Winter Thoughts

Sometimes when the weather, winter or my thoughts seem bleak; they often happen to be the times I find home most cozy. The past few days we have had sub zero temps. Winter weather has sent wind, snow and frigid temps- possible depths of cold despair. But instead of encountering gloom I have found respite in the comfort of a warm cup of tea, a warm blanket- curling up to read, feeding the little songbirds, ducks and geese through this cold spell. These sometimes are the most profound for me. It reminds me that many times it is the common, the usual and the ordinary that are really special as they help us navigate our way through troubled times.

A few years ago unexpectedly, my sister, Sharon sent me a child’s story book by James Herriot entitled The Christmas Kitten, known too as Buster: The Feline Retriever. She had also written me a small personal inscription inside the front cover. I was floored by the tenderness of her words to me and can never read the story without tearing up- not just for the wonderful story itself but by the kindness and love she sent me through a few simple sentences.

Sharon passed away a few weeks ago. When I received the call of her passing, one of the first things I did was read again The Christmas Kitten and read her beautifully handwritten note to me. Something she had seen in me that I hadn’t even considered about myself except that it was just something common, usual or ordinary. Instead it made me realize that none of us- our time or our days here are just common, usual or ordinary. We all make a difference here, at home in this realm.

Thoughts for navigating winter weather. Life at home on Green Heron Pond.

In loving memory of my sister Sharon, 8/7/48-12/22/23