Double portions

Soon after my husband passed, a friend confided, “I don’t mean to discourage you, Iris, yet I think it might help you to know the second year after my husband passed was more difficult than the first.”

In this season of persistent grief, I’ve come to identify with her experience, and am grateful for her courage, friendship, and loving words.

For they provide double portions of solace I draw upon each daybreak.

Blended with my faith in God, her truth guides me through this valley of the shadow of death, plants my feet in the land of the living.

The land Mel and I purchased in 1987, where we built our little Cape Cod and sowed two acres of grass seed.

Presently, a small plot of Grosso lavender blooms, swarmed with honeybees and bumblebees. Thus far, a friend and I have harvested and hung thirty-five bundles of Grosso to dry in the pavilion built in 2005 to dry the crop.

And I’ve much more to harvest.

For I first experienced lavender’s healing benefits in my perennial island in 2004, seven years after my firstborn daughter’s death in July, 1966. The vision of Yule Love It Lavender Farm followed with ten years of welcoming the public into blooming fields to harvest their own healing.

Thus, the phone call from Barbara last week. A former farm guest, she said, “Iris, I’m so hungry for lavender I can’t wait to hold a bundle.”

We scheduled July 17, 10:30 a.m., for a visit in the lavender field.

“Would you like to bring a friend? Such reunions must be shared,” I said.

“Yes, thank you!”

Several days later, Joni, another lavender lover, called for a farm visit July 17 with a friend. “We want to take you to lunch after,” she said.

Thus, I anticipated a double portion of companionship July 17.

Barbara and her friend Sue arrived promptly, eager to walk to the field.

“Before we harvest, Earl Grey tea and a lemon currant lavender scone wait on the table,” I said.

Afterward, beside the lavender field, the ladies found bee stings too risky, and decided not to harvest.

“I’ll drive us down the hill in my golf cart to the pavilion for you to choose a bundle.”

Not familiar with my harvest methods, my guests looked to me puzzled, yet gladly complied.

“I hang the lavender bundles in the pavilion to dry in the dark,” I explained.

Like eager children, my new friends stood beside me as I unlocked the pavilion door to the scent of lavender.

“Oh, that’s what I’ve been hungering for!” Barbara said.

My guests selected a bundle each.

Dear Reader, at last, Barbara and Sue held lavender to their faces. I drove us up the hill to Barbara’s car.

My first guests passed Joni and her friend Renee in my driveway.

We three repeated the visit to my table for tea and scones, the lavender field, and pavilion.

And for a double portion, we dined together on the deck of Lakeville’s charming eatery overlooking Lakeville Lake.

Indeed, how blessed to be befriended.

Contact Iris at irisfarmletters@gmail.com