Another Spring

Only a few days ago we woke up to an inch of snow after a few days of low temperatures. I’m glad to see the snow as we need every little drop of rain or snow to give the moisture our Earth is needing. What’s amazing is that only the next day the temperature was up to almost 70s. By yesterday my daffodils were opening in my garden, and those pretty plum trees in our neighborhood literally exploded. Spring has arrived in our mountains.

I’m so grateful to be here in the mountains today especially after staying in L.A. for the last month. The contrast between the city and this sleepy town in the vibration is profound. Every time I come back here after spending some time in the city, I get this visceral relief. I only realize when I arrive how much I was needing this tranquility. Even though we have a sketchy Internet service, I am still amazed that I have been able to run my business from here for the most part.

Being in the city has its own charm, number one thing for me being the variety of food we can get, especially Japanese food. Aside from access to my comfort food, there’s definitely the convenience in the city. Where I lived in West LA, I could get to grocery stores, drug stores, Staples, Bed Bath and Beyond, and on within a few minutes of drive if not within walking distance whereas the closest Trader Joe’s is 1-hour away from here. Yet as we learned during the pandemic, we learned to shop so that we’ll gather everything we need before heading back up to the mountains to be self-contained. The only set back is that medical facilities are just as far.

These are the issues my husband and I are thinking about in terms of our future. I still love living in the mountains where I am in direct contact with the nature every day and where I get to see the seasonal cycles. I love the insular nature of this community as we tend to be more supportive to each other because of the geographical set up. And I don’t think I can live in a big city like LA on full-time basis as I get so stressed being in the hurried energy.

Well, it seems like I’m pondering on this questions over and over again. I’m reminded of a passage from Rilke’s book, “Letters to the Young Poet,” where he suggests, “Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.” I trust that the answers will come. Meanwhile, I get to enjoy the spring in the mountains today.