My husband Steven was outside trimming our holly tree when he sent me a picture of a nest with four baby blue eggs in it. I raced outside.

“You found a robin’s nest!” I cried.

Steven was standing away from the tree as a robin was frantically hopping on the railing by my son, Alex’s back door.

“Yeah.” Steven pointed to the robin. “But he’s so upset I thought I’d stop for today and let him settle down.”

“That’s a good idea.” I so desperately wanted to take a peek at the nest but I was afraid to get too close to the tree. Instead I looked back at the picture Steven had sent me. “This is going to be so great!” I cried. “I’ll be able to watch the baby birds from Alex’s door.”

I went back inside and knocked on Alex’s door.

“Come in!” he called.

I went through his bedroom and into his office. “You’re not going to believe what’s right outside your door!” I held up the phone so he could see the picture.

“Oh, great.” he sighed. “Screaming baby birds right outside my door.”

“Hey!” I was a bit surprised. “We’re going to be able to watch nature up close!” I went to his door and opened it. The glass on the door was smeared with something white. “Ewe…” I cried. “What’s all over your door?”

Alex came over. “Ewe… what is that?”

I looked over at his railing which was covered with bird poop. “Well, I’m guessing this is where he’s hanging out protecting his nest.”

“Okay, I get the railing.” he looked over at me. “Which is disgusting, by the way, but what’s all over my glass?”

I closed the door and went to my room where I could look out my window and watch the robin on Alex’s railing. It wasn’t long before I realized what was happening.

Alex came into my room. “What’s up?”
I pointed out my window. “Watch.”

The robin was sitting on Alex’s railing when suddenly it glanced over to his glass storm door and began making a funny squeaking sound and flew at the window. “He’s seeing his reflection in your window and thinking it’s another bird, so he’s protecting his nest.” I explained.

“Oh, great.” Alex shook his head. “So he’s not a very smart bird and now he’s having kids.”

I started to laugh. “Really? That’s what you’ve come up with?”

Alex pointed to all the poop on his railing. “That, and seeing his reflection is clearly scaring it right out of him!”

I had to laugh again. “Don’t worry, after I clean it up I’ll put something on the glass where he can’t see his reflection anymore.” I looked over at Alex. “How’s that?”

Alex nodded. “That sound like it should work.”

“Just think we’ll be able to watch the babies for almost two weeks before they leave the nest!”

“Yeah.” he said, but he didn’t sound very enthusiastic.

“I’m so glad I’ve passed my love of nature on to you.” I called after him.

It had been a long overdue beautiful Spring day, and as night was falling I was getting settled on the couch for some TV surfing. I’d just picked up the remote when my husband Steven walked into the living room and stopped. “Is it hot in here?” he asked.

It was an unfamiliar question because up until then it had been a very cold Spring. I hadn’t gotten a chance to answer him before he went over to the thermostat. “I’m going to put the air conditioning on.”

“Wait!” I called. “Why don’t we open the windows instead? It’s beautiful out!”

Steven shrugged his shoulders. “Sure, why not.” He went over to the dining room window, unlatched the lock, and pulled it open. He took a deep breath. “Wow! You can smell the hyacinths I gave you for Easter!”

I went over to the window and inhaled. “They smell so good!” While I was enjoying their fragrance I stopped for a moment to listen. “Are those spring peepers I’m hearing?”

Steven listened. “Sure sounds like it.”

“Oh my gosh, I love the sound of spring peepers!” I’d noticed we had some little frogs in the yard but I had no idea they were peepers. I went over to the kitchen door. “Do you want to come out and sit on the porch and listen to them with me?”

“Sure, why not.”

Once we were sitting in our chairs and had been listening to them for a while I began to wonder. “You know, the last time I remember listening to them was when we lived on the river.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.” The peepers were making quiet a lot of noise now. “Don’t they have to be by water?”

Steven shrugged his shoulders. “I thought they lived in the woods.”

