May 14, 2025
There are flowers. There is grass. There are trees
with actual leaves! There were, at one point this week, a tiny but threatening
line of itty-bitty marching ants on my kitchen counter that I eradicated on
sight. The verdict is in: spring has indeed arrived!
Our daughter, a few weeks ago, purchased a small “greenhouse”
kit for her father. She wanted to give him something he could use to begin his
plants that did not involve his going upstairs. Assembled, the little shed
stands about five and a half feet high, and has four shelves. Surrounded by a
durable plastic, this new acquisition is currently on our front porch.
I believe it will have to be moved. Because while when
originally assembled it did indeed catch the morning sun, this will only last
for as long as it takes our walnut tree to come into full leaf. I estimate
another week, tops.
No seeds have as yet been started in this greenhouse,
but I am assured that something will be, shortly. If I am asked, then I will
offer an opinion. Until then, my job is to smile and nod and to keep my mouth
shut.
And this I can do most happily, because I have my
driveway back.
It all began a few years ago, when the town was
rebuilding the cross-street on the south side of our house. At that point in
time, David had a vision of something he wanted, so he told the workers—without
informing me at the time—that “No, no, there’s no driveway here.” And thus,
they did not make an accommodation at the road’s edge for a gentle dip down to
the driveway that no, was not paved and yes, was principally grass with a bit
of gravel. But it was most definitely a driveway, nonetheless.
I can freely admit that during the winter months that using
this driveway to go from a steep hill to our short driveway is a near
impossible feat. The hill is the first to be plowed, and the plowing would result
in the dumping of copious amounts of snow at the end of our driveway. Not to
mention the possibility of ice making such a sharp and delicate turn (even
without a snowbank) a true challenge.
None of us living here is capable of handing the task
of shoveling, nor necessarily getting out to scatter salt on a bare and icy
road.
However, in the good weather my using this driveway
will enable me to go from car to house without climbing any stairs! I can right
now navigate the six stairs from walkway to porch. It is difficult, and
painful, and takes a couple of minutes. But I can and do manage.
The day is not far off, however, when I won’t
necessarily be able to manage. What then? Well, we’ll cross that bridge when we
come to it.
As for the immediate term? We’ve been notified that the
street upon which we live is about to be dug up, new water mains laid, and then
the street itself repaved. I would not be able to park in front of my house for
God knows how long because this is construction we’re talking about. And when
it comes to Canada, we have two seasons: winter and road construction.
We lost our driveway because David wanted to purchase
and install a large outdoor storage tent that fit just right in the area
previously known as driveway.
But today I am pleased to announce, that after several
years of faithful service, that large outdoor storage unit had reached the end
of its term of service. And it now has been replaced by a much, much
smaller unit. And that means there is room for my car in my driveway once more.
I don’t have to appeal for a by-law exemption to park
my car on the lawn beside my house (on the grass that is next to the hill
street that has already been replaced by new). I can just pull into the
driveway and walk easily to my back door.
Therefore, I am happy enough to just let the others
who live here, then, make their decisions as they will about greenhouses and
gardens and such. A happy ending for all!
Yes, this story has one dangling thread—something that,
if you’ve read any of my 70 published novels to date you will know is not
something that I ever do. I acknowledge
that here and now. I will even present it to you here, in so many words.
What if by the time winter comes the construction work
on our street isn’t done?
Well friends, I happen to know this town. They won’t
leave it closed off and undrivable
during winter. They may not actually finish the work and pave it all nice and
right. But it will be drivable, and I will be able to park in front of my house
while the snow and the ice and the wind prevail once more.
Either way, I win.
Love,
Morgan
https://www.bookstrand.com/morgan-ashbury
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