Most people would say that I have two choices: whine or do something about it. But there’s a third choice and that’s the route I’m going to take for now — ignore it. When I get the chance, I’ll pull weeds and tidy things up. But I’m not going to try to catch up. This is not the season for planting.

I’m afraid the same thing is happening in my horse life. My horse is boarded across the street from my home, but I haven’t ridden in who knows how long. He’s healthy, well fed, and has plenty of turnout. When I’m in town, I go over and pick his feet, groom him a bit, and put him on a lunge line for a few minutes. I don’t want him to go totally to seed, but I’m not going to feel guilty about not riding him. For me, it’s not the season.

But it has been the season for family and close friends. My brothers and sister and their families all live fairly close together, but I live a distance away, and it’s been years since we’ve had a family reunion. We’re not a big family anymore, so we don’t really have any excuses. I guess more accurately said since I’m the one who hasn’t been “home” in a long time, I don’t have any excuse. But we got together and had a grand time. I had time to talk with each person one-on-one, as well as to enjoy a few hamburgers and laughs with the whole group.

I also visited old friends while I was in town. When you’re apart, you know that you value the friendship, but being together makes it all the more real. I came away reminded that close relationship are always in season, and they need more frequent care than what I’ve given them.

So as I look at the weeds, I smile, glad that I’ve let the garden go in favor of more important things. I’ll wait 'til next year for the flowers. But later this summer, I’ll plant carrots and ride my horse. It will be the season.