I miss blogging. I've been really busy. And sick. Damn. For the last week or so my entire drain has slowly been dripping out of my nose. Now my chest has decided it wants its own view of the outer world as well. Yummy. Bronchitis.
I have a lot of cool things to write about...life is good and groovy. Mostly the T person has been guerrilla gardening and I have been participating on various levels. It's intensely beautiful to plant a seed and watch it sprout into existence through an expert's loving care. It's also neat to gather a group of people together for the purpose of a common goal that requires a lot of hard work. A couple of weekends ago T and I went to John and Patricia's house and helped them till their front and back yards and then spread 6 cubic yards of compost. If you don't know how much work that is, it's a lot. But more importantly, there was good food, good beer and good conversation. There's nothing like breaking your back for someone else's benefit to bring about a true and strong bond.
This past weekend they returned the favor and we got to re-experience some of the chicanery. I found it poetic to listen to the men as they toiled with pitchforks in clay-hard Austin soil. Just the repetitive sound of the tool against the earth...the truly manly gutteral emissions expressing both frustration and delight. Since Patricia had a baby, uh one freakin week ago and I am (as I mentioned) in the midst ye olde bronchitis bout, the womenfolk mostly made food for everyone and constantly cleaned the ever-renewable supply of dishes. Inevitably when we are in the midst of this pattern, Patricia, who is Tanzanian, will proclaim that we all need to move to Africa and buy a farm together. Wow. There's a thought.
I love how this labor naturally divides into gender roles...even though I am normally rebellious of this kind of division. There's a connection to the past that is filled with beauty. But I love more the fact that when I am feeling well and when Patricia is neither about to have nor just had a newborn, we enjoy the hard labor just as much as the men, and the men have an equal proclivity to care for the needs of the children or attend to the food.
What I'm most excited about is witnessing the 2007 gardening season from its beginnings. Looking at my raspberry bush that I bought at Lowe's in January...T has nurtured it and it has sprouted beautiful leaves. I can't wait to taste the berries. Talking together about what kinds of veggies we want to grow...and thinking about all of those fantastic late summer salads. Gently pressing a tiny seed into the freshly prepared tray, and anticipating the Daisy or Nasturtium that will be born.
Passion
