So, I have this small potted rose I got a few months before we left Florida. It never did anything there; I barely kept it watered. But, once I got it here (after B drove it cross-country), it's absolutely flourishing. Except it sometimes isn't…drying up and dropping all its leaves if it's too cold, turning brown when the sun is too intense, drooping between waterings. But it always comes back with a bit of care, growing a lush set of new leaves.
It hasn't bloomed yet, but it's working on it.
And it feels like that has been a metaphor for our lives since we arrived in Idaho. Wilting, then resting and caring, then flourishing, just a little bit stronger every time. We're not blooming yet, but we're working on it.
Downsizing and leaving FL was the right move for us. But life has been both much harder and, at the same time, way easier than ever before. Outside these walls, the globe is filled with horrors; closer to home, seemingly insurmountable challenges continue to pile up.
I wish I had sage words of wisdom for you. Like everyone right now, I'm still struggling to figure this all out. Know you're not alone. And that the small moments of life matter. We might wilt a bit, but we care for each other, ask for help when we need it, and start to grow leaves again.
So, if you need me, I'll be making sure we're all fed and watered (including that rose), relishing these last few days of above 40deg temps, and gathering up all the…