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Slice of Life

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Dedicated to Grammie

It is March first. Time to slice for a month. I need to write for me instead of others. 
First procrastination: Create a new blog site...
Second procrastination: Fiddle with the design...
Third procrastination: Change my profile picture and so it went...

While I traveled this journey as a writer, I knew what I wanted to say, how I wanted to present myself, but nothing went the way I first planned. I wanted to create a blog that was positive. Why? My husband and I have had a run of bad luck lately and I just wanted to share how I keep my glass half full, how I know the sun is going to come up (those were already taken as blog titles and addresses). What was I going to call my blog? How would I write about a succession of set backs and how we just keep moving forward?

Enter...Grammie. Grammie always helps me out in a pinch. She is always there counseling me, coaching me, giving me words of wisdom. No, Grammie is no longer here for me to hug but she is here with me in the most important ways. She is in my head. She whispers to me when I need to hear her words. "Hands in the soil...Hands in the soil". Thus this blog is born!

You see Grammie told me, during a crisis, to get my hands in the soil when I was troubled. She said hands in the soil soothes the rough spots, gets you to focus on what is real and important. Hands in the soil help you discard that which you cannot change as you marvel at that which is amazing. Hands in the soil has been my mantra ever since. 

I live in Maine. I don't take hands in the soil literally. Five to six months of the year my hands cannot literally be in the soil (although I have plenty of plants inside). I see hands in the soil as a metaphor for going back to nature and all that is really important (you know self, family, love, nature). It reminds me to see all that is beautiful, graceful, powerful, and magnificent. I take the time to watch the eagle swoop onto a branch and eat its prey. I listen to the ice moan and crack on the river's edge. I watch the snowflakes gracefully dance their way to the snowbanks while the pastel rays of the sun peek through a cloud. I watch the intensity of my husband as he travels from bathroom to cellar over and over again completing a bathroom makeover. I think back to last weekend when our sons arrived for an impromptu visit and I still hear the laughter as we all gathered in the kitchen to enjoy their delectable meals prepared so lovingly for their dad and me. My family, nature, and whisperings from Grammie make my glass half full and keep me believing the sun will come up tomorrow.
 


6 comments:

  1. oh Wanda...and so our life does go... 'hands in the soil' beautiful mantra and encouraging Grammie. I will be looking forward to hearing more about her this month. I also love how you have have an eye for detail and beauty. xo nanc

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  2. Welcome to the SOL and thank you for sharing your wonderful post full of memories and potential warmth! Grammie sounds like a wise women who still hugs your heart with wisdom. I love your image of how she lives in your heart.

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  3. Welcome to the challenge! I love your hands in the soil lines! Remember to post your unique url on the main slice page. I have updated it for you! I can't wait to learn more about you this month!

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  4. I love the 'hands in the soil' phrase...so wise. Your writing style is easy to read...with lots of interest. I could picture the eagle eating its prey...and I could hear the ice cracking. Hope to read more of your posts. Jackie http://familytrove.blogspot.com/

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  5. Love the idea of "hands in the soil". Grammie was right. Dig in and get to it. Love the look of your blog. Can't wait to see what else you have to share this month!

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  6. I love the title, saw it first thing, Wanda, & then how great that you have such a beautiful reason for it. Our grandmothers were so wise weren't they? I hope my grandchildren believe I'm that wise someday! Sorry that you've had some problems, but glad that you have wonderful things to be thankful for. Those are the gifts that do matter day after day. Thanks for stopping by my blog, too! Glad to see you here!

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