Over the Garden Fence: End-of-the-year reflections
The shocking blizzard hit but did not shut down another family gathering for us. Leftovers have been stored or shared; linens washed, folded and returned to shelves; and home is once again quiet. The imprint of 13 people, two cats and one dog in a house for more than two days is undeniable.
The aching in my heart over pre-holiday shortcomings lingers. In the good old days, more than 80 cards with letters were sent to far-flung friends. Around 25 dozen cookies were baked and shared with neighbors. "All-nighters" were a standard. Young then, life was already full of raising three children or teaching. As memories fade and earlier friends pass away, there is a different urgency.
Then cancer brought an altered pace. Leaving up the decorated tree last year gave me time to place decorations outside this year. Cookie time was replaced with meals cooked ahead for us. Holiday cards and letters were managed only for friends in Japan.
On my desk is a reflective notion, shared by Susan Monroe from an older person, "Marie." It took my breath away and provided calm — a prayer in a special form. Marie notes: "I no longer have time for endless meetings where statutes, rules, procedures are discussed knowing that nothing will be achieved. I want to live with intensity surrounded by people who know how to touch hearts, people taught by the hard blows of life those not inflated by their triumphs. "
The shocker is that a person unknown to you on the other side of the world can be scripting your every thought!
God knows my shortcomings and hears me when doubt fills my life. In my old age, He gave me stamina to be with my daughter Anne for a few weeks when she fractured every toe in her left foot after Mothers' Day. This brought need for my energy, including running five grandchildren in six directions. Recently I squared off with a chest freezer full of bloody water and fruit fragments after everything defrosted — three days before Christmas!
Even without the normal energy level, this year was loaded with triumphs. Am I the only one uttering "Merry Christmas" when something special happens? Summer was full of the usual flower shows here, at the state fair, a garden club convention and even a glad show at Lakeside where some of my art was showcased. Then my life was honored as senior citizen of Crawford County and a few weeks later Bucyrus' Citizen of the Year. How in the world does this happen?
Gardening tasks remain unfinished. Fencing needs to be installed to thwart the ravaging of lilies, daylilies and phlox by deer. Out in the world, decorations need to come down from the Bucyrus Historical Society, the train depot and in the dining room at Kingwood Hall. There are many unwritten thank you notes on the "to-do" list as the year closes.
Look for changes arriving in your life. They may be blessings in disguise.
Mary Lee Minor is a member of the Earth, Wind and Flowers Garden Club, an accredited master gardener, a flower show judge for the Ohio Association of Garden Clubs and a former sixth grade teacher.
This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Mary Lee Minor's end-of-the-year personal reflections
