Between Waves and Windows

Can I be honest for a moment?
I love water, but it also seems to be a constant source of anxiety in my life.

Let me explain. It wasn’t always this way. Before my husband and I became homeowners, water was purely a source of inspiration. The soothing sound of rainfall, the rush of waves on the shore—those moments would leave me mesmerized and at peace.

Then we bought a house.

Two months after moving in, I came downstairs one morning and turned on the kitchen tap—only to be greeted by dry pipes. To my surprise, there was no water. It turns out, the water supply line hadn’t been replaced since it was installed roughly a century before.

Our basement—an old stone cellar with a dirt floor that hasn't changed much since the original colonial structure was built—requires a sump pump to prevent flooding (and to keep our furnace running).

As I sit here writing this on a rainy evening, I notice one of our windows is leaking.

Water is so beautiful but it is not always gentle. And it always finds its own way, whether I like it or not.

These days, I find myself fascinated by water—though admittedly, more by its gentler side! I’m trying to reconnect with its mysterious beauty, not just its raw power (which, as a homeowner, can sometimes feel almost vengeful).

What about you? What scares you? What do you find beautiful? Are they the same thing?