“I think they live in the woods but they have to lay their eggs in water.” I took my phone out of my pocket and began typing in my question. When the link came up I began to get upset. “They do live in the woods and hibernate there in the winter but in the spring they need to be by water!” I looked over at Steven. “How close is the nearest body of water?”

Steven thought about it for a moment. “I’m going to say a couple of miles.”

Now I really was getting upset. “How are the peepers in our woods going to be able to travel a couple of miles?” I cried.

Steven sighed. “I’m sure they’ll figure it out.”

“Oh, come on Steven! They’re in our woods, singing their little hearts out, looking for a mate, and they’re going to hop a few miles from here to have their babies!” I was feeling sorry for our poor misguided peepers. “They’ll never make it!”

Our son Alex came out the back door. “What are you guys up to?” he asked.

“Your Mom wanted to come out here and listen to the Spring peepers.” Steven said as Alex walked over to the glider and sat down.

“Oh is that what that noise is?” he asked. “What are they?”

“They’re little frogs.” I explained. “When we were living by the river it was one of the first signs that Spring was really here.” I held up my phone. “But I just realized that they need to be by water to lay their eggs and your Dad says the nearest body of water is a few miles away!”

Steven looked over at Alex. “Your Mom’s worried that they won’t be able to make it there.”

Alex looked over at me and started to laugh. “So, what are you going to do? Go out in our woods and started catching them so you can drive them to the river?”

Steven slowly shook his head. “I really wish you hadn’t said that Alex.”

I smiled as I looked over at Alex. “You know, when I was a kid, I was really good at catching frogs.”

“Are you serious?” Alex seemed surprised.

Now it was my turn to laugh as I got up and walked over to him. “No, but I love the fact that you think I’d do something like that.” I leaned down and gave him a kiss on the top of his head.

I just got back from a trip to the Netherlands and not ONE pothole to be found anywhere I went. Now that I’m back in the States…

“I swear I’m going to be pulled over for drunk driving!” I cried as I stormed into the house.

My husband, Steven and son, Alex both stopped what they were doing and looked over at me. Steven looked mad. “Are you kidding me?”

“What?” Now I was confused. I looked at Alex, who just looked disappointed in me. “Wait! No, I wasn’t drinking!” I cried. “And I certainly wouldn’t go out and drive if I did!” I dropped my coat on the chair and went over to give Alex a hug. “I’m sorry I scared you.” I looked over at Steven. “It’s the damned potholes! I’ve been swerving all over the roads trying to miss them!”

Steven gave a sigh of relief. “I know! They’ve been crazy this year!”

“Every day on my way to work, I see a new one.” I sat down on the couch and began to rub my jaw.

“What’s wrong?” Steven asked.

“Every pothole that I didn’t miss I realized I would grit my teeth as my poor car slammed in the hole. I’ve been gritting them so hard, for the past twenty minutes, I swear I think I’ve chipped a tooth!”

Steven shook his head. “I know what you mean. There are roads I won’t even take because they’re so bad.” He went into the kitchen and came back with a bottle of water for me.

“Thanks.” I unscrewed the cap and took a sip.

“I wonder when they’re going to start filling them?” I took another sip from my water bottle.

By now, Alex had gotten bored with our conversation. “Let me know if you need any help starting dinner.” he said before he left the room.

I looked over at Steven. “Did he just say he’d help make dinner?” I whispered.

Steven shrugged his shoulders. “I’m pretty sure that’s what he said.”

“Hey, Alex!” I called.

He came out of his room. “Yeah?” He came back into the living room.

“Did you just say you’d help make dinner tonight?” I asked. I couldn’t help but smile.

He hesitated for a moment. “Um, sure. What were you planning on making?”

“I was thinking pasta.” I pointed to the kitchen. “I’ve already defrosted the sauce, the pasta’s down in the pantry and there’s salad stuff in the refrigerator.”

“Okay.” He started to go into the kitchen, but then stopped and turned around. “Do you want me to heat up the sauce or go get the pasta?”

“I thought you said you were making dinner tonight?” I couldn’t help but smile.

