Dear 2022,

You were born at the stroke of midnight!!!! We love you already, so please don’t be shy. There’s no way we’ll accept the possibility that you’ll hold the horror of the last two years. Just by being you, you hold hope of peace, love, health and happiness. We’ve closed the book on 2021. You did your best with what you had to work. Climbing out of hell was a tough assignment for you. We need to cut you some slack. It’s you who is the star of the moment while holding our tomorrows for the next four seasons.

I personally want to greet you with open arms. You’ll hold so many firsts for us all. You hold healing for our broken world. I can feel it in my heart. For this, we’re all waiting breathlessly. I’m excited for my 3rd gardening season here at Winterpast. I’m looking forward to meeting my new neighbors across the street that don’t even know they’re purchasing the yet unlisted house. With hours and hours of hot tub soaking, while deepening a golden tan, Oliver and I plan to enjoy many adventures together as we forge a new path.

Every day, I’m choosing happiness, health, and hope. As a newly-baptized Christian, this will be my first full year living for God. There are always things on the horizon that are focal points for positivity. I’ll reach for those things and smile, sprinkling fun into my life in any way possible. From silly, mindless giggles to well planned activities, my life will include much more fun this year.

2022 will be the year I start my 3rd year as a widow. I’m no longer the Grieving Gardener as much as The Gardener who Grieves. No longer debilitating and mind numbing, there are more trips into memory land that result in smiles and awe at the wonderful life I shared with VST. By choice, we’ll smile in unison, me from here, VST from there. So much goodness to remember and celebrate on this the 34th year of our marriage.

As Covid loses its stranglehold on the world, we’ll all venture back into life. The sun will never feel so grand on our skin as when we all join hands to rejoice together. It’s happening in 2022. Ready those play clothes and get ready to join the fun.

2022, you make me giddy as I greet you. I write your name over and over. Such a beautiful number, not like 2021. Counting on by two’s from a nightmare towards beauty.

Welcome!!! We want you. We love you already!! We celebrate you!! Please don’t disappoint.