Love and Horse Chestnuts

From a seed a mighty trunk may grow ~ Aeschylus

As my husband, Dennis, went off to jury duty recently, I got to thinking back to one of my courthouse visits. After I walked through security, the officer pointed to the scanner screen and very nicely asked me, "What's the round object in the bottom of your purse?" I wasn’t sure what he was talking about so I riffled through my little purse and began to smile. I pulled out a very smooth, shiny horse chestnut (some may know them as buckeyes). I said, “You’re probably wondering why I have this in my purse?” He raised his eyebrows, shrugged his shoulders, and smiled. I explained that it came from Volunteer Park in Seattle where my husband and I went on our first date and where we had gotten married many years ago. I went on to say that my husband picked it up under one of the numerous horse chestnut trees in the park, cleaned it off, and gave it to me as we were wandering about on one of our visits. I even mentioned that when I run across the chestnut in my purse, it reminds me of how much he loves me. The security officer smiled and said that he had never seen a horse chestnut come through the scanner before, and that it was something he would not forget.

It may be a scent, a taste, a song, a feeling, or the sight of a chestnut that captures a surprise memory of long ago-like when I run into the love I have rolling around in the bottom of my purse. This surprise memory not only reminds me of how much my husband loves me, but how much our love has grown through the years. Yes, a mighty trunk has grown. While I have forgotten how long ago I received that little gem of a chestnut, I have never forgotten the sentiment behind it and cherish that sentiment each time the surprise memory comes to mind.

Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) photo courtesy of Plant Image Library

I’ve Got This

I had moved past the anger issues I felt when my abdominal surgery was scheduled. I went on a lovely European vacation and did not waste a moment on anger. In the days before the surgery, I informed my nearest and dearest as to what was going on. I asked them to send their wonderful, powerful thoughts and prayers my way the morning of the surgery. I also made sure my inner circle of loved ones knew they did not need to worry, because, I’ve got this. The outpouring of love and support aimed in my direction was amazing.

In the early morning hours prior to surgery, I took a moment to collect my thoughts and fill my heart with peace. On the drive to the hospital, I could feel a mounting surge of energy rise up within. Weird, I know, but take a look at that woman in the picture above. Does she look like someone heading to surgery?

Various surgical staff made preparations, and I was wheeled into the surgical hall. I felt as if I was floating above the cart with my loved ones supporting me. I was in glow mode by the time I rolled through the surgery suite doors. For what seemed to be the hundredth time that morning, I was asked what they were seeing me for. I remember tilting my head up so I could see everyone and announced, in detail, what they would be doing today. I was speaking loudly, as if in front of an audience, and I remember looking directly at each one of them. I noticed them nodding and smiling, like whoa, who is this? I could feel them saying, she's obviously got this! You should know, to this point, I had not been given any type of medication, just in case you were wondering.

In the moments prior to gently drifting to sleep, I felt lifted up by those wonderful, powerful thoughts and prayers aimed in my direction. It felt quite extraordinary, as if I had entered a surreal musical of sorts. I half expected this audience I had been addressing to break into song and dance. One of the surgical staff set my headphones into place and plugged me into my music. What was playing in my head during surgery? That would be baroque classics⎯the music to the very real surgery about to take place. When they began to sedate me, I remember thinking⎯I’ve got this!

It’s been seven weeks since the surgery, and I can honestly say the whole experience was incredible. What I felt the morning of the surgery was a big group hug of light, love, and energy. I can still feel the glow of that morning and know as I begin each day, I’ve got this!

Photo from my private collection.

In Celebration

My husband, Dennis, and I are marking our thirty-fifth wedding anniversary. To me, wedding anniversaries show the commitment and strength of long, enduring friendships. These are friendships like no other for they demonstrate the test of time while living under one roof. This is not an easy accomplishment at all, because not everyone figures out how to do this. So, how do married people find their way?

• Respect
• Patience
• Communication
• Sharing
• Giving

Learning to truly love comes with time and can get better with time, much like a fine red wine. Over the years, I have fallen in love with Dennis over and over again. As the years multiply, we know we are in the minority and smile gently at one another as if we have a deep, dark secret.

We will celebrate our occasion with a quiet dinner for two. In the next few weeks, my uncle and aunt will be celebrating their fiftieth wedding anniversary with a big bash. However you choose to celebrate, it is important to understand just how special each passing year with one another is.

Monkey love above, unable to find attribute

Dear Barbara, a Remembrance…

My friend Barbara died at 84 years young this weekend. I share this with you, because Barbara embodied the meaning of It Is What It Is. With chronic issues such as scoliosis of the spine, osteoporosis and celiac disease, she knew what it meant to get over it and move on.

