Spring is a Time of Renewal and Beauty

Annie loved spring and she really was looking forward to it. She always said, "Spring is a time of renewal and beauty, now go change the clocks." Annie was good with words and she was always tucked in the big cozy club chair by the window, pen and pad within easy reach. Whenever she had a thought, she made a note.

Annie didn't want to be a writer; she thought that was too much work. She just wanted to write in her journal. She hoped that when her time came and she left this world, that her journals would be read and enjoyed by the people she loved the most.

She was a lovely girl and never a mean word left her mouth. She saw beauty and joy in every situation. She didn't believe in negative thoughts, nor did she put up with negative people. That's why she loved spring so much, it fit her personality.

But spring was her enemy as well as her friend. As much as she wished away the winter months, she was wishing away her life, literally. In the fall she had a cold which went on for weeks. She blamed the weather for her bad cough. It was a deep burning cough and her throat was raw and her voice cracked at times.

After a month of that she finally said, "OK, it's time to see the doctor and get something to knock this out of me for good!" She asked her husband to go with her as she was feeling a little tired the day of her appointment. Tom loved Annie and he would have cut off his right arm if she asked him to. Going to the doctor with her was a simple request.

As they sat in the waiting room Annie fell asleep and had a terrible dream. In her dream she was sick, she had a bad cough and the doctor told her she had to go for tests. He would set everything up at the hospital immediately. When Annie woke up she was confused, was it a dream or was it real? She soon found out it was real.

Before long the nurse called her in, she told her husband to stay in the waiting room, she could make it by herself. She had a bad feeling and she wanted to deal with it alone.

Dr. Ownby was a kindly gentleman and they chatted for a few minutes before he began to ask Annie questions. His face was somber as he listened to Annie trying to take deep breaths. Her lungs were very congested and his face grew more and more concerned.

By the time Annie left the exam room she was ready to fall apart, but she held it together until they got in the car. Then she told her husband that she had to go to the hospital for tests and that it is serious. The tests were the next day. It was a long evening and an even longer night full of worry and anxiety.

Tom and Annie arrived at the hospital at 10:00 am and after a long delay the tests were performed and then the real wait began. The couple went back to see Dr. Ownby for the results. It was worse than either of them realized. Annie had cancer and it had spread. There wasn't much that could be done, except to pray.

Now the snow is gone and the pear trees are blooming. Spring has arrived but Annie isn't here to see it. Tom is holding up the best that he can. He loved Annie with his whole being and now he doesn't know if he can make it from day to day without her.

He sat down in her big club chair and closed his eyes for a minute, trying to remember the last time he saw her healthy and full of life. He thought he heard her voice and when he opened his eyes she was there and she looked perfectly fine. She wasn't sick at all and she was talking to him.

She said, "Spring is a time of renewal and beauty, now go change the clocks." With that she was gone. His beautiful Annie was truly gone and spring will newer be the same. He got up from the chair and went to change the clocks. He would do anything for Annie, anything she asked.

Source:
Myself