Better Than Nothing

I’ve always loved a wood fire. The aroma of wood smoke is equally cathartic and energizing. I grew up in the hot humid climate of Houston Texas in the fifties when fireplaces were not a common feature and the only homes with fireplaces were old mansions.

I may or may not have become obsessed with wanting a fireplace but

years later, in Oklahoma, where winter weather did happen sometimes, I had a corner in my small living room stoned up and a wood burning stove installed. From that point forward I have never, except temporarily, lived in a house without a fireplace.

When we had our current abode built, sixteen years ago, we went all out and had a work of art, two story stone fireplace constructed by a gifted stone mason. It’s the first thing visitors see and remark on, when they enter our front door.

We have had some wonderful wood smoky roaring fires in our lodge-like fireplace. Then old age crept up on us and it became more and more difficult for either of us, bad back, bad knees, to haul in logs, climb up the deep stone hearth to arrange and light them. Then there was the issue of periodically shoveling and removing the ashes.

The fireplace stood cold and dark for one winter.

In our life passages, we have to start letting go of things that we once took for granted in our vigorous youth. We are constantly being challenged to find work arounds, compromises, or just simply walk away.

I so would rather have a real fire but two years ago when I put in a fake electric log set I was simply choosing something over nothing. Now all I have to do, while we sit in our early morning coffee routine, is pick up the remote and - click.

No, it’s not what I would prefer but then if I had my ‘druthers I’d still be young and vigorous enough to haul in wood logs, lift and arrange and light them up, poking them now and again as they morph and dissolve into ash.

Bygones. Whatever works though.

Something is better than nothing. Right?