Category : Stories

Sub Category : Drama

~Spring 1982~

"Mom, what do you think the best thing about life is?"
These words spoken by a young curly haired girl named Drew, at the age of 11.
Drew, now 32 years old, remembers asking her mother this question as a young girl as she sits in her home garden.
She finds herself still thinking back to this question, reminding herself of her mother. Her mother always had a way with words. Not only was she articulate and beautiful, but she was the sweetest woman Drew has ever known.
She remembers back to her mother's words as a smile paints itself upon her face.
"Drew, honey, that's a fantastic question!" her mother Paula said as she brushed her daughter's hair out of her face as the wind outside continued to heavily brush against them.
Drew looked up at her mother smiling and said, "I asked dad yesterday, but he said he didn't know. He told me that you would though. He said that you know everything about anything."
"Your father is right, ya know?" Paula said as they both began to laugh in agreement.
Her mom took her daughter's hand and looked forward into the distance that captures the beauty of nature more so than a painting ever could.
Her mother sighed and said, "Drew, I don't think anyone really knows for sure what the best thing about life is. There's no science to back up the claims, there's no basic logic either. It's more so a feeling, a belief that you just can't explain. You can't always put how you feel or why you feel that way into words. Everyone has different opinions about what the best thing about life is. Some may say friendship, family, nature, water, food, fashion or anything that they love about life themselves. So it's pretty complicated to come up with just one answer. My answer would be all of the above. Everything that you come across in life has a bit of beauty in it, even if it's shown in a subtle way."
Drew couldn't help but be so enchanted in her mother's voice when she spoke and the words that came out of her mouth. She just continued to listen and look at her mom as the light from the sun shinned upon her mom's face. 
Her mom continued to look into the distance at the greenery as she spoke.
Whenever I find myself getting confused about where my life is headed or when I just want to take a small break from the chaos of life itself, I come here."
They sat in a garden that she put together with her own mother as a young girl. Her mom would have picnics here with her and Paula even got married to Drew's dad right here in their backyard. Her mother loved this garden and spent a good portion of her life here. Once her mom passed away, she spread her mother's ashes here to always have her with her and to add to the peaceful feeling that this place has. 
It was full of rose bushes, sunflowers, aloe vera plants, an apple tree, peach tree, a beautiful water fountain with the shape of a dove spreading its wings to fly off and a couple wooden swings. Paula plans to add more to this garden to do as he mom did for her and pass it on to Drew one day.
"Grandma and I made this garden when I was little. She would have loved seeing you grow up. She would have said that you look just like me when I was a young girl. I want this garden to be a place that you can come to and feel peace and know that me and grandma will always be with you. I want you to add to this garden and one day share it with your own kids. It'll be like a second home for you as it was for me. Coming here and letting go of everything momentarily, basking in the smell of fresh air, listening to the wind rush pass you and know that no matter what, you're safe here. It's so simple to get caught up in life and time, that we forget about the things that truly matter. Not the destination of where you're going, but the journey as to how you're gonna get there. That, Drew, has to be the best thing about life. You get to create it yourself, experience it yourself and live it yourself. This world is just a world. This life is just a life. Earth is just a planet. But with you here, the world gets bigger, the Earth is alive and life is lived. That's the best things about life, Drew." 
Drew smiled at here mother and said, "that was the best answer I never knew I needed to her, mom."
"Your dad was right about me being smart," her mom looked at her daughter and said as they both started to laugh once more in agreement.
Drew smiled thinking back on that day as she sat in the garden now.
She added more plants, crops and even another bench to sit on for the garden. She now has two beautiful kids of her own; 8 year old Amelia and 5 year old Julian.
Amelia and Julian ran around the garden playing and laughing as they ran up to Drew to give her hugs. 
"Mommy, what were you thinking about? Amelia asked her mother.
She motioned for both her kids to hop up on the bench and sit with her.
She said while looking around her garden, listening to the hummingbirds chirp, "Do you two know what the best thing about life is?"
Her kids shook their heads no and she said as she smiled, "Well, I've got an awesome story to tell you both."


The Best Thing About Life, by Natasha Moran (ReneeRose🌹)