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A Shadow of summers past from Cistus Nursery.
It's May 18, the day on which, 36 years ago, Mt. St. Helen's erupted and was changed forever. Life is about change. Seasons, years, the arbitrary segments into which we've pushed time, fly by. Nothing is permanent. Loved ones come and go, temporal beings that they/we are. The earth itself, which we think of as solid and still, is spinning, our ecosystem is in flux and the way we do things in our jobs is changing faster now than ever before; the blessing and bane of technology. In the midst of this, we long for stability, hold on to cherished memories and things, and, in our minds, make the past seem better than it might have really been. We are creatures of habit (ever change around the drawers and cupboards in your kitchen?) and love ritual. How comforting is the ancient practice of digging in the soil, planting a seed, watching our little bits of nature produce foliage, flowers and food. Is that one of the reasons we garden? Nah, it's just a fun pastime and we like looking at pretty stuff.
As I get older I like old favorites: books, music, recipes. The garden is the one place where I am always looking forward. It's what gets me through the winter and I hope will keep me going well into old age.
ReplyDeleteYes indeed.
DeleteBeautiful shadow picture and nice thoughts! Thanks for sharing both.
ReplyDeleteAlways a pleasure, pal!
DeleteWonderful musings on life's fleeting quality, and a beautiful photo to convey it. I normally don't, but I just grew some seeds this spring, and I was giddy with excitement when they sprouted! It really was a powerful, grounding feeling to see them grow...
ReplyDeleteThanks for this cool meme! I grew tomatoes from seed last year and it was pretty amazing watching them go from seed to fruit. Also a lot of work. This year a few plants from a nursery.
DeleteGreat shadow and rustic bike.
ReplyDeleteI do find gardening a comfort, for it's cyclical nature and physical labor it demands.
I couldn't garden last weekend and I feel out of sorts. The pretty results of my labor are just a bonus.
I agree!
DeleteMt. St. Helens is one of those things that helps me gauge my life. Even though a thousand miles away or more I watched its destruction and rebirth over the decades with awe. Nice of you to use it as an example here. Love the photo too!
ReplyDeleteWhy Alan, I didn't think you were old enough to remember the eruption. For some reason I think of you being in your late thirties.
DeleteThis made me teary eyed.
ReplyDeleteGreat capture!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteChange is hard, but it can be so rewarding. Great picture, Peter!
ReplyDeleteYou have a point, sometimes change is a good thing, a new opportunity, the closing of a door, the opening of a window; other times, it just sucks.
DeleteEruption Day always comes about the time the garden is erupting with growth and blossom.
ReplyDeleteInteresting observation, Linda. I'd not thought of it that way before but you're right!
DeleteThe St. Helen's anniversary and the recovery of some of the plants in the affected area was covered on the news (PBS) this evening - I was startled by the passage of time, just as I am when I see adults I first met as newborns.
ReplyDeleteHow can time have gone by so quickly? I'm now teaching the children of former kindergarten students. They could be the grandchildren of the High school students I taught early in my career. Crazy.
DeleteI'm with Loree: Your prose had me a little verklempt...in a good way. The last line brought a smile. Perfect post for a vignette.
ReplyDeleteThe vignette meme is great because it gives us an excuse to think about one image. Life offers so much pleasure and so much pain. It's the yin/yang nature of things I suppose.
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