Benefits of tribulation

As tribulations sometimes bear silver linings, the rain leak in my basement last week proved beneficial.

For the mess provoked a purging. No more procrastination.

Now, that challenged my instinct of a purebred sentimentalist whose mother preserved a hand-made baby sweater and cap in her cedar chest. I keep these heirlooms in a dry spot in my basement.

There, my father’s Marine military jacket also abides with my wedding gown and veil. I never thought to ask my mother what happened to her beautiful gown and veil, both puddled around her feet in a wedding photo I display in my living room.

Oh, did I truly say “puddle”?

Nonetheless, I aimed for under the basement steps where I’d already weeded items never used. However, I’d kept my girls’ high chair, a baby shower gift. Couldn’t let it go.

So, I reasoned with myself. “You’ll never use this again. Put it in your car.”

This I did until I packed my little Prius with Flintstone sleeping bag, Fisher Price toys, red plastic treasure chest, and other once-loved and useful things.

The staff at Seven Ponds Nature Center helped me unload and carry my donations downstairs to the rummage sale room. My goodness! You’d have to see it to believe it.

Afterward, I received an email from Kelly, one of the two faithful leaders of the Seven Ponds Herb Group, of which I am a longstanding, yet lately truant, member.

Kelly noted her co-leader, Jeanette, would be making lip balm during the meeting, and the group would make their own bottle of bug spray.

Oh, I didn’t want to miss this meeting.

This past Tuesday I carried upstairs two vintage chairs I planned to refinish and knew I never would. Again, I filled my car with such neglected items.

After a good night’s rest, I fed my cats and cleaned their litter (TMI); watered my overwintered Passiflora incarnate, begonias, geranium, and succulents in the dry, sunny, cheerful corner of the basement.

After an oatmeal breakfast and anticipating three drives north in one day to meetings, the staff at Seven Ponds helped me unload my car.

In the meeting room, Jeanette stood stirring the ingredients to Jan’s Recipe for Creamsicle Lip Balm in a measuring cup on a hot plate. Now, Jan is the Herb Group’s former fearless leader who introduced us to the lip balm. And many more natural products, including the bug spray.

Kelly sat with the members and prepped the bug spray ingredients, discussing the properties of various essential oils. I’ve known most of these women for years, some younger, some older.

After missing many meetings the past year after my husband’s passing, the feeling was similar to returning home after a long departure. I wondered out loud why younger women have not joined our group throughout the years.

Several women said they joined herb group after they retired from their occupations.

Dear Reader, I was in my early fifties when someone informed me of Seven Ponds. Twenty-some years later, I still enjoy the group’s benefits and have no plans to retire from the Herb Ladies.

Contact Iris at irisfarmletters@gmail.com