Consider the Lilies | 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 am still so very glad to be back at the "morning table" writing in the diary . . . but it is long past morning as I write this. My favorite time to write, is early morning, but on this fair day, I was on the front porch in the early morning, with yet another bucket of paint in my hand. How I ever expected it to be finished in a day, is beyond me. That was a "lofty notion".

    Of course, I did not take into account, that the ceiling was so dirty and needed cleaning. I did not factor in that the front door needed painting, either. The house itself looked shabby with all of the fresh paint-and so I painted the walls. I had to move a small stack of wood back to the woodshed, as spring came so early and late October is a good ways off. The more I painted, the better it looked and that inspired me, in spite of my weariness. Thankfully, the porch is shaded and today, a cool breeze was blowing. Cash, my dog, walked twice through an area not yet dry, but I took it in stride . . .because of that breeze, I think.

    I have all of ten days, before an appraiser visits the rabbit patch. I will be in Elizabeth City for several days, starting tomorrow. The whole while, I was working, I made a list, mentally, of what else ought to be done. The more I thought of someone "inspecting" the house, barns and property, the more anxious, I became. I imagined a person with a clipboard, writing every transgression and saying , after great thought -"Run for your life!" To calm myself, I repeated. "Look at the birds of the air" and "Consider the lilies". I called Jo Dee on a "break" and she cheered me on. She was certain that "all was well" and convinced me of that.

    When a shower arrived, I came in to the old house and did housekeeping chores. On the way to the back door, I noticed the yard looked just awful. With the mower in the shop, I needed to hire someone again. I tried not to think about how much money, I have spent on paint this month. There is a lot to do, still. I couldn't have had a garden, if I wanted to this year.

    The appraiser was very clear that the house should be as sparse as possible, so I started packing away some lovely dishes with roses, that I use in the spring. They have a special cupboard for display, so now that "cupboard is bare". I have some beautiful Christmas ornaments stored in pretty boxes on an armoire , that I packed away, too. I know full well that I may be right here at Christmas- and Easter -and the appraiser is going to have lots to complain about, anyway-but dishes with roses and pretty boxes will not "be on the list".

    As I packed and "considered the lilies" I heard a mower. I went out and lo and behold, my neighbor, Susan, was mowing the rabbit patch. All of my weariness flew right out of me, when I saw her. When she saw me, I was clapping my hands and "happy as a lark". I almost cried with relief. The "lawn" at the rabbit patch takes hours to mow. It is no small affair. When you get behind on the mowing, days make a difference in whether you need a mower . . .or a tractor. How lovely the property looked when she was finished. I thanked her several times. I suspect, she was unaware of the difference she had made in my heart. Somehow, that act of kindness renewed my hope. I did not tarry long, but instead went right out to finish the porch. Supper was going to be scant . . .and late.

    Dear Diary, I am glad for things that comfort-words that calm, a cool breeze, when I am weary and kind neighbors that are gracious enough to help out when needed. I am glad for dependable friends that convince you "all is well." I am also glad for birds . . .and lilies.