“I said I’d help.” He held up his pointer finger as he corrected me. “And I only did that because you usually come right home and start to cook. But you’re pothole story was getting you so aggravated I thought dinner might be backed up.” Now it was his time to start smiling. “It was just my way of giving you a gentle reminder, because I’m starving!”

“Well, you’re stuck helping now.” I got up and went into the kitchen. “You go get the pasta and I’ll start the salad.”

Steven came into the kitchen. “Anything I can do?”

“Sure, you can put the water on.” I went cabinet and pulled out a bottle of red wine. “Now that I’m not planning on doing any more driving today, I think I’ll have a nice glass of this with dinner.” I put the bottle on the counter as Alex came back with the pasta.

I turned and looked at Alex as I reached into the cabinet for a glass. “This way I can finish my pothole story while we’re eating dinner!”

Alex gave an very unenthusiastic, “Yeah.” as he put the pasta box down on the counter.

“I can’t believe this!” I was looking at my phone when Steven came into the room.

“What can’t you believe?”

“My Van Gogh art book was shipped from the Museum yesterday in Amsterdam and I’m going to be getting it today!” I held up my phone to prove my point. “I’m tracking the shipping carrier.”

“That’s nice.” Steven said as he walked into the kitchen.

I followed him. “Come on! This is so wild!” I skimmed through the delivery feed. “It left the Netherlands last night and arrived in Germany in the middle of the night. Now it’s in New York!” I looked back at Steven. “You’ve got to admit that’s crazy fast!”

Steven didn’t seem impressed. “You don’t shop online much, do you?” He took a glass out of the cabinet and went to the refrigerator to fill it with water. “If you did more Amazon shopping you wouldn’t be as impressed.”

“But this is international shopping!” I leaned against the counter. “I can’t send a birthday card to the next town and have it get there the next day.”

Steven started to laugh. “Why didn’t you just buy the art book when you’re visiting the Museum with your sister next week?” He finished his drink and put the glass in the sink.

“Dishwasher’s dirty.” I reminded him.

Steven looked at the front of the dishwasher where the sign said “Clean”. “Really?”

“Sorry about that.” I leaned over and moved the sign to “Dirty”. “But the reason I had it sent here was because I didn’t want the weight in the luggage. I had no idea that it would get here the next day!”

I looked back on my phone and sighed. “It’s still being processed in New York.”

Steven patted my arm as he walked passed me. “Don’t worry, it will be here by the end of the day.”

“Did I tell you they’re having a special exhibit called ‘Van Gogh and Japan’ while we’re there?” I was still tracking my purchase while I was talking.

“Yes.” Steven laughed. “A few times.”

“I’m so excited! I can’t believe I’m really going!”

Alex walked into the kitchen. “Are you getting excited for your trip?” He looked at Steven and started to laugh.

“I’m tracking my art book from the Van Gogh Museum!” I looked back at my phone. “It’s on it’s way to New Jersey!” I cried. “They just sent it last night from Amsterdam!”

Alex started to laugh. “You know, overnight shipping has been happening for quite some time now.” He looked over at Steven, still laughing.

“Hey, she’s excited.” he shrugged his shoulders. “I would be too if I was going on her trip.”

“Sisters are great, aren’t they?” I had to laugh myself. “Especially ones that like to travel!”

A few hours later the doorbell rang.

“It’s here!” I cried. “It’s here!” I ran to the door and opened it. The delivery man was all smiles as he handed it to me. “Thank you!” I cried.

By now Alex was next to me. “You sure look happy.”

“I am!” I placed the package on the chair and took out my phone. “I wonder if it says it’s been delivered yet?” I scrolled through the delivery summary. “Yup! It says it’s been delivered!” I looked out the window. “And he hasn’t even pulled away from the curb yet!” I turned back to Alex. “Isn’t it amazing!” I picked up the package and cradled it in my arms. “Just think, this was in Amsterdam just yesterday!”

Alex shook his head. “I can’t believe you’re more excited about tracking your book, then actually getting it.”

“Not true.” I began unwrapping my new purchase. “I’m equally excited about both!”

