It had never happened before! I was bottling some leftover peas soup – one hour under pressure and ‘Bob’s your uncle’. It’s ready to cool down, label and store in the pantry for a meal sometime down the road. EXCEPT that this morning, one screw cap and lid came completely off. Of course, I had no idea until the hour was up and I opened the canner. Oh My! I couldn’t take chances so it meant I had to start all over again. That got me thinking.
- The worst set of directions ever to be packaged with a product. The picture showed a beautifully crafted shelving unit. All one had to do was put it together. There were enough screws and fasteners to build a house – all different sizes. and shapes, of course. Halfway through it was very clear that the corners were off by a country mile and nothing was fitting properly. The only thing to do was to dismantle the works and start over.
- The Christmas stocking she had been knitting was almost finished. 70 rows! Then she noticed it – one whole sequence MISSING … knit 2; slip, slip, purl (decrease) 2. And, where else but in the fourth row. ERRRGGGHHH! Would anyone notice? DUH! She would. Leaving it was NOT an option. It would drive her nuts. She raveled the whole works out and started over.
- There was the homemade jelly that didn’t gel. Back to the drawing board with more lemon juice and Certo. There’s nothing like determination.
- You are right in the middle of a project and a friend drops by for a visit. You lay everything aside and put the kettle on. Hours later you’re back to the project and you have no idea where you left off, so you start over.
- It was gardening time again and I was hard at it – not that I really knew what I was doing. As a matter of fact, I am 4 years in and only now realizing my design plan is seriously flawed. Very few of anything is where it needs to be – the fruit trees, shrubs, flowers, vegetable plots – even the compost. Then the sun started to shine and, with a deep breath and determination, I thought, “Ah well, I will just start over!”
My last short story, Shadow in the Doorway, was a ‘start over’. I had been writing when I was interrupted by a knock on the door and then the whole sequence of events triggered a new story that was bursting to be told. I abandoned the other scribbles with the intent of picking up the pieces a few days later. Squirrel! I was madly off in 20 different directions and didn’t come back to my writing desk until yesterday.
The Shantyman Sings for Brigus
Have you visited Brigus lately? If you haven’t, you really should go. You really should! And if you can, attend a concert at St. George’s Anglican Church. It is such a beautiful old building and the acoustics – oh my! Built between 1876 and 1877, St. George’s is a landmark in the community. Now designated a heritage property, local people banded together to purchase and preserve it as an historic site. The venue is often open for musical productions like the one my friend and I recently attended.
Two tickets to a Sean McCann (aka the Shantyman) concert and we were off. We sat in that church and listened to Sean tell part of his story through song and humour. It was powerful! We were spellbound for an hour and a half. What an entertainer. What a storyteller. It was not just about music. It was about the line in the sand and about starting over again.
This was the first time I’d heard Sean McCann. Holy Crow! The church was packed. He started by walking down the isle singing a cappella. The volume and music in his voice were amazing. It reverberated through every board. He picked up the bodhran and sang another, getting us to join in the chorus. Then came the guitar, Old Brown. From that point onward, he had the whole audience singing with him – every song. Not a quiet or shy voice in this crowd let me tell you. Interlaced with bits and pieces of his story, we sang, we laughed and shed a tear or two. He had us hooked.
If you want to learn more about Sean’s story, check out One Good Reason, a book co-authored by Sean McCann and Andrea McCann, and be sure to visit his website, https://seanmccannsings.com/
Afterwards, my friend and I chatted about the experience and the strength it takes to face life’s challenges – the good, the bad and the ugly. How often is it that we simply have to stop right where we are and make the decision to start over.
Sometimes it is life-changing. You are not just walking a new path. With every step you take you are climbing a mountain.
- They had been so close for almost 50 years – always together, sharing everything, living their dreams. He died suddenly and now she must go on – alone. There is a gapping hole in the heart and there are challenges that go with moving forward – trying to fill each day with meaningful activities, establishing a new life.
- A home is completely destroyed by fire. Luckily no lives were lost but all material things are gone. For months, the shock of it resonates and then slowly plans are made and work of a rebuild begins. The couple will start over.
- Two partners decide to separate and strike off on different paths. Everything is affected – children, home, finances – dreams are shattered and each must find a way to start over.
Each of us has a story! Some are little instances in the run of a day. Some are monumental. Some are easy to figure out. Some need no figuring at all. Some are tough to deal with and tough to talk about – some more difficult than others. Some stories are sad while other are hilarious. Some are all about adventure. Some have elements of mystery or are mystical. And oh so many are about starting over.
The canner has been cleaned and put away.
From Embers by Richard Wagamese …
ME: What do I need to live at my best?
OLD WOMAN: Truth and courage.
ME: Not purpose and strength?
OLD WOMAN: Truth and courage are purpose and strength. They are the roots of everything powerful. Everything spiritual. When you keep your truth in front of you and have the courage to keep moving toward it, through anything that arises, you live at your best.
ME: Even if I stumble?
OLD WOMAN: Especially then.
…
I began to walk more gracefully after that.
Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. ❤️
A great read! Beulah, I suggest you freeze your pea soup from now on. Much easier/ and less frustrating!!! 😂😂😂
Each day is a new day so we are starting over . All, keep moving forward and enjoy the moment and create something new.
As always Beulah, I enjoy your “about the little things’! You definitely have a way with words that’s for sure! Too bad the pea soup flew the coup lol, but, that didn’t deter you from starting over!
That was just another obstacle you would conquer & all in a day’s work eh?
This was so interesting, as Pete summed it up pretty good,
Tomorrow is another Day! I loved that! As for me, when I wake in the morning, it’s a new day to try to be the best that I can be, & Thank God for the day to keep moving forward! 🙏😎❤️
oh Beulah , you have such talent, a way with words, l smile just reading anything your write. l know it will be powerful and funny. You always make my day , when l read your stories. Please keep writing so we can all enjoy it. Too bad about the pea soup incident , but l guess you got some of it bottled.
What to say about an insightful read, so much going through my mind and yet all I can say is Awesome read thank you.
Another enlightening tale of wisdom, symbolism and realism with the perfect dose of your signature humour.
Wonderful writing Beulah, John Lennon’s song kept running in my head lol. I love how you can weave heartache and joy in such a wise and humble way. Wela’lin ♥️