I first met Barbara and Bob 37 years ago when I began working in the maintenance offices at a local pulp and paper company. Nurse Barbara gave me allergy shots and I knew her husband, welder Bob, from maintenance. Barbara was interested in a hobby of mine; that of collecting weeds, flowers, and various pods to dry and craft into arrangements. In those days, you were not able to buy dried products like you are today. So, Barbara decided she would collect things for me to dry⎯much to the chagrin of Bob, as they stopped along the roadside from here to wherever they were driving. Barbara never left home without her garden gloves and hand clippers; and I was forever nicknamed Podpicker by Bob.

Thus began a long and enduring bond of lunches and garden visits. With her love of perennials, Barbara shared plants with me one cutting or one shovelful at a time. By doing this, she instilled the gift of gardening in me. She followed me through my successes and failures in the garden and as I moved onto Master Gardening, becoming a Certified Professional Horticulturist, working at a nursery and public speaking on garden topics. For more than a dozen years she would sit front and center, smile and beam with joy, as she listened to my garden talks over and over again. She was as proud of me as anyone could be.

Why do I tell you my story? Because Barbara has been so intertwined in mine. She taught me compassion⎯as I watched the quintessential nurse care for many, and generosity⎯as she donated food and time to local charities. She showed me how to work through the ups and downs of chronic health issues with strength and dignity, and just what it takes to be a “hard gardener” (her words) who could tame the earth and help it smile with flowers. With her kind ways, and heartfelt love, we will all miss her; but one thing I know for sure⎯there is a place in heaven for “hard gardeners.”

With love, gratitude and friendship,

Podpicker

Santa Barbara Sunset courtesy of vgm8383

Simmering Love

Year after year it never fails, as we draw in the last days of autumn, the thought of a hearty bowl of homemade soup pulls me into the kitchen. Making soups, chowders, stews and chilies goes back to when I was a teenager. Yes indeed, I have been chopping away and throwing all sorts of food mixtures into a large pot for many years. You don’t even need a recipe. Some of the best soups I have made come from clearing out my refrigerator. I would consider it a bit difficult to make a bad soup when the ingredients going into the pot are those you love.

I enjoy the process of preparation as I set the ingredients out before me and start peeling, chopping, slicing and dicing. It is rather a Zen feeling as I focus on the matter at hand. Yes, for me, soup begins as a state of mind and moves my hands to create a bowl of simmering love. You heard me right; preparing a meal of any kind is a gift of love to those seated at your table. But the sheer simplicity of a bowl of soup seems to transcend all other food. I can almost taste the soup as I throw each ingredient into the pot. The moment I engage the sense of smell and taste the hearty concoction before me, this bowl of love warms me from the inside out.

Don’t let the thought of making soup strike fear in your kitchen. Engage your senses and nourish your spirit, join me in a bowl of simmering love; and don’t forget⎯any kind of soup is good for the soul.

All you need photo courtesy of Dennis Skley

Mom

When I was a kid I always liked planning special things for my mom or dad on their birthdays, wedding anniversary or on Mother’s and Father’s day. I remember asking my mom when there would be a kid’s day, she replied, “Everyday is kid’s day!” I’ve never forgotten what she said because it really hit me⎯she was right. So much of everything parents do in their life is centered on raising their children. Of course a kid might say, “AND rightly so!”

Even though your mom may no longer have children at home⎯she still cares, worries and loves each one every single day. So whether or not you are planning something special on Mother's Day remember this⎯the love of your mother is like no other kind of love⎯today and every day. This is something we should all be grateful for!

Happy Mother’s Day

Polar Bear photo courtesy beingmyself @ Flickr
Rhino photo courtesy of walanbaker @ Flickr


© Copyright 2011 Michelle Clark

Share the Love in One Simple Step

February 14th is Valentine's Day and by now you have probably sent the cards, bought the flowers or candy and maybe even have made dinner reservations at some special place. Valentine's Day is a good time to remember your loved ones and let them know how you feel. BUT you forgot someone…YOU! Perhaps today would be a good time to share the love and give your SELF a great big hug. You do a lot for everyone else; so today don’t forget about YOU, and don’t ever disregard how important you are! And hey, tell yourself that fact every once in awhile. You don’t have to wait until Valentine’s Day to share the love!

To get a historical perspective on Valentine’s Day, there is a great summary and fun facts on Wikipedia.

And to all my Valentine’s out there, thank you for being part of my journey.

© Copyright 2011 Michelle Clark