I had just finished grocery shopping and was placing the last bag on the counter-top when my son, Alex came out of his room.

“Do you need help unloading the car?” he asked as he zipped up his sweatshirt and began heading for the front door.

“Thanks, but I got it all.” I called before he went outside.

“Oh great!” he came into the kitchen and began helping me unload the bags. “I thought you said you were doing a big shopping?” he looked at the half a dozen bags sitting on the counter.

“Well, I couldn’t fit anymore in the grocery cart, so this was all I could get.” I explained as I placed a box of cereal in the cabinet while Alex put away the gallon of milk.

He looked around and seemed confused. “This filled your cart?”

“Well, not this so much.” I motioned for him to follow me into the living room. I pointed out the front window at the container of miniature pansies I’d placed on the front porch. “Aren’t they beautiful!” I cried as we took a moment to watch the tiny purple flowers dance in the breeze. “I just needed some color around here to get me past this horrible winter!” I looked over at Alex barely able to contain my glee. “They were just unloading them from the truck when I was getting my cart.” I looked out the window again at my new plant treasure. “How lucky was that?”

Alex shrugged his shoulder. “Real lucky, I guess. But why did that stop you from getting any groceries?”

“Well, once I put that in my cart there really wasn’t much room for anything else.” I shrugged my shoulders. “I didn’t want anything to damage the flowers. So I only got the few things that fit around it.”

Alex looked confused. “Why didn’t you get the shopping done first and then get the flowers? They would have balanced on top of everything.”

I shook my head. “Because they were just putting them out.” I pointed to the flowers out the window. “If I’d gone back after shopping, someone else would have gotten the best one! I couldn’t let that happen!”

It was Alex’s turn to shake his head. “So why didn’t you buy the plant, put it in the car then go back and get the shopping done?”

That made me stop for a moment before I shrugged my shoulders. “I guess because I never thought of that.” I turned around and smiled at him again. “But aren’t they beautiful?”

Alex laughed. “They are, but there still isn’t anything here to eat for lunch.”

“Did you know pansies are edible?” I looked back at flowers. “Not that I’d let you eat any of mine, but they say they have a nice wintergreen flavor.” I looked back at Alex waiting for him to be impressed with my edible flower knowledge.

He wasn’t.

Instead he put his sweatshirt back on, zipped it up and went out to the kitchen to grab the car keys. “I’m headed out to get something to eat. Do you want anything?” he asked.

“Oh, I’m starving!” I cried. “Do you want to split a tuna on a bagel?”

“Sure.” Alex laughed as headed for the front door.

“Maybe when I done eating I’ll go back and finish the shopping!” I called after him.

“That would be awesome!”

“Well, I’ve always wanted to own a beach house.” I sighed as I swept another pile of sand from the living room floor. “I just thought when I did, it would be closer to the beach.”

“Hey, you haven’t slipped once this winter! Have you?” Steven handed me the dust pan. “If I didn’t sand the steps and sidewalk as much as I did you would have been skating to your car every morning.”

“I know.” I carried the filled dust pan over to the trash but before I dumped it out I held it out for Steven to see. “Oh look, I even got a few pine needles from the Christmas tree!”

Steven had to laugh. “I’ve got to say that for a fake Christmas tree that thing looses more needles than a real one!”

I took the broom and dust pan into our bedroom. “I can’t believe there’s sand in here too!” I began sweeping. “Everyone takes there shoes off at the front door, so how’s it getting all the way in here? It’s driving me nuts!” I’d already swept a little pile into the middle of the floor.

Steven shrugged his shoulders. “I have no idea.”

“Can you please sweep the steps and sidewalk today so we can stop dragging the sand in?” I asked as I took the filled dust pan into the kitchen to throw away.

Steven looked out the window. “There’s still snow on the ground. Do you want to take that chance ?”

I looked over at him, not feeling very amused. “Yes, I’m willing to take that chance. I’m tried of walking around barefoot and feeling sand under my feet!”

“Hey,” Steven started to laugh. “Aren’t you the one who said you can’t wait for the time of year when you can feel the sand between your toes?”

