. It seems that parental influence continues under the surface, whether we are aware of it or not. We've moved past romantic love as being the basis ...

Over a month ago my husband and I selected white petunias and red geraniums for our front flower beds, quickly planting and watering them to get them off to a good start. A few weeks later, I noticed only a sea of green and white with no red visible at all. Upon further inspection, I saw that every geranium bud had dried up and brown sticks remained that came right out in my hands. That was when the heavy rains started. The surface drops of water were no longer running off or evaporating. Instead, the ground became soaked with rain that went deep to the roots, nourishing and causing fresh buds to grow. This morning I counted two dozen buds on each plant, marveling at the effect of good rains. Soon we will be enjoying beautiful splashes of colour amongst the white. At school, my colleagues and I have felt like plants struggling to bloom in arid conditions. Whereas our former caregiver had protected us from stormy weather and had tried to give us extra watering as needed, we have ...

My favourite blue Pyrex bowl was hot out of the microwave and sitting in the sink to cool. I had already dumped out the meatloaf on to a plate and was now trying to lift a small glass out of the centre of the meat. It suddenly slipped from the tongs I was using and fell into the sink faster than I expected. Sharp shards of glass bowl fractured and flew within the confines of the sink while the small glass remained intact. As I stood there in silence surveying the damage, I realized that the bowl was designed to handle the stress of heat. It probably could have also withstood the stress of impact. What it could not absorb was the combined stress of heat and impact all at once. What if there would have been water in the sink to help absorb the shock and stress? Would water have provided enough of a cushion to keep the bowl together so it could still be useful? When I have stress at work, I come home to peace and renewal. When I have stress at home, it is sometimes nice to go to work...

"Everyone has a mother, so everyone gets a flower." That's the thinking at our church on Mother's Day. If you won't be seeing your Mom, or your mother has passed away, you are to give your carnation to someone else deserving instead. Yesterday, I had the joy of seeing my children give their flowers away. My oldest daughter was quick to get her carnation and give it to her best friend's Mom. Not only is this Mom missing her only child who is already away for the summer, but she is still grieving the death of her own Mother. As she hesitated to take it and asked about me, I quickly moved in to reassure her that it was okay. Even though my son had already given his carnation to me, as we were driving out of the church parking lot, my middle daughter saw another mom leaving all alone. As she exclaimed that she had already given hers away, I offered mine. It was worth giving my flower away to see the joy on the face of the receiver, as this Mom wiped away te...

At our school, those celebrating birthdays are expected to bring in a treat to share with all the staff. As I baked a loaf of banana bread and added chocolate chips, I was simply trying to use up soft bananas. In thinking about what to make next for my birthday, I realized that if I brought the bread in to school, I would need to give it a special presentation. Nothing seemed quite right for it until I found a china dish from my good set of dishes, the ones I keep waiting for special occasions to use. What am I waiting for anyways? Since I'm turning 50 this year, I'm thinking in global terms about what I've accomplished in life so far and what lessons I've learned during the past decades. If I keep waiting until things are just right, before you know it, I'll be an old lady with lots of regrets. I learned years ago that if I waited until the house was perfect to invite someone in for coffee, it would never happen. So why do I hesitate to use my china dishes? I...