“You’re up to the challenge.”
Those are the words my friend used as I told her of my concerns about the weather conditions in my new environment.
Our FaceTime call is a bright spot in my month. We chat about so many things, people we once knew, activities in the village where I had spent so much of my adult life, and then occasionally dip into deeper topics.
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Always, we discuss my continuing adjustment to a new home, new friends, and the ongoing roadblocks we all encounter in life.
This week after wishing wistfully I had joined her at an annual Christmas Luncheon in my former hometown, I mentioned a shopping excursion scheduled for the coming weekend.
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Normally, I am not apprehensive about new activities, new adventures, but in all honesty, the northern weather has become a concern. I have transportation available, yet when I gaze out at the lovely snowdrifts, I become rigid with fear.
I no longer look at the beauty of the environment, I become cricitcally aware of the dangers presented by snow banks and slick roads. I try to recall blithely walking on a twilight evening east on 59th Street to the pond in Central Park (now inhabitated by Wollmans Rink) carrying ice skates, never giving a thought to either a fall or tumble through the dark unplowed city streets.
Yes, admittedly, that was a long time ago, and fear was an unknown word in my youthful vocabulary.
When I openly expressed my inclination to relinquish my seat on the forthcoming weekend excursion, my friend scolded me.
“You are up to the challenge.” And that was all she said. Soon after, we said our customary goodbye until our next internet visit, but her words lingered.
And lingered another day until it was Saturday morning, and I reluctantly, donned my weathered Uggs, knitted hat, thermal gloves and braved the bleak Winter weather.
To my absolute surprise and joy, I enjoyed a totally fabulous new adventure. The weather was brisk, invigorating, and yes, formidable. However, thanks to a good friend’s common sense advice, I faced another challenge in life’s ongoing and exciting road of discoveries, and once more found myself able to cope.
