1.0Tracy G. Cooperhttps://tracygcooper.comTracy G Cooperhttps://tracygcooper.com/index.php/author/yo2n7ndlem/rich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content"><a href="https://tracygcooper.com/index.php/2020/04/18/blooming-in-due-time/">Blooming in Due Time</a></blockquote> <script type='text/javascript'> <!--//--><![CDATA[//><!-- /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";var e=!1,n=!1;if(l.querySelector)if(d.addEventListener)e=!0;if(d.wp=d.wp||{},!d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage)if(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if(t)if(t.secret||t.message||t.value)if(!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var r,i,a,s=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),n=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),c=0;c<n.length;c++)n[c].style.display="none";for(c=0;c<s.length;c++)if(r=s[c],e.source===r.contentWindow){if(r.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message){if(1e3<(a=parseInt(t.value,10)))a=1e3;else if(~~a<200)a=200;r.height=a}if("link"===t.message)if(i=l.createElement("a"),a=l.createElement("a"),i.href=r.getAttribute("src"),a.href=t.value,o.test(a.protocol))if(a.host===i.host)if(l.activeElement===r)d.top.location.href=t.value}}},e)d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",t,!1),d.addEventListener("load",t,!1);function t(){if(!n){n=!0;for(var e,t,r=-1!==navigator.appVersion.indexOf("MSIE 10"),i=!!navigator.userAgent.match(/Trident.*rv:11\./),a=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),s=0;s<a.length;s++){if(!(e=a[s]).getAttribute("data-secret"))t=Math.random().toString(36).substr(2,10),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t);if(r||i)(t=e.cloneNode(!0)).removeAttribute("security"),e.parentNode.replaceChild(t,e)}}}}(window,document); //--><!]]> </script><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://tracygcooper.com/index.php/2020/04/18/blooming-in-due-time/embed/" width="600" height="338" title="“Blooming in Due Time” — Tracy G. Cooper" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe>https://tracygcooper.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/IMG_1820.jpg20482048Yesterday our family hit the highway for the first time in five weeks. Here in New Jersey, we are on a shelter at home order due to the surge in COVID-19 infections in our state. We decided on a drive to a tulip farm south of our home. A change of scenery is always good. The farm charges a $22 fee for cars to wind through a cheerful tulip field, which takes about 30 minutes. It was money well spent—a colorful distraction from a difficult season of uncertainty. We’ve been teaching from home and helping our own children with their schooling as well. There’s no clear idea of when things will go back to normal. That’s okay. Safe and grateful, we’ve grown accustomed to this new rhythm and are making the best of it. There’s something amazing about the bulb that wills forth its flower every spring. A few drab, unremarkable lumps manifest in a riot of color under the right conditions. Whatever beauty lies dormant will reveal its glory in time. As I build my new life as an author—working on this website and writing new material—I think about the tulip bulbs. When the time is right, the beautiful payoff comes. Nothing can rush or slow it. It happens when it is supposed to. I encourage you to bloom in due time just as I—a seriously late bloomer—am doing in this season. With Love and Gratitude, Tracy