It's New Year's Eve. There's a layer of crystal snow covering the yard. Not a lot. Maybe 2 inches. Last year was so much worse. I realize that if worse comes to worse, we are looking at no more than 8 weeks until spring. Sometimes March gives us a blizzard or two but never with that bone chilling cold we will have in the next 8 weeks. If we're lucky, we'll get a January thaw. Then up through the snow will come shoots of crocus. Life renewed.
I pacify myself with memories of last summer. The scent of 'innocents' mixed with fragrant purple/pink petunia set in pots on the back porch drifted up through the kitchen window. It was heavenly. I used to pot deep red geraniums. I love them but they don't have that perfume. There's a basket of seed geranium on a ledge in the basement, soaking up what light comes through that window. I've never been good at wintering over geraniums. Maybe this year. Purple petunia mixed with innocents cannot be beat for fragrance. They are inexpensive and put on a gorgeous display. I dream of spring and it's mild weather. Still I realize the minute we see the plantings arrive at the nurseries, the whole season will pass with lightening speed. Anticipation is the sweetest part. Just like the anticipation of Christmas, the anticipation of spring give me hope.
We leave behind the past as we step across into another year of life. One did not come with us. His name was Bill Lambert. I knew him when he was 4 years old. Together we braved kindergarden with our terrifying teacher, Mrs Folene. Bill was a wonderful boy, good natured, tall, handsome and athletic. He married and lived his life in our small home town, Dayton, Iowa. I believe Bill farmed. Life stretches friends apart. Bill has a twin brother, Bruce, who is left among those who grieve. Losing a sibling is one of the hardest challenges. I've lost my brother Bud and two sisters, Nora and Patsy. How did this happen? No one can really prepare us. Our hearts forever remain the hearts of children. How can life move so quickly, pushing us out of sweet childhood, into that harsh world of aging and death? I suppose we should all be thankful if we were lucky enough to enjoy a healthy childhood. Not all children are so fortunate. Still, the pain of our loss brings tears and aching hearts. God bless Bill as he makes his way with the angels toward heaven. God bless his brother Bruce, and his wife and family. I remember you, Bill. I will always remember you with a warm thought.
