Antics and Recommitment

The ditch by the side of my driveway was full when I arrived home from work last week.  I could hear it and finally, I could actually see it thanks to the time change. The early spring thaw reminds me that I need to take a moment to reorient and recommit. When the sun shines again with a promise that the waters will flow I commit to following in step while navigating emerging realities. When the bluebird finds home at the edge of the field, and the robin begins collecting old grass, revealing new green patches, I commit to rebuilding what needs attention. When my children climb the trees by their gardens after the drifts and ice have made way, I commit to adventure and new possibilities. People say that everything is "waking up". It is a time to renew, revive, and persevere. Today I am recommitting to my garden, my family, my land, my friends, my job and last week I also recommitted to a role I have not paid enough attention to- my role as a Library Trustee in Sheldon.

This is my final year as a Library Trustee and I have pledged to be more involved. At my meeting the story unfolded as one would predict: "I nominate...all those in favor...the motion...". As you may see in many children’s books though, sometimes the pictures carry a sub story. Goodnight Gorilla, for example, is a picture book about a gorilla who follows the zoo keeper through the zoo as he says goodnight. The antics of a mouse and his banana are what really capture your attention on each page, though. So there we sat at our Library Trustee meeting with mice and bananas carrying on under the surface. Some trying trying to figure out how to be more confident and engaged; some carrying a weight of concern about sustainability of the library and of Sheldon, during this day and age; some skeptical of managing new ideas if there has never been a precedence. But in the end it was a pretty good meeting. A “nice visit” as my nana would say. And this story will continue to unfold. The best stories always have antics in the margins and the best reader always notice and talk about them.

My son left a sandwich bag with a banana in it on the front seat of my car, I know because now that the time change has kicked in I can see it . I think I will eat it as I drive home today in honor of my commitments... renew, revive, persevere and enjoy the antics along the way.