Changing Times

It’s the last weekend before the official start of spring. Any way you slice it, in whatever part of the country you live—that’s cause to celebrate. Even here in Saskatchewan, we’re feeling it. After last weekend’s storm (when Cranky Old Man Winter gave his all for one last blizzardy blast), I believe the worst is behind us. Melt is happening and, though nighttime temperatures are still cold, there’s promise in the long-range forecast.

I started a Friday’s Fave Five post yesterday but didn’t finish it. Life was different this past week. Gerry was away, Makiya was here, and I spent a good chunk of time either driving or waiting. I drove Miss M to school in the morning and waited until it was time to drive back to Caronport to pick her up. We returned to Moose Jaw and, most days, I drove her (and sometimes a friend) to the swimming pool or somewhere else. Then, I waited until it was time to pick her up or until another parent dropped her off. Waiting and driving and staying awake past my bedtime: that sums up the week that was.

On another note, I attended my first meeting with a local writer’s group this week and it was time well spent. I wrote a piece of fiction to a prompt for the meeting and read it there. It was such fun playing with words and crafting the piece. I loved Makiya’s open-mouthed response at the end when I read it to her (there was a similar response when I read it at the meeting). There’s a cast of characters who have been living in my head for years and I’m feeling the pull to let them come out.

I’ve written creative non-fiction for years. I love the genre and the gifts writing about one’s life offers the writer and, when it’s done well, the reader. I’d like to give my attention to something different in this season when so much has changed in the world at large and in my world closer to home. I have nothing specific in terms of a writing project in mind at the moment. It seems like a good time simply to dabble and see what surfaces.

There has been so much change in recent years, starting with the train wreck that was 2020 followed by the horrific forest fires and atmospheric rivers of 2021. 2022 was another year of change, as we decided to move to Saskatchewan and the effort of downsizing began in earnest. Now, here we are in 2023 and I’m ready for a good measure of “same” but that is not to be this year either. I’m getting kinda tired. Can anyone else relate?

Anyway, we’re on the cusp of spring and that’s sure to bring good things. I’m looking forward to gardening in this different climate and getting to know the characters who have been living in my head a little better. Sometimes, change is good, isn’t it?