I couldn't help chuckling, thinking back to my response at sighting an alluring artichoke field last summer. Now, in stark contrast, those silvery, spiky leaves have sadly devolved to slimy, lumps protruding in desolate lines. And a pointy, fair-weather Phormium tucked into a creatively designed bed by the courthouse looks like it's crying in despair. This is the sad reality of an uncharacteristically chilly winter blast.
As 2013 draws to a close, some might feel a sense of melancholy reflecting on the passing of yet another year. I don't really mind the passing of time. I always look forward to January and the beginning of a new year--a new spring, a new growing season, another year to enjoy my garden, my loved ones and my life.
The only melancholy I feel is the fact that I'm getting older. I don't want to get older. I want to be who I am right now for a very long time. I don't want my body or mind to fall into decline. It's taken a lot of hard work to be where I am today. I want to savor it for a few decades. That's all I ask.
Unfortunately a good portion of our life is out of our control. There are no guarantees. Despite our efforts to control our longevity, stability and good fortune there are unseen hands guiding our journey and sometimes those hands point us in difficult directions. If we allow, those difficulties will make us stronger and wiser.
So as we close one door and open another, my wish for you my cherished friends, is a year of good fortune and stability. And if you are forced to travel a rough, foggy road, I wish you wisdom and strength.