All too personal

Last week while driving home and regrettably still thinking about the office issues of the day my phone rang. My sister called and after a few minutes of small talk about her daughter and family she got right to the point. First she said she was trying not to panic about the small lump she found under her arm. While waiting for the doctors diagnoses, she lost her composure. (this may be the first time she admitted such a thing). She was told that she might be having an allergic reation to cosmetics we all use there everyday. Humm! Sure enough in a few days the lump was going away. She said she was afraid the she'd have to give up coffee. Nothing doing, I said, as long as you drink in moderation, you'll be fine. Besides coffee is supposed to keep you brain from developing dementia. Humm, she replied " we are doomed as Mom drank enough coffee in her day for all of us." We just laughed for a good few minutes. We recounted the time Mom decided to give up coffee and replaced it with Pepsi. Now her drug of choice is Chocolate. I cannot help being addicted, its a personal amd familial tradition.

I hope that my sister is fine and that she never has to encounter the dreaded "C "that seems to run through our family. Keep a good thought for her. My thoughts were how important family is and the work will always continue......so why sweat the details.

Weekend relaxation?

I arose early to go to the market before the sleepy heads crowded into the old Shop Rite in my neighborhood. Completely forgot that I had a 9 am appointment to get my hair done. Oops, now who is the sleepy head. A quick trip to the nearby True Value hardware store for rakes and new garden tools, at least ones that would fit into my car. Wouldn't you know the twenty dollar garden cart was sold out. Surprise, surprise. Looks like the made them for children to play in the garden . Rushed home for an afternoon delivery of mulch, knowing there were plenty of beds and trees that still needed weeding in anticipation of the big delivery. Quickly I cleaned the area where the hammock will go up later (a reward later for all my efforts), removed the old BBQ grills and four tanks. Why did two people need two grills and four tanks of fuel? Miscellaneous items just seemed to find their way behind the garden shed and I know I didn't put anything back there? Humm, spend the remaining morning cleaning stuff that was never mine to begin with from behind the garden shed that was supposed to house the items that overflowed the garage. A garage that has not seen a car since 1990. I worked till the only stuff out back was a pile of wood seasoned for the taking and the lonely wheelbarrow that still had seen mulch today. About two o'clock when I was ready for a siesta the delivery finally arrived.

It took about ninety minutes to spread two cubic yards. Worse that that it barely made a dent compared to those areas that still need attention. Looks like its back to my favorite garden center for more mulch, more delivery charges, oops. Probably can use another four or five yards to finish my existing garden beds. Looks like it will not be ready for parties by the upcoming holiday. Maybe July? September?

Why tell this tale? Gardening is my passion so why am I complaining about the chores this year? Complain, complain, complain!. Cannot use my shoulder injury as an excuse any more. Is it time for a smaller yard? Perhaps a nice new condo with a oversized postage stamp of a yard?
I wonder?

I so looked forward to the weekend as a time to rest and relax, maybe tommorrow?

I'm Back, OK Who cares?

I signed off for a while as I claimed to be working on my garden. Truth is I went on a voyage, a long one. Although I missed going to Cannes this year I had quite an adventure lately, would you believe I:

Went on a voyage of discovery with my good friend SylviaFeintein. During which we enjoyed two months traveling with her Aunt Bubbie to the Orient. After which she took me to Boca to see her sister and her rich husband, you remember the diamond merchant. Then we went to see RENT with cousin Mel. Syl's sister Liza and I traveled to Europe to find her another husband and I ended up spending one dreamy night with Antonio. Sorry Pax, I know what he means to you, but that sweet talking, dreamy eyed Latino was more that any woman can resist!

Maybe I took Mom to NY a week before Mother's Day, just to be a good daughter.

No, not buying it, so far. How about I went to the Garden of Eden and did not return for three months. I have traveled far and there is still no place like home.