I love witnessing your passion for the things you love. I laughed all through this post. I’m grateful no rocks were thrown at you and that you get to be Will Ferrell.
I'm right there with you in the crazy plant lady club. I'm growing weeds ON PURPOSE because they are medicinal. And I coax clover to grow, hoping to squeeze out the grass. If I had my way, lawns would all be meadows, every yard would contain native plants and trees, and low growing plants would be our "lawns." When I moved to Portland, I wondered why all the lawns weren't moss, it's so plentiful. It's beautiful, soft, and doesn't need mowing. I'm definitely in the minority on that idea. Good on you for allowing your spirea to do what she wants!
I live in Portland, and we are in the process of 1) removing all the grass in our front yard and turning it into beds for native plants; 2) turning the grass in the back yard to clover. (We get too much sun, especially now, for moss to survive.) It's hard work! And a multi-year process. But so with you on this.
I love love loved this story!! "I care more about the plant than my car'" cracked me up. Not many of us would have the self assurance to make that decision. We would likely feel the pressure of societal norms to value the money item over the living plant.
And, I needed to hear about the kindness and tolerance of Jason. I needed that this morning.
This was such a nice Monday morning read! So glad to know that there are Jasons in this world. And that you solved the problem without sacrificing your plants. I totally get your choices. :-)
That was so lovely. How much better would the world be if there were more people like Jason!
My grandma was a crazy plant lady and she took such exquisite care of her plants (and her people). Sadly, the plant lady gene hasn't been passed down to any of us, although I did get the crazy cat lady gene from my other grandma, so that's something at least 😜
It is definitely something. It’s good to be crazy about something. I agree the world needs more people who help regardless of the circumstances. Thanks for reading Sonbol.
I love witnessing your passion for the things you love. I laughed all through this post. I’m grateful no rocks were thrown at you and that you get to be Will Ferrell.
😂 Me too! I’m so glad I made you laugh. Thanks for reading and commenting. Your friendship is a “nest in a tree of trust and understanding.”
I'm right there with you in the crazy plant lady club. I'm growing weeds ON PURPOSE because they are medicinal. And I coax clover to grow, hoping to squeeze out the grass. If I had my way, lawns would all be meadows, every yard would contain native plants and trees, and low growing plants would be our "lawns." When I moved to Portland, I wondered why all the lawns weren't moss, it's so plentiful. It's beautiful, soft, and doesn't need mowing. I'm definitely in the minority on that idea. Good on you for allowing your spirea to do what she wants!
Moss all the way! Dan reminded me that the only reason we have a car is to take us to see pretty plants.
Yes!
I live in Portland, and we are in the process of 1) removing all the grass in our front yard and turning it into beds for native plants; 2) turning the grass in the back yard to clover. (We get too much sun, especially now, for moss to survive.) It's hard work! And a multi-year process. But so with you on this.
I love this!
I love love loved this story!! "I care more about the plant than my car'" cracked me up. Not many of us would have the self assurance to make that decision. We would likely feel the pressure of societal norms to value the money item over the living plant.
And, I needed to hear about the kindness and tolerance of Jason. I needed that this morning.
This was delightful and very well written!!!
Yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Making people laugh with my writing is my favorite thing to do with my writing. 🤗
This was such a nice Monday morning read! So glad to know that there are Jasons in this world. And that you solved the problem without sacrificing your plants. I totally get your choices. :-)
Thanks Rita! Thanks for being here. I’m so glad you enjoyed the pocket.
“I care more about the plant than I do about the car." My kind of person hahaha! I loved thinking of you as Will Ferrell. Such a funny post.
Thanks Kristy! Yup, totally ridiculous and happy.
December 14, 2006, 6:10 PM, Bellevue, Washington
Could have died.
Met my maker, as they say.
Stand of three cedars
crashing down on the car,
wrapping metal around
my silhouette,
steering wheel pinned against thighs,
glass shards,
sprinkled through my hair, across my shoulders.
Yep. Could have died.
Another few inches the sheriff said.
“Sure glad you didn’t have a passenger.”
His pen-sized flashlight surveilling the narrow escape.
So much rain that early winter.
Gusts swept in with a vengeance.
Roots gripped mightily waterlogged ground –
no match for Mother Nature’s fury.
Fate accepted. All of them breaking from the hillside
falling,
slamming across the top of the car,
shattering glass, bending metal,
scattering into tree pieces.
I was catapulted into
an eerie stillness,
oddly present,
very much
alive.
Drivers navigated around the tangled mess.
I sat trapped,
and unnoticed,
camouflaged by gnarled branches,
cloaked in pitch dark and pelting rain.
Felt her coming
Like a dog senses fear.
Turned toward … “I’m fine.”
Horror drained from her face with a single exhale.
She forced the door – help me slide out.
We sat together. She made calls. Help arrived.
A man in the Ford 250, rope & tow ball, firefighters, the sheriff.
We cleared the roadway.
She left.
I never knew her name – recognized the florist van.
Packed up a photo, a thank-you gift, a handwritten note
“To the Delivery Person – Angel at the Accident Scene”
Meeting death’s possibility,
raises questions,
“What does it mean?”
“What am I supposed to learn?”
No answers. Nothing clicks. No big life change.
A new car – sure. Uneasiness with squalls – always.
Years go by, unsettled curiosity lingers,
“Did I miss something?”
Until the email came.
Hi. I’m the person who came upon your car …
That night, I left home …
drove to LA.
Your card got forwarded …
photo went on the fridge
reminding me …
motivating me, giving me purpose.
four years of fire-fighter training …
Graduated.
Here’s a photo.
That night, my life changed.
There she stood in full gear – all 100 pounds at 5’1” –
nestled between giants, power-packed, immeasurable courage.
She ran from traditions too small
to embody her strength,
to have the life she was meant to live.
The Winds knew we’d do our part.
Beautiful story Karen! Thank you for sharing!
That was so lovely. How much better would the world be if there were more people like Jason!
My grandma was a crazy plant lady and she took such exquisite care of her plants (and her people). Sadly, the plant lady gene hasn't been passed down to any of us, although I did get the crazy cat lady gene from my other grandma, so that's something at least 😜
It is definitely something. It’s good to be crazy about something. I agree the world needs more people who help regardless of the circumstances. Thanks for reading Sonbol.