What I No Longer Have

Natalie Goldberg's latest book, Old Friend From Far Away is full of practices for writing memoir. Katherine and I have each checked it from our local libraries for several times each, as it is full of great writing prompts - to get the pen moving.

Katherine and I have continued our practice of writing together weekly, despite the miles now between us. At a pre-arranged time, we phone each other, and decide on our writing practice. We set the timer and then call each other to read what we have written.

This week we chose a prompt for a blog posting that each of us promised to write. The question was... What do you no longer have? Here's mine...

As I sit here, the gas fireplace ignites. I think of the wood-burning fireplace when we lived on Garrity Creek Road. I no longer have to pull myself from my comfortable chair, slip on Sorels and jacket and slump my way to the wood pile. I no longer have to haul out the axe and chop the wood into pieces that fit inside the fireplace, or make a backup of kindling. I no longer have to spend my time off cleaning up wood chips that are strewn through the living room. I no longer have to have to slide out of my warm bed and scamper to the stove, crumple paper, build a tent of kindling and strike a match.

I no longer have to make arrangements with loggers who take advantage of my naiveté and sell me wet wood, and then charge exorbitant amounts to split and deliver it. I no longer have to adjust my clothing while I wait for the room to warm up and then when it gets hot.

And yet... I no longer smell the burning wood wafting through the air when I come back from a walk. I remember the smell of the wood when I reached into the pile under the tarp laden with snow.

The fire brought a warmth on a cold winter's night that hugged the entire room. And I remember the feeling of warm clothes from the dryer, put in for a few minutes to take off the sting of the cold.

There is a feeling of well-being and release after spending an hour with an axe and chopping block.

There is a satisfaction years later as I remember how we had a power outage for 6 hours on Christmas Day 1996 and we were warm all day. Thanks to propane, our dinner wasn't delayed.

There is a delight, too, in knowing that my daughter recalls these times as her favourite.