Spring Is here?

Notice the question mark.  Spring may have arrived on the calendar, but it is hiding its sunny face

from us here in the Pacific Northwest.  I woke again to another day of rain, wind, and cool

temperatures.  I am really getting the itch for some sunny days and better weather.  Gardening

isn't my thing, but about once a year I get the urge to plant something.  So off to the nursery

I went to gather a few posies and a few new pots with which to expend my yearly gardening

energy.  I think it turned out pretty good.  I'll just leave the rest of the spring gardening

to my husband.

My husband with the green thumb.

This rainy weather really doesn't do much for my energy level and neither did my late night

last night.  I'd like to say I spent it crafting, but I stayed up til 2 a.m. reading.

Anyone who knows me well, knows I really enjoy books.  My husband always knows

when the UPS man has delivered an Amazon box on our doorstep.  A new book

usually puts a smile on my face and a spring in my step.

Last nights nocturnal reading was 'Left Neglected' by Lisa Genova.

Some of you may recognize her name from her previous book 'Still Alice'.

I just love her books.   I think its because she depicts situations that could

happen to any of us.   Her books truly touch me because I can honestly put myself if the

shoes of these women she writes about.  Women who are in the full swing of life, with

careers, families, problems.  Women who are so busy taking care of everyone and

everything, that they really don't have time for what is to come.  Ms. Genova writes

about women who face neurological issues that bring their current lives to a halt.

 I have to admit I spent a few tears reading this book, just like 'Still Alice'.  My husband

can't quite understand how I can lay in bed, reading and crying and not wanting to

stop reading.  These are such well written stories, that while the situations are dire and

not without consequences, I come away with the feeling that these women, find something

so much richer, more valuable somehow than what they have lost.  This book

conveys the idea that our careers and material things (things that we think truly define us)

can be wiped out in a heartbeat.  That the true test of our success in life is how a person can

learn to live a life that has a 'new normal', and that our families, friends and the time

we spend with them is invaluable.  I know that life seems to move so much faster than

it used to.  These stories just show the possibility of gaining a richer life experience by

taking the opportunity to drop the trappings of our 'faster than light' lives.