Writing a blog feels like sitting down and sharing a cup of coffee with a good friend. It’s a regular activity, both comfortable and familiar. I also enjoy sharing my musings immensely.
So why did I stop writing? Perhaps I became bogged down with life. One of my greatest joys was obscured by appointments, illnesses, surgeries, and a raging fire that almost destroyed our home and burned through a good portion of our neighborhood while displacing us for several weeks.
We know how lucky we are that our home still stands, seemingly untouched by the relentless flames and smoke. We did, however, have a good deal of remediation to deal with. We began the process of restoration in January and still work to complete but prefer to do it at our own pace. Besides, the ashes continue to fall, nearly nine months later. As I observe neighbors engaged in restoring their homes and gardens, I realize that life and hope have returned to our small city by the sea, once inundated with smoke and ash.
This summer I’ve found joy in simple pleasures like watching the birds take their morning baths, seeing the resident squirrel sneak into the garden, sitting in our front yard while the foliage-laden birch branches sway in the summer breeze, and exploring the neighborhood with our dogs, greeting old friends and becoming acquainted with new arrivals.
One simple pleasure I’ve missed a great deal is writing. And now I will continue this long-neglected activity, one post at a time.