The snow had come, unlooked for and unwanted. Bright white beauty all around, even woods “lovely, dark and deep,” and yet I knew I had many miles to go before I could even think about sleep. So much to do, and here was another unwelcome delay in the day. The snowstorm swirled around me as I left the safe warmth of the house and trudged out to the car. Thick it came, and fast, wrapping me in its fierce coldness like a mantle of ice.

“No, not today. Not anyday like this. Why? I just don’t need this. I need to do so much. I’m too busy. Enough already!”

Every year we would make the long trip down to Cornwall in southwestern England to visit Grandmother. She lived with my aunt and cousins right by the sea, so this was always a vacation to look forward to.

When we arrived Grandmother always had some small gifts for us. And she would smile at our excitement, despite her pain and problems associated with Parkinson’s disease. One time I remember seeing her weeping when she thought no one was around, saying to herself, “How long must I stay in this vale of tears…”

I can still see in my mind’s eye the way down through the sand dunes to the beach. I remember the first time I saw the vast expanse of golden sand stretched out before me, inviting attention. A wonder of wonders, a New World to explore and develop.