8 | March• 2018
BY WENDY
CHIAPPARO
FROMCOUNTRY
WOMAN
Many
Hands Make
Light Work
Escapingthemayhemisas
close as your own backyard
MY GARDEN IS MY REFUGE;Ifindreflectivesolitude
init.Ihavesevenchildren,soourhouseisasceneof
lively chaos. I spend my days cajoling, encouraging
andattemptingtokeepmayhematbay.Sometimes
Isucceed.OthertimesIfail.Butmygardenalways
helps me relax and recharge.
It’s a rejuvenating place. Early morning sunlight
glistens on dewdrops that dangle from a spider’s web
inatomatoplantinmygarden.Thesquashliftsits
yellow trumpets to celebrate the morning, and busy
beesworkdeepintheirrecesses.HereandthereI
spotawatermelonabovethevines.Foralongtime,
Iguardedthisplaceofpeaceandquiet.Whenthe
children followed me into the garden, I would hand
out chores.
MY STORY
PHOTO: iSTOCK