A not-quite true tale

By Christine Tailer
HCP columnist 

This story is fiction, but it was inspired by a true tale, told to me by a friend. It goes something like this.

They had been married for 37 years. They'd bought their home and raised their children there, and then, one by one, the children had grown and moved off into the world. It was shortly after the youngest child moved out that her husband had died. He'd passed easily. She was right by his side.

After her final farewell, she returned to their home and slowly began going through his clothes and treasures. Some things she kept for herself. Others she gave to the children. Still others things she dropped off at the thrift store, and then she sat back and wondered what she should do with herself now.

One day her sister, who lived on the other side of town, stopped by for cup of coffee. With a smile, her sister suggested that she sell the house, and buy a smaller one across town so the two of them could be closer together.

She listened to her sister and sold her home and bought a smaller house just down the street from her sister's. It was a lovely little two-bedroom and had room for a small garden out back. Flower beds lined the walkway leading up to the front door.

She settled in easily, and even though she missed her husband dearly, she enjoyed spending time with her sister. Some evenings they sat on her front porch sipping herb tea and talking about anything and everything. Her life was different, but it was good

Her children began to stop by more often. They would all gather around the table and put puzzles together. Even the grandchildren joined in. Sometimes the grandchildren would spend the night and the next morning she would make them whatever they wanted for breakfast: eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes or waffles, and sometimes they asked for all of it all at once and of course she obliged. Yes, life was different, but it was good.

Very early one hot summer morning her sister again stopped by. A fresh pot of coffee was already brewing. Her sister had a huge grin spread across her face. The two hugged and then her sister exclaimed "The naked ladies dancing in your front yard look so jolly!"

She quickly let go of her sister, hurried into the kitchen, and picked up her phone from the counter. She began to dial 911 to report the indecent women cavorting on her front lawn. Her laughing sister followed behind.

"Oh no, dear sister. Put your phone down and come look."

Cautiously, she returned to the front door. She peeked outside and there, to her utter amazement, she saw two long rows of tall pink flowers lining her front walk. Each flower was flamboyantly perched at the top of a slender stalk. They had bloomed overnight. These were the naked ladies, known by many as surprise lilies, resurrection lilies, spider lilies or hurricane lilies. These were the wonderful flowers with so many names. She hugged her sister. Yes, life was different, but it was certainly very, very good.
 
Christine Tailer is an attorney and former city dweller who moved several years ago, with her husband, Greg, to an off-grid farm in Ohio south-central Ohio. Visit them on the web at straightcreekvalleyfarm.com. 

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