“Not in the house!” I handed him the broom.

Steven shook his head. “I don’t need the broom.”

“Oh, come on!” I cried. “Please do the walks for me!”

“I am.” He went to the closet and took out his jacket. “I’m just not using the broom. That takes too long.”

I followed him to the front door, careful not to step outside on the sandy steps. “How are you going to get rid of the sand?”

I peeked around the door jam and watched as he pulled up the garage door, went inside and came out with the leaf blower. “It’ll only take a minute using this.”

I watched as he blew the sand off the driveway and sidewalk. He stopped and smiled at me. “See, only seconds!”

I sighed. “That’s just great…I spent the last twenty minutes just doing the living room and our bedroom! I still have the rest of the house to sweep!”

Our son, Alex came into the room. “What are you two up to?”

“Sand removal!” Steven called from the front steps. “I’m doing the outside and your Mom’s taking care of inside.”

I looked over at Alex. “Yeah, it’s been real fair.” I pointed to Steven. “He’s done in a minute…” I held up my broom. “and I’m working on mine for the next hour!”

Steven smiled as he held up the leaf blower. “Let me inside and I could have it done in no time!”

When I hesitated, Alex looked over at me. “We’re you just thinking about it?” he started to laugh.

I shrugged my shoulders. “I have to admit, for a second, I was.”

“I can’t.” I sighed, “I just can’t.” My forehead was leaned against the glass at the back door. Outside the snow was coming down harder by the hour.

Steven came up behind me. “What are you up to today?”

I looked outside. “Clearly nothing.” My bird feeder was swinging in the wind, not a bird in sight.

“Don’t you usually like to bake on snow days?” Steven looked over at the counter and picked up the box of cake mix. “Oh, spice cake!” he put the box down. “Alex’s favorite.”

“I know, but all this snow is making me fat.” I sighed, I turned around and went over to the refrigerator and got the eggs. “It wasn’t so bad at the beginning of winter. I felt like I had some time to drop the pounds before spring.” I looked down at my oversized sweatshirt and baggy sweatpants. “But bathing suit season is just around the corner and I’m running out of time. I can’t afford another snow day!” I pulled a bowl out of the cabinet and got the mixer out of the drawer.

“So make the cake for Alex.” Steven reached into the silverware drawer and got me a spoon. “No one says you have to eat a piece.”

I looked over at Steven and rolled my eyes. “We’re snowed in and a cake will be sitting on the counter in about an hour. I don’t have superhuman powers!” I poured the mix into the bowl, adding the eggs and applesauce then turned on the mixer. “I’m going to wind up getting bored and eating cake.” I sighed as I filled a pan with the mix and popped it into the oven. “I might as well resign myself that I won’t be wearing a bathing suit this summer.”

Steven looked confused. “I haven’t seen you in a bathing suit in years.”

I shrugged my shoulders. “I’m not really a beach person, and when I do go I never take my coverup off.” I shook my head. “But that’s not the point!”

Steven looked out the window, the snow was still coming down. “Well, maybe you’d like to help me shovel out.” He turned around and smiled at me. “It’s a great workout!”

“Fine.” I sighed. I set the timer. “As soon as the cake is done I’ll come out and help.”

“I’m not going out there now.” Steven laughed. “I’ll wait until it stops.”

“But that’s not suppose to happen until tomorrow morning! How am I suppose to work off the cake I’m going to be eating today?”

“I don’t know what to tell you…” Steven shook his head as he went into his office.

I decided maybe a few sit-ups and squats were in order while I waited for the cake to be done. I pulled out my yoga mat and turned on the television. As I did a few stretches my show was interrupted for a snowstorm update. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Are you kidding me!” I yelled at the weather forecaster.

My son Alex came into the room. “What’s wrong?” he sounded concerned.

“There could be another snowstorm coming after this one!” I cried.

“It’s spring.” Alex patted me on the shoulder. “They melt the next day.”

“That’s not the point!” I cried.

Alex turned his head and took a quick sniff. “Is that a spice cake I’m smelling?”

