Obsession
I have developed an obsession with gardening. I can’t stop from buying plants. Lately it’s fruit & vegetables. I bought squash, cantalope, strawberries, cucumbers, zuchinni, peas, carrots, and broccoli. The thought of making things grow and then being able to feast upon my efforts is empowering. Someday I will be able to eat the fruits of my labors, just like my ancestors. I come from a long line of farmers. As recently as my grandparents, who retired to a farm and grew veggies & peaches. My grandmother could, back in her heyday, effortlessly make anything grow. It take much more work for me. Some of my favorite childhood memories are running around my grandparents’ farm and digging in the dirt, playing in the orchard, selling the peaches out of the truck at the end of the drive, picking blackberries for our cobbler.
My grandfather died in 1999. My grandmother is still alive, at 96, but suffers from severe dementia. My boyfriend made a comment about me not visiting her (after my father made a comment). I had to explain to him that my grandmother doesn’t know who we are. She’s been forgetting for the last 5 years. It only upsets her when I go visit. It’s very sad for me. She’s my last remaining grandparent, and to be honest I didn’t expect her to last this long after my grandfather’s death. But to know that she doesn’t know me (or anyone else in the family) and that she most likely won’t be around when I get married and have children is heartbreaking. I think part of the reason I’m gardening is because it gives me a link to her. Circle of life. *Insert singing animals here*
4 Responses to “Obsession”
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Merrie, turnabout is fair play…
Your site is extremely difficult to read in Firefox. There is no white background, so all your text is right on top of the gingham. It looks right in IE, though.
Love,
Sean
P.S. Sorry ’bout your grandma.
Hey Merrie, your site is really nice in IE AND Netscape! But since MC started it…I have to ask a favor for minivanmom. check your link on your sidebar.
OH…and we’d like to see you all this weekend or sometime soon. I think we need to have a few glasses and chat it up in person!
I checked it out in firefox, and it is hard to read. Gonna see what I need to do to fix that. Until then, USE IE!
I also fixed epiphany’s link, so all is good. I was meaning todo that, but never seemed to remember when I was online. oops.
This past Friday I was at the Houston Garden Centers and all I could think about was how much the place reminded me of my grandfather. His whole house, yard and garage smelled like the nursery. Like fertilizer. Plus, he used to drag me to the nursery every week when I was a kid, so just walking up and down the gravel paths I felt like he was with me.
It’s nice to have moments like that, I’m glad other people do too.