My grandfather had a huge yard in Billerica near where I grew up. He had the most amazing garden and a green thumb that I can only envy, but I feel a little connection to him through my own gardening. I think of him often, especially when I catch a whiff of the herbs that are already growing throughout the community garden. I'm always a bit winded as I work around our little space and it reminds me of how winded he always was and how he kept a handkerchief handy because running around the garden always made his nose a little runny. I'm the same way, albeit with a pocket full of tissues.
I remember how my grandfather's sweat smelled so clean. How his basement smelled like basil. How he would tell me about his garden as I followed him around. I didn't understand a word about what he was saying. My grandfather was a bit of a teaser and when he used words like azaleas & hyacinth I didn't know if those were real words or if he was just being silly but it didn't matter, I just liked being around him and my own garden has awakened memories in me of those times.
He lived into his late 80's and I don't think he ever stopped gardening. Here's hoping I can be so lucky. Maybe Annie will pick up some gardening habits and take them with her into a garden of her own someday and perhaps a hundred years from now a blogger will recall their grandmother Annie's green thumb.
(NOTE: I've been waiting for meg to set up some pics for this and another entry I've written but have remained unposted. I've decided to post them without the pics, hoping Meg will feel bad and finally get the pics set up. Yes I'm an evil husband but sometimes this is the only way the husband can get moved up the to do list.)
No comments:
Post a Comment