My yard—and my life—had begun growing in too many directions at once. Between elderberries, new work, a growing fly-fishing community, and the loss of my apple trees, I’m learning that tending a life isn’t about controlling everything. Sometimes it means accepting help, letting go, and clearing just enough space to see the path ahead.
After a sudden bicycle accident leaves my husband needing surgery for a shattered elbow, I find myself sitting alone in a waiting room reflecting on caregiving, guilt, herbal medicine, and unexpected change. This Field Note shares honest moments from the surgery center, the plants helping us heal at home, a mysterious Pandora sphinx moth, and the quiet realization that healing isn't only about broken bones—it can also become the beginning of a new chapter.
