Two inches of rain fell before it finally decided it was finished. The gauge is holding the evidence, the grass looks greener than it did yesterday, and I have finally made my way back out to the patio for some fresh air.
It has been a busy phone day. This time of year, the End phone usually begins to pick up a little. Maybe it is something about September. Summer is still technically here, but people can feel what is coming next. The days are getting shorter. The mornings are cooler. Winter no longer feels like something far away on the calendar.
And today, many of the conversations have begun with the same two words: What if?
What if Mom falls this winter? What if Dad should not be driving when the weather gets bad? What if the power goes out? What if they cannot get to an appointment? What if one of them gets sick? What if they need more help than they are willing to admit?
And then comes the other question: How do I prepare?
There is something interesting about sitting outside after a long rain while answering questions about preparing for a season that has not arrived yet. The rain reminded me that preparation usually happens before we know exactly what we are preparing for.
We do not know which winter day might bring ice. We do not know whether the power will go out. We do not know whether someone will fall, become ill, or suddenly need more help. But we can notice what might become difficult. We can ask questions. We can make a few plans.
We can put important phone numbers somewhere they can be found. We can check the flashlight batteries, refill medications before the storm is already here, talk about who will help with transportation, and make sure someone knows where the important papers are.
Preparing does not mean expecting something terrible to happen. Sometimes it simply means making tomorrow a little easier for the people we love.
Maybe that is what this particular season invites us to do. Not predict every storm. Just notice the clouds early enough to bring a few things inside.
A Puddle Pause
What is one small thing you could prepare now that might make winter easier for someone you love?
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