There Go the Daffodils! | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: Please join me in welcoming Author Michele Rhem, who presents us with her poignant memoirs of the Rabbit Patch, where her diaries weave tales of a simpler, expressive life lost to many, but gathered together in her most familiar environs - the Rabbit Patch.

    I did not see the sun rise this morning. Most days, I do. It felt odd to wake to "a bright and shining moment" on the rabbit patch. The window by the morning table, was lit up like a chapel window and gently and joyfully, beckoned me to "rise and shine."

    We will celebrate My youngest son, Christians' birthday today. His birthday was yesterday. My "baby" is twenty-four years old now. When, Christian was born, an ice storm promptly arrived. The day before, had been warm. Kyle and I took a long walk that day and then had milkshakes at an ice cream parlor. I don't know why I remember that, but the memory is as clear, as any I have.

    Yesterday would have been the best day to celebrate, as it was Christians' actual birthday-and that was the plan- but yesterday the wind blew without mercy. Christian called me just before school was over. There was no water at the rabbit patch and the lights were dimming and then brightening in an odd fashion. I have only seen such conditions in horror movies and so I left for home, sure that a fire was smoldering in the walls - or that ghosts were real, after all. I came in the old house in a state of panic and rushed to check the breakers. I could not identify what was happening and called my neighbors, who were doing just fine and had constant lights and running water. This only alarmed me more and so I did what I have done all my life-I called my parents. They came and daddy declared it had to be an electrical issue. I called the power company, who promptly sent a truck. Within an hour, full power and water was restored. The wind had partially severed a line, it turned out. Mama and daddy would not leave til all was restored at the rabbit patch. Mama said they were there for "support."-and they were. Just their presence made a difference.

    That is how todays' celebration came about. My fancy meal takes a few hours to prepare, and so today we will eat well. We will also wait for a cold storm predicted to have some form of moisture, to arrive. There go the daffodils! There goes the spirea and the peach and pear blossoms-and the jasmine that has bloomed just this week. Woe to the irises and the lovely running periwinkle-if all goes as predicted. This is the way of March, so I blame February for sashaying about as if it were April.

    No matter, the weather conditions, as long as "another state of emergency" does not arise, today we will give thanks for the birth of my last child. Christian, being good natured, does not mind the delay in celebration. He has not asked for presents in many , many years. We all know he needs guitar strings, any way. Christian is an artist in every sense. He values art, whether it is drawn, written or listened to. He lives like a poet, noticing the beauty of all circumstances. You will not catch Christian being wasteful. He cares for the environment and for all living things too much, to cause any harm.

    Christian, is the only person I know that is sure that he does not need money. He works and then is far more likely to give his money away than spend it. If a worthy cause, does not show up, he saves his money till it does. Frequently he comes to me with money and says "just take this, I have too much!!" I have laughed out loud at this, I have been concerned -and I still don't know what to do with it. It amuses me, I find it admirable and yet, it concerns me. (I know as Will and Tres read this, their faces will pale.) Christian thinks long and hard before committing to obligations as he values the content of his life, intensely. Like me, a clock does not impress him, nor hold him hostage. He is way too independent to be trendy - and he thinks too deeply to be shallow about anything. His presence has made a beautiful difference in the last twenty four years of our family and not one of us would trade it , not for anything, this world affords.

    Happy Birthday Christian! and - "to thine ownself, be true."