THE HEALING SOUTH

Each day, as we made our way through the Southern States toward Florida, we felt the sun grow warmer and watched the signs of spring appear. It had been a hard winter in many ways. The loss, at Christmas, of a beloved child and the recent assignments of two military grandsons, one to Iraq and the other to Korea, had left us bearing weights on both our hearts and minds. The frigid, below normal, temperatures and endless ice and snow seemed to reinforce our sad and somber state of mind . It was time for relief. We accepted the thoughtful invitation of a friend to visit her St. Augustine, Florida home. We drove down, avoiding the stress of tourist filled airports. As the countryside of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and finally, Florida unfolded warmly before us, we felt our spirits lift. We became aware of Life’s many truths taking place at any one time. We were beckoned to tap into the world of beauty and day to day joys that existed on the other side of our heavy-hearted experience. And, as we rested our minds and regained our perspective by focusing, for a few special days, on the warm, positive qualities of Life being lived, we were renewed in mind and spirit.

THE SEEDS OF DREAMS

February is the month when people often long to escape the vice grip of winter. Some of us go south to get an early dose of warmth and sun, yet most people stay at home biding their time and dreaming of green and sunfilled days to come. Apartment dwellers see, with their mind's eye, terra cotta pots brimming with tomato plants, plump green peppers, and juicy strawberries. Others envision window boxes spilling over with colorful, cascading petunias, and flashy geraniums. Homeowners, put pen to paper and sketch images of their garden plots, considering all the possibilities for annuals, perennials, grasses and vegetables. Seed catalogs come in February, tempting us with pictures we'd like to lift from the pages, of every conceivible flower and mouthwatering fruits and veggies. Our color starved eyes, having endured the monotones of winter, long for the bright shades of a garden in bloom. Our daydreams transported us into another relm where bees buzz, leaves dance in the breeze and roses turn their heads toward a warm sun. I run my fingers over the Burpee's Seed Catalog saying to myself, 'I'll take that..and that and that!' By the time I've finished my dream order, I have enough seeds, bulbs and saplings coming my way to start my own greenhouse! Of course, my final order will reflect a more realistic plan. I'll go back over the pages choosing only those plants that fit my small garden needs. But, oh, the enjoyment my spring focused thoughts have brought! I look down and find that a little patch of snow has melted near my feet. Could it have been warmed by my February dreaming? If you are winter weary, treat yourself to a warm daydream or two. Don't be sensible about it; let your thoughts transport you to a special place. It could be a garden, or a waterfall , a forest or a mountaintop. You decide. Close your eyes and engage your senses. When you return to the present, you will feel refreshed and ready to make it through the final weeks of winter. I'll be back in two weeks after following my own dream south. Blessings, Sandra