“It is.” I sighed. “And apparently I’ll be making brownies for the next one.” I complained as I started to do my squats and watched the forecast.

We were having our third Nor’easter in less then two weeks. My husband Steven and I were outside shoveling and clearing off our cars when I noticed a little burst of yellow sticking out of the snow.

“Oh, no!” I called as I dropped my shovel and ran over to what I knew was a daffodil. I leaned down to brush off the heavy snow hoping the weight hadn’t snapped it’s stem. “I think it’s okay!” I called as I checked the stem and could see it was bent but hadn’t snapped.

“That’s great.” Steven called as he was pushing snow off my car with a broom. “I was really worried about the flowers.” he said in a deadpan voice. He grunted with the effort it took to get the snow off the roof of the car.

I began wandering around the front yard looking to dig out any other flowers that were in distress. “I hope they’ve all made it.”

“I hope I don’t throw my back out trying to clear off these cars.” Steven called back.

“I’ll be there to help you in a minute.” I called back. I saw some green leaves sticking out of the snow and began clearing it away, hoping not to find the flowers smashed to the ground. This particular bunch hadn’t bloomed yet and it was just a hint of yellow popping out from the green.

“This bed seems to be fine!” I called back.

“Once again…thrilled!” Steven called back in his deadpan voice.

I’d made my way to the south side of the house and could see the flower bed there hadn’t fared as well. “Oh man…” I got down on my knees and saw that a few of the flowers stems had been snapped. There was nothing else I could do but pick them. Looking at the two bright yellow blooms against the white of the snow made me smile. There was something about daffodils in the snow that just made me happy. Spring was only days away and even though I was shoveling snow I was now holding proof that warmer days were just around the corner.

Walking back around the side of the house I went over to Steven in the driveway and handed him the two flowers. “Thanks for clearing off my car.” I said as I picked up my shovel and began scooping the snow off the sidewalk.

Steven stood holding the flowers and looking at me. “Thanks.” he said leaning the broom against the car.

“Why don’t you go inside and put them in water and I’ll finish up the sidewalk.” I just had a few more feet to finish and we’d both be done.

When I got inside I stomped my boots to knock off the snow and hung my coat on the door knob of the closet to dry. Coming into the kitchen, Steven had put the daffodils in a small vase and had them sitting in the middle of the dining room table. He’d made me a cup of tea and handed me the warm mug. “Hopefully that’s the last snow of the season!” he said as he sat down at the table across from me.

“Right now I don’t care if it snows again.” I gently touched one of the petals that was still cold from the snow. “Because this means spring is already here! That’s all that matters to me!”

I walked into the house stomping my feet to get the snow off my boots. “I’m home!” I called as I brushed off the heavy snow from my coat.

“You’re home early.” Alex said as he came out to meet me.

“They closed the school early.” I hung my coat on the back of the chair to let it dry. “I can’t believe how hard it’s coming down!”

Just then a flash of bright light lit up our front window. “What was that?” Alex and I moved closer to the window when we heard to rumble of thunder. It seemed to go on for a very long time.

We looked at one another. “Have you ever heard of a thunder storm and snow storm at the same time!” Alex asked as we heard another rumble in the distance.

“No!” I shook my head. “But it’s amazing!”

I picked up my phone and went to Google to look it up. “It’s got a name!” I cried. “It’s called Thundersnow.”

Alex laughed. “Wow! They really used their imagination naming it!”

I kept scanning the feed. “It says that it’s a really rare occurrence.” I looked over at Alex and shrugged my shoulder. “Well, that has to be true because I’m old and I’ve never heard it before.”

Another long rumble could be heard in the distance when my husband walked in the room. “I’m glad they let you out early.”

“It’s thundersnowing!” I cried. “You know how much I love a summer thunder storm but thundersnow is really amazing!”

We all looked out the window as the nor’easter blew heavy snow that was coating the trees in a thick blanket of white.

“It’s really is beautiful.” I said.

Alex and Steven both looked at me. “You hate the snow!” Steven said. “You groan every time they mention snow in the forecast!”

