Imagine the Possibilities

I am participating in the March Slice of Life Story Challenge. Thanks to the co-authors of              Two Writing Teachers for creating this  supportive community.

I consider myself an adequate cook. Not a great cook, or even an exceptional cook, but definitely adequate. Allan says there a just a few instances he can recall when he thought I might be trying to kill him. One of those occasions actually occurred before we were married, when I made some seafood dish in my new crock pot. Let’s just say the after effects were not pretty. But he married me anyway.

A few days ago I started making tacos for dinner. I used to use the packaged powder seasoning, but now I season it myself with garlic and cumin and coriander (less sodium) and mix it with tomatoes and beef. The recipe calls for diced tomatoes with jalapeño peppers. Usually I can find that, but apparently not on my last trip to the grocery store. So instead I just bought a can of jalapeños. I wasn’t sure how much of the can I should use, so I just dumped in the whole thing. Wrong choice.

The tacos smelled great. The tacos looked great. But with the first bite, there might actually have been smoke coming from our ears. Well, maybe not that bad, but enough for Allan to comment that I might be trying to kill him again. A little spicy, aren’t they?

With just two of us, we often have leftovers for lunch the next day. The rest of the taco filling is still in my refrigerator. I guess that says something. Want to stop by for lunch?

I am participating in the March Slice of Life Story Challenge. Thanks to the co-authors of              Two Writing Teachers for creating this  supportive community.

January was a blur. February was a little better. Now it’s March, and my sights are set on March 30 when it will be a full three months since I had my right knee replaced. I am getting better every day, but for many weeks I did nothing more than exercise and rest (Allan would say I also sighed a lot).  But with lots of time to think, here are ten things I learned over the past two months.

1. Physical therapy is grueling.
2. Being a good care-giver does not necessarily mean you will be a good care-receiver. In other words, I’m a terrible patient. (Allan should probably be elevated to sainthood).
3. Get-well cards and phone calls really do lift your spirits.
4. Friends who stop by with meals and/or other assorted goodies are angels.
5. When you are told it will be a full three months of recovery and physical therapy before you are feeling back to normal, believe it.
6. Physical therapy is grueling (worth repeating that one).
7. Even after forty years of not having much to do with meal planning and preparation, your husband can learn his way around the grocery store and the kitchen.
8. You know it’s time to start getting out more and doing more when “The Price Is Right” becomes the highlight of your day.
9. Learning to nap well is an art.
10. Being helped into your pajamas, tucked into bed, and kissed good-night is comforting at any age.

I am participating in the March Slice of Life Story Challenge. Thanks to the co-authors of              Two Writing Teachers for creating this  supportive community.

Outside, the fat, heavy raindrops were just starting to turn to wet snow. The wind blew hard as shoppers scurried for shelter.Outside, the fat, heavy raindrops were just starting to turn to wet snow. The wind blew hard as shoppers scurried for shelter.

Inside, five members of my critique group talked about our latest manuscript revisions.
Outside, the snow continued to fall.  No worries. It’s not really sticking yet.

Inside, passersby in the café might have heard these snippets of conversation:

I think you can totally get rid of the mom.

          Wait, are there really that many roosters living on a farm at once?

          I don’t think Joey would leave all his treasures on the side of the road.

          How would a hippo and a penguin get from the zoo to the aquarium on public                        transportation?
Outside, the wind continued to blow and the snow continued to fall, covering the cars and grassy surfaces in heavy, white flakes.
Inside, the lights flickered once, then twice, then went out. But our small group of writers continued to discuss possibilities until…
“Sorry, ladies, but you’re going to have to leave. We’re closing the store.”
Reluctantly, we all ventured out to clean off our cars and make our way home. For some it took two or three times longer than normal, but we all got home safely with new ideas for revisions.

I am participating in the March Slice of Life Story Challenge. Thanks to the co-authors of              Two Writing Teachers for creating this  supportive community.

My anticipation grew as I walked from the parking lot, up the stairs, and into the east conservatory at Longwood Gardens yesterday. I opened the door and there it was – that incredible perfume – from hundreds and hundreds of orchids.

As I made my way to the children’s garden to begin my shift, I began to notice the colors – the whites and yellows and purples and reds –  giving way to blue. And then I remembered that this was a transition week. The winter blues festival starts this weekend, so flowers boasting every conceivable shade of blue were being planted for display. I noticed primrose, blue coleus, hydrangea, pansies, and a spikey new-to-me plant called Pride of Madeira. Since I had some time I was able to scout out the rare and fleeting Blue Poppies. These beauties are native to the high elevations of the Himalayan Mountains, but at Longwood they are magically cultivated for a short time, about two weeks, in the conservatory in early spring.

I was reminded of the book by Eileen Spinelli If You Want to Find Golden, except in this case I would have to say “If You Want to Find Blue.”

If you want to find blue

Look for it in the hydrangeas and coleus

Lining the path of the garden walk.

If you want to find blue

Let the giant blue poppies

Transport you to the tops of the Himalayas.

If you want to find blue

Come to Longwood Gardens

And enjoy the Winter Blues Festival.