WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY, ROSEMARY
by Sissy Freeborn

It is dusk. The sun has just dropped behind our mountain, and I am walking out to the low meadow. Yes, walking. For the first time in a long time, I am outdoors walking. I know it is not far, and a normal person could do it in a heart beat. But they have "healthy" legs that cooperate, when they want to walk. I don't know why my MS keeps attacking my legs. They used to be so strong! I am so happy today. The field is covered in fireflies and seems to be ablaze with them. When the fireflies coated the ground, as they do this night, my friend called them "fairy dust". She was with me just a moment ago. When I turned away, for only a moment, she was gone to God. I miss Rosemary today. I wish I could tell her what a wonderful day I had. The memory of this day is still rich in my heart, even as the fatigue of my MS tugs at my body. We canned peaches today, Rosemary...our Circle and I. The smell of cooking peaches will hang heavy in that kitchen for some time. I can still hear the chatter of women's voices, as they competed with the big bluejay in the beech tree. I felt so light-hearted being with my friends again. I was given the task of putting the peaches in the canning jars, because that is something that I can sit down to do. But it is still a heavy responsibility, because each peach half has to be positioned just right. Each jar must contain a peach pit, too. It is hard work, but we all do it with pride and love. There were women, of different ages, here all smiling and laughing. We teased each other and laughed at bad jokes, as we filled the shelves with jars of peaches. I graduated to the senior position of the Circle, the honored place that my friend, Rosemary McFergus, held, until she died a few weeks ago. Rosemary helped me so much to see what life is truly all about. I could never repay her in life and, now certainly, not in death. She never asked for any payment in return for her dear friendship. But, I feel that there must be something I can do to show her how much I learned from her example! After Rosemary's death, we asked a new member to join us to complete the Circle. Beth is so very young--barely fourteen years old--but she already won 3RD place, with her canned pickles last year at the Fair. She will soon have a husband and a lucky man he will be. I hope she finishes high school before her wedding day, but it does not always happen that way here. It's so nice to have a young person in our Circle. I had forgotten about boyfriends and dating. It seems so long ago. It brought back such memories, to hear Beth talk about it! Our Circle is so much more than just a group of women canning. We pledged our lives to Beth today. We will be there for her always. When she gets married, we will be there to tell her she looks beautiful. When she is sick, we will be at her bedside caring for her and seeing to it that her kids are fed and her husband's clothes washed. And, like Rosemary, when the time comes, we will be at her graveside, in black, mourning her loss. Beth, our newest Circle member, was putting labels on the jars of peaches today. The same label has been used for 200 years. Just the names have changed. After 63 years, Rosemary's name will not be on this year's label. During the canning today, Bobby O'Donald came to pick up lunch for the men. He turned bright red,because he was embarrassed to be with the "women", as our skirts swished past him. "Coffee!" he demanded importantly, in his deepest voice. Lizzie, my daughter, got the big pot and handed it to him. Bobby struggled with it's weight, but he could never admit that it was too heavy in front of all us "women". He put the coffee pot into his wagon, and Lizzie handed him the sandwiches, for the men in the fields. I offered Bobby a cookie. I could see that he wanted it, but he had "men's work" to do. He hurried away, with the sandwiches and coffee, to return to the fields.. Our peaches will find their way into many of the homes of the Valley. If you're quick, you might be able to buy some at the general store. But they go fast, so do hurry, before they are all gone and you have missed a chance to have some of the best canned peaches you've ever tasted! Yes, grocery stores all sell name brand canned peaches, but-- before your mouth drops open--let me say this: I know the people, who did the homemade canning. I go to church with them. I have been on the farm where the local grocery store gets it's chickens. How many of you know Mr. Tyson personally? Who would you trust more? "What a wonderful day this has been", I say to the fireflies. After walking some distance, I finally have to sit down on a log in the meadow. The smell of clover is strong here in the night air. Off in the distance, a loon calls to me. But all I can see is a fairyland, of little lights, swarming around me. Did you arrange this day, Rosemary? You know how much I like fireflies, and you have given me thousands. Thank you, Rosemary, and thank you, Lord. Do not worry, Rosemary. I know now how you want to be repaid. I'll take care of the women in the Circle, as you did, until I join you in the glowing fairy dust of our Lord's meadow. Until then, I'll enjoy this day and not worry about tomorrow.