Chapter 1: Embracing Change

As the winter chill begins to thaw, I resolve to embrace life once more.

Photo credit: iStock

By Georgia Kreiger

I find myself in an aging home in Ypsilanti, enduring bitter cold while commuting to work. Most of my time is spent cocooned in bed, wrapped in a wool blanket, resisting the winter's grip during Michigan's bleak January days. The cold seeps through the walls, and I feel a deep sense of illness, as if I might be at the brink of demise.

Navigating a divorce and adjusting to life without my grown children, I have relocated from the East Coast to the Midwest, where solitude reigns. This is my first experience of true aloneness, and the house feels like a haunting echo of lost souls, perhaps the remnants of those who once suffered within its walls. I wonder if I conjure their ghosts to stave off my own loneliness.

In my solitude, I observe the damage that time has wrought upon the house. Water stains spread across the living room ceiling, evidence of a leaky roof. A section of the bathroom ceiling collapses, showering the tub with debris. The decaying back door will eventually need replacing, but I push those thoughts aside.

As spring arrives, a decision takes root within me: I will thrive. The weather warms, and signs of life emerge in the neglected yard. The previous owner's love for gardening resurfaces, with tulips breaking through the remnants of last year’s foliage. Pea shoots stretch toward the fence, and one morning, I awake to the melodious chorus of birds.

Spurred by this renewal, I don my gardening gloves and venture outside. The yard is in dire need of care, and I am ready to tackle it. Being outdoors, working with my hands, will breathe new life into my weary spirit. As a child, I envisioned nurturing a vegetable garden, and now, a fenced section of the backyard awaits my attention. Though overrun with wild grapevines and rampant weeds, the area can be restored with dedication.

I remind myself that hard work has never intimidated me. I open the gate and step into the wild chaos. Small saplings have taken root amidst the thorns, and I know I must uproot them. I walk around, gauging the space's potential. How many rows of beans can I plant? Where will the tomatoes go?

Suddenly, my foot plunges into a concealed woodchuck tunnel, throwing me off balance and causing me to fall backward. As I lie on the ground, gazing up at the vast, unblemished sky, I realize that if I am hurt, I am yet to feel any pain. For that moment, as I stare into the endless blue, it is simply enough.

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Chapter 2: The Power of Music

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