Day 36

Lots of errands today. First distribute the Senior News. That generally turns out to be a social event. Then lots  more cleaning in the guest house. Samantha left a mess. I’m disappointed that she did. She kept telling me how much she enjoyed living there and it doesn’t look like she appreciated it at all. Tomorrow Crystal will do the floors and shampoo the carpet. All clean and fresh for the next guest. Need to pull weeds too.

April column for Senior News

April is the time for seed catalogs, preparing the spaces for flowers and vegetables, making trips to nurseries and plant departments, dreaming of warmer nights and sunnier days. Spring fever. We choose carefully so the seeds will thrive in our climate. What we plant, care for, weed, feed, and water is what we sow. Sometimes an unintentional plant will show up. We say, ‘Where did that come from?’ We call them weeds and pluck them out.

Words are seeds too. We need to think about what they will produce when we say them. They can produce beauty like poetry. They can inform like newspapers. They can entertain like fictional stories. Or like weeds, they can interfere with the growth and self-confidence of the listener. When I was a teacher, I had to tell students that words could be lethal weapons. Bullying is an example of the misuse of words and the serious harm that is inflicted. We humans seem to remember the negative word experiences much longer than the positive ones. And yet a kind or softly spoken word can change the listener’s day, or self image, fluff up self-esteem, and give encouragement.

Even in an argument, it is possible to use civil and decent language. We can say our truth, our viewpoint, in supportive, loving, and encouraging words that give room for mutual understanding. Shouting and sulking, and needing to be right, are not nourishing to any relationship. It’s like spreading weed seeds without thought. It is not possible to take words back once they are out of our mouths. No amount of apologies heal the feelings left behind. Our mothers told us if we couldn’t say something nice, to say nothing at all. There is a time for holding ones tongue.

My container garden is already producing green onions and lettuce. The onions are in an old dishpan with a hole in the bottom. The lettuce is in a planter inside. It’s small enough so I can move it around. Soon the kale and chard will flourish in their pots too. The blueberry bushes are budding as are the neighbors’ apple trees. We have a climate that is friendly to many plants. It is unique in that way. Plants can thrive in fog and rain as long as the sun comes out often. So, as I enjoy watching the growth of my chosen plants, I will carefully choose my words to be sure that what I mean is what I say.