Digressions by D’reen

the Ramblings of
Doreen Uren Simmons

Hi Dear Readers: I’m back, at the most beautiful time of the year. Throw off the winter clothes and duvets. Get out the gardening tools and open your eyes to the glories all around. First come the Wood poppies, even peeking out from under the steps of the deck! And then, in our case, the sweet Wild geraniums who have spread all over the property …some even growing out of the asphalt by the mint! And now the Dames’ rocket are saying “Hey ..look at us …we’re taller than those others!” And one delicate and brave Wild columbine has survived the spring floods.

Yet to come are the Sweet peas, Anemone, Bee balm, and Evening primrose. The lilacs were beautiful, the Clematis survived and the grass is a rich green. Wealth. 

But…we ‘lost’ some loved ones this spring. There is a saying that death comes in threes, and so in the last month it did. Alice Munro, Albert Greer, and Bob Simmons. Alice was a dear friend from the 70s. Albert needs no introduction to you who were privileged to share him and his music. Bob was your editor’s wonderful father and my deeply loved former husband. How do we cope with their absence? 

Spring is renewal. It happens every year. Look around at the beauty everywhere. This is more than comfort…it is joy, as is memory. Those of us lucky enough to be ‘aged’  have incredible amounts of memories which are more than sustaining …they are renewing. We are passionately grateful for this. 

My goal is to ‘renew’ those qualities that gave me such joy. If this happens, we do not ‘lose’ our loved ones, we celebrate them daily …and we are privileged beyond belief.

Love and blessings…D’reen