Monday, February 25, 2008



JUST A CRACK

It's beautiful here in Sisters, almost spring-like, I've got the window open a crack and can hear birds again, after months of the sound of their call being silenced by glass and wood, dividers between me and them.

Despite the sun and warmth there is ice on the ground, large patches leftover from the big snow a couple of weeks ago. Near the house and under the trees there's been a melt, but the wide open areas are dense with ice.

Each day I am here I go to the place where driveway meets road, where a solid block of ice makes crossing it dangerous and noisy. I take the snow shovel, the one with no plastic handle any longer, chewed up and rugged on the ends, and I chop at the ice. I wait until afternoon, when temperatures are as high as they are going to go before plummeting again at dark, and I slide the shovel under the weakest link to the mound and hack away.

Today as I dug, picked, shoved and heaved with the snow shovel, I thought a different tool might better serve me. I'm so literal, snow shovel for snow, period. I tossed the broken tool off with the divided bits of ice on the side, and got out a regular old shovel. I finished what I'd started easily and with much satisfaction.

The tool I'd been using had out served itself. Time to try something else, a new approach to an old problem.

Four days, four rounds, sweat, blisters, sore forearms and tingly fingers later, I have broken through. The mound is gone. If there's anywhere I want to go, my car can easily make the move, driveway to road and far away.

I may just leave my car right where it is, it's satisfying enough just to know I have options now. I have broken through.





* photo from users.skynet.be

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey, glad you made it through the ice at the end of your driveway. It feels good doesn't it.
Love you.

contemporary themes said...

It's nice to be able to imagine right where you are!

Glad you broke through.

Deb Shucka said...

I can see you tackling that ice, both the inner and the outer. So glad for breakthroughs, melting and choices. Here's to new tools! Love love and more love.

Lola said...

breakthroughs both physical and emotional...Amen Carrie
xo:)LO

Anonymous said...

It is a great feeling to make that break through!
XOXOX

riversgrace said...

Nice therapy, to break...and break through!

Jerri said...

Holding you in the Light of Love.

Ask Me Anything said...

Beautiful analogy.

Michelle O'Neil said...

Beautiful metaphor.

Beautiful Carrie.

Anonymous said...

Interesting that you chose the weakest "link" to attack in order to break through your perceived barrier.

Go Mama said...

Great metaphor! May it serve you through your process.

Jess said...

You kinda make me miss shoveling snow. It's been a few years now...

I'm glad for your breakthroughs, can't wait to hear more about then, maybe I'll come see your snow. :)

kario said...

For the first few minutes I couldn't get past gazing at the photo of the icebergs. They look so serene and solid. It gave me sucha a feeling of peace.

Glad you're breaking through and trying out new tools. Glad you're giving yourself the option of staying right where you are despite all of it.

Love you.

Jenny said...

I am such a literal thinker too - have you ever played the game apples to apples - you'd like it I think!

shauna said...

Love this post. We use tried and true methods even when they don't work. Finding a new tool can definitely help us break through. Good for you!

Nancy said...

"I may just leave my car right where it is, it's satisfying enough just to know I have options now. I have broken through."

Therapeutic words for me at exactly the right time! thank you