There’s two feet of snow on the ground, but spring, in so many ways, is finally beginning to show itself. It’s cliché, but true. What has lain dormant, begins to awake. A patch of green grass on the side of the walk, a robin in the birch.

To celebrate, I bought myself some bright yellow daffodils, with white and orange centers, and a bunch of yellow parrot tulips, streaked with green and orange, with ruffled petals. After a long, snowy, cold winter, spring and celebration just seem to go together.

Here are some of the other things I’m celebrating today.

I mean, not my skill set or interest. Have I ever even seen one? All I can say is that life is unpredictable, and you never know what is going to turn up.

One of my neighbors teaches and sings opera. I mean, she’s really quite something. She’s spent her summers for the past ten years teaching opera in Italy! She has this amazing voice. She practices her art, across the street, her doors and windows all shut, and I can still hear her. Her voice is spectacular!

We were chatting about one of my new interests – writing about my Grandmother Sophia homesteading in Western North Dakota – and she asked if I’d be interested in a project she’s working on. She wants to bring the unheard stories of women homesteaders to light. Well, to music actually.

Her project includes a woman from Nebraska, a woman from Minnesota, and now (of course I said YES!) a woman from North Dakota. My grandmother, Sophia, will have her story put to opera!

Sophia was born to Danish immigrants in Minnesota, in 1884.

She married at the age of twenty-three and moved west to homestead in North Dakota. Her first home was a 12 x 16 foot shack. She lived to see both the First and Second World Wars and gave birth to nine sons and one daughter. Her youngest son, my father, was born when she was forty-five years old, the same year her oldest son – then twenty years of age – suffered from a severe gunshot wound to his head. Sophia nursed him back to health, with my father underfoot and all the other children to care for and a farm to run. She grew to love North Dakota and everyone who knew her spoke of her fun-loving spirit, her kindness, and her generosity.

I wrote for months and sent it as requested.

The four main opera singers all loved it! Right now, the text is being sent to a librettist—someone who writes lyrics for operas. Then it will go to a composer to write the music. Then it will be made into a mini-opera of just over an hour in length. If all goes as planned, it will open in New York in May of 2024. How crazy is that?! Now I can add Opera to my resume!

One of my friends and fellow writing club member has been named the North Dakota Poet Laureate! Dr. Denise Lajimodiere. I’m so happy for her to have received this honor. It’s such a joy to watch where writing is taking my friends and colleagues. What doors it is opening. Where they are headed! A big congratulations to Denise!

Autumn House Press – publisher of my first book, So Many Africas – applied for and received a grant to turn all of their books into audio editions. At that time, Christine Stroud and I discussed if I should read it or if they should hire a voice actor. I really wanted to read it myself.

This winter, I began searching for a local studio that could do audiobooks. Not an easy find. But, thanks to some recommends from friends, I found a studio in town that had the capability and was willing to work with me.

Next week, I’ll begin readings. The studio will record, edit, and put the book into correct formatting for Audible and other audiobook sites! It’s really fun to be working on a brand new project. Something I dreamed of but never thought would happen. The cost of making So Many Africas into an audiobook will depend on editing and studio time, but estimates are $5,000 to $6,000. Not the kind of money I’d pay out of pocket to make this happen on my own. I’m really grateful to Autumn House Press and to Christine Stroud for making it happen!

To prepare, I’m reading out loud one or two hours a day, strengthening my voice. I’ve been told to bring Chapstick, tea with honey, and to take lots of water breaks. I hope I don’t have to cough and clear my throat, or trip over my words ever five minutes! Wish me luck!!

It started with a photo I took years ago and always loved. That turned into a sketch and a small color study. Acrylic paint followed, and more paint. Then some wax pastel crayon and finally scribbles and splashes of acrylic ink.

Sadly, I haven’t come up with a brilliant title for the painting. I’m just calling it “Two Horses”.

I’m a slow painter, but really do enjoy it. It’s fun to have another one done. This one is my largest painting so far at 24 x 36 inches.

What I saw was a complete surprise. There, on the window side of the plant, were pinkish red flower buds. Some of them quite large already.

Twenty-two buds in all and I hadn’t even seen them coming!

That’s what life has been like for me lately. Hidden growth. Unexpected opportunities. Spring coming. I am reminded of this quote.

As far as my health goes, passing my two year brain injury anniversary changed something in me. It’s like I was in a sinkhole the past two years and the harder I tried to get out the more my world collapsed around me. And now … it has stopped collapsing. I feel more stable. I’m adjusting to my new life, doing less exercises and therapy and more just living. I can’t tell you how grateful I am to have had your support on this long journey. I might not ever return to who I was, but I’m finding the new me something I can live with.

Wishing you all the beauty and joy of spring.

May your rains be warm.

May your flowers abundant.