I held up my finger to stop him for a moment. “That’s winter snow.” I said. “Everybody hates winter snow. But this is soon to be spring snow.”

Alex shook his head and laughed. “What’s the difference?”

I looked back out the window to see a car slowing making its way past our house. “Winter snow is depressing because it seems to stay forever.” I explained. “But soon to be spring snow, falls and starts to melt right away.” I turned around to look at them both as I clapped my hands together excited at my new discovery. “But now that I know there’s a chance for thundersnow in the spring I’m going to say it’s my new favorite weather event!”

Alex shook his head. “No matter what time of year it comes, you still have to shovel it.”

“Not if it’s sunny and warmer out tomorrow. It’ll just melt!” I cried.

Alex smiled “You heard her!” he looked at his Dad. “No more shoveling for us this winter!” Alex began walking to his room.

“Wait! I said if it was sunny out tomorrow!” I called after him.

“Did I just hear more thunder?” he called back to me before he closed his bedroom door.

“What!” I raced back to the window stopping the listen. “Ahh, man. I missed it.” I looked over at Steven.

Steven shook his head. “You didn’t miss it.” he started to laugh. “Alex was just trying to distract you from the shoveling conversation.”

“Oh, he’s good.” I whispered under my breath.

I’d decided to do some Spring shopping on my computer, when Steven walked into the room.

“What are you up to today?” he asked.

“I’m glad you asked!” I turned my computer screen around for him to see. “What do you think of these for our back porch?” I’d picked out a beautiful set of wind chimes and wanted Steven to see them before I downloaded them into my cart.

Steven began shaking his head. “Nope, no way…not going to happen.”

“No?” I started to laugh. “Why don’t you tell me how you really feel?”

He sat down next to me on the couch. “I’m serious. The neighbors will hate us.”

“Oh come on!” I turned the screen back to facing me. “People use them for meditation! Depending on the tone you get, it can be really soothing.”

“Not for me.” He got up and went into the kitchen. “They’re like fingernails on a chalk board.” he called over his shoulders.

I wasn’t ready to be swayed. I started searching for wind chime videos I could play for him. The first one I came to was a higher pitched chime. He came back into the living room and handed me a bottle of water then took a sip from his. “Thanks.” I placed my bottle on the coffee table then turned up the sound. A soft tinkling began to play. “Isn’t that pretty?”

Our son Alex walked into the room. “What’s that sound?”

“Your Mom wants to get wind chimes for the back porch.” Steven looked over at Alex and cringed as my chimes kept playing.

“It sounds like someones searching for something in the silverware drawer.” Alex said cringing at the sound too.

“It does not!” I cried.

Steven tilted his head and listened for a moment. “You’re right.” he looked over at Alex. “That’s exactly what it sounds like.”

“You two are unbelievable.” I began searching for another video. I found one that had long pipes that would give a deeper sound and hit play. As the deep tones filled the room I could see neither of my guys were impressed.

“Sounds like someone’s banging two pipes together.” Steven said as Alex nodded in agreement.

“Oh, come on!” I cried. “To me it sounds a little like the Tibetan singing bowls.”

“The what?” Alex looked confused.

I went to YouTube, pulled up a video and hit play. The sound of the bowls being struck by the mallet filled the room. “Doesn’t that just make you feel like taking a deep breath and relaxing?” I took and deep breath, slowly exhaling and really could feel myself feeling calmer. “See?” I smiled at them.

Steven shook his head. “That would drive me nuts.”

Alex nodded his head in agreement. “Me too! I like silence when I’m trying to relax.”

“Okay fine.” I closed the lid on my laptop and picked up my phone. “But you can’t stop me from playing the YouTube videos of them when I’m out on the porch.”

Steven shrugged his shoulders. “That seems fair.”

Alex nodded in agreement. “Hey, the next nice day I’ll even sit out there with you.”

“You will?” I thought maybe I’d finally turned him to my way of thinking.

“Sure!” Alex started to laugh. “As long as you use your ear buds!”

Even I had to laugh at that one.