Out of the earth comes life

Christmas is coming and mine is going to be very simple. I did take it upon myself to grow two Amaryllises. I hope they will have full double red blossoms. They arrived from White Flower Farm in beautiful linen bags.

The potting instructions say: “Place a well-drained potting mix in a tub. Slowly add warm water and stir with your hand until the mix is moist and not soggy.” That line made me think. Soggy would make the mix set up like cement, but moist would make the potting soil a muck where life can grow.

When will there be growth? Patience is necessary. It will need more time in the earth and more time to receive light before it will grow and the blossoms will flourish. I too need more light. I try to walk daily and absorb as much sunlight as possible even when it is very cold.

Presents have come in from my son Gregory, Sally, Ally and her children and my sister Carol. They are tucked under my green ficus tree trimmed with white lights. There are many blooms already in my life. Though I haven’t seen Gregory in many months, we have occasional “Kaffeeklatches” by phone where we catch up on our lives. I like these times of talk, sipping good coffee with no agendas and no plans. He is one of the lucky ones who can work from home.

I am wide-eyed and fixed on the bulbs. I am waiting for the green growth and the red blossoms. And this hope will infuse all that I do and how I live this New Year. There will be changes in my life and lessons to be learned from the past year.

Merry Christmas! Be gentle on yourself and others. Everyone–no matter how they look–is carrying a large burden.

(Pastel and Japanese Ink Brush drawing by Diana Motch Dwight.)