Patience and Fortitude

If Lon Chaney, Man of a Thousand Faces, was worthy of a Hollywood movie, then I get a movie about me too. I am Woman of a Thousand Projects. 

We are settling into the Decker house. Who knew that Projects have children and grandchildren! You start one and it gives birth to more but without the nine month waiting period. You unhook an old washing machine today and you need a bucket now and a plumber tomorrow. 

Luckily we have a miracle called YouTube. I don’t know how we got things done before YouTube. You can learn anything!  Today I watched videos on planting strawberries and how to harvest the artichokes that are just reaching full size in our new garden. We’ve met new neighbors who gave us advice on solar panels. I enjoyed a free lunch at Meyer’s Restaurant Supply and got a tutorial on induction-ready pots while I shopped their biggest sale of the year. Then Vonnie, the sales lady at Ace Hardware, patiently recommended garden tools. When she heard I was replacing tools after my garden bag had been stolen, she gave me a personal gift - little pruners she bought at the Dollar Store. I’m grateful that people are so kind and enthusiastic to be helpful.

If you followed that last paragraph then you realize I will be using a new garden tool to cut artichokes for the first time and cook them in a new pot on the intimidating “professional” stove.  I watched a YouTube on that stove too…which is why I’m afraid of it! I’ve cooked on open campfires, electric and gas ranges, but don’t ask me why I have "high performance" anxiety about this stove. Maybe it's their choice of words? Or that I had to get new pots because the old ones from Target could melt on this thing? Or that large fires belong outdoors, not in my kitchen?

Have you ever seen the stone lions in front of the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue and 42 Street?  I went on the library’s free tour last week and found it fascinating and inspiring. Of course now I want a room at home to look like the Rose Reading Room. I can dream! 

The lions were installed in 1911 and were given people-like names to honor the founders. But in the1930’s, the mayor re-named them to qualities he felt New Yorkers would need to survive the economic depression. I think they are qualities one must have when faced with a Thousand Projects. The lions are named

 ---  Patience and Fortitude ---