Girls Like Us

Well…the garden has been planted in all its glory and we decided to expand it a bit more than last year. We both love playing in the dirt, creating a new configuration of flowers and vegetables along with a few new additions as well as our ever-present herb garden. We already have two very tiny tomatoes on our patio! Working in our garden has such healing energy… all of the different plants, each one needing its own special attention. You really must be present… kind of like our lives. We are all so unique but at the end of the day…all the same. We must pay attention to what we each need to thrive and blossom.

This time of year can pose some challenges. The kids are soon out of school and our routine for the past ten months is now put to the test. Of course…we’ll figure it out. We always figure it out. The key is not to get lost in the shuffle of the shuttling to and fro, back and forth, camp, summer classes, programs and such. It’s so easy to fall into that comfortable funk I continue to remind myself about, with n’er a thought otherwise. So, what happens then? Our “gardens” show signs of remiss, maybe even wilt a little from the lack of rich nourishment.

We hear lots of folks taking about “stay-cations”. I think I like that idea for many reasons. What kind of crazy adventures could we come up with right in our own back yards? How much money could we save by staying local and enjoying the sights and sounds of our nearby community? Local papers continue to hearken and beckon us to reach just a bit beyond our little town to take in all the other little towns have to offer; concerts, art openings, farmer’s markets, fairs, and much more. And…I’ll bet that most of this can be had for no more than the cost of a tank of petrol. Make a list and let each family member have a turn at choosing the next foray. Don’t forget games and snacks for the car ride. Oh, and by the way, I bet this kind of outing doesn’t induce that annoying and continuing question of “are we there yet”?

We recently had a very lovely outing at Nara Park in Acton. A short ride and fourteen dollars later, we were able to enjoy a beach setting, complete with white sand and an umbrella! We brought a picnic lunch and a couple games, Yatzee, of course, and had a very relaxing day, close to home. We left feeling relaxed and fortunate to have this special place nearby.

I think summer can be a time to reflect. We can each have a sense of how we want our lives to be and possibly take steps to move closer to those goals. It’s so important not to loose sight of our own well being in the midst of providing for our busy families. We don’t realize how much we do on any given day. A friend once told me if we were ever handed a list when we woke of all we were to do that day, we would stay in bed, I’m certain, he said.

Girls like us are competent women who are focused on the bigger picture most of the time. Let’s make sure we make the time to nurture and nourish our own little plots in order to reap a magnificent harvest in the not so distant future. We don’t have to figure out every last detail. Just by being true to ourselves, the details will fall into place, and take care of themselves. Before you know it, you will be picking the most beautiful and precious treasures from your garden to delight your senses and sooth your soul. Make a point to plant some really good seeds for yourself. You will indeed reap what you sow, I promise.

Deborah Ricci is a freelance columnist living in Maynard with her husband, Wil. She can be found joyfully cultivating her garden for the senses in her little shop, Teresina’s, in Downtown Maynard at 41 Main St. Wed.-Sat. 11-6. Feel free to contact her at 978-897-3914 or write her. Deborah@teresinas.com