Hello, blog friends!
I've two surprises to share. The first is an encounter, and the second is my pumpkin patch.
Last week I walked out of a grocery store and noticed a homeless man sitting beneath a tattered umbrella at the edge of the parking lot. I drove to where he sat, rolled down the passenger window and offered some money. The man, with bright blue eyes and sunburnt face, walked over to the car and stared. This is our conversation.
He began with a question, "You don't know who I am, do you?"
"No sir, I do not."
"You are a teacher."
"I was, but now I'm retired."
"You are a teacher. I see it in your aura."
"Maybe so, thank you."
"Do you understand what is happening in our world right now?"
"I believe I do, sir."
"You are a reader. I see that. Have you read this book ---?
"No, sir, I have not."
He then explained the thesis of the book, which involved outer planets.
"I will look it up, sir. But now I must go."
At this point, the man took the money and thanked me. Then with a lowered head, he muttered, "You will forget the title of the book."
And I did.
I think of this man often and if I ever see him again, I will ask his name and the title of the book.
~ ~ ~ ~
The second surprise is my pumpkin patch. With leaves of 10-12 inches in size, it has outgrown my 4' by 8' raised bed. I didn't know that pumpkin vines grow six inches a day. Now I don't know what to do, as the vines have crawled over the siding and onto the rocks. Tucked under the leaves are the blossoms -- and the bees.
Poet Colleen Chesebro asks contributors to reflect on the season. My poem is a simple Tanka (5-7-5-7-7 syllables). And my seasonal words are honeybees and pumpkin blossoms. In the photos below, you can see the density of the leaves and the beauty of the blossoms (only visible when you separate the leaves).
I've two surprises to share. The first is an encounter, and the second is my pumpkin patch.
Last week I walked out of a grocery store and noticed a homeless man sitting beneath a tattered umbrella at the edge of the parking lot. I drove to where he sat, rolled down the passenger window and offered some money. The man, with bright blue eyes and sunburnt face, walked over to the car and stared. This is our conversation.
He began with a question, "You don't know who I am, do you?"
"No sir, I do not."
"You are a teacher."
"I was, but now I'm retired."
"You are a teacher. I see it in your aura."
"Maybe so, thank you."
"Do you understand what is happening in our world right now?"
"I believe I do, sir."
"You are a reader. I see that. Have you read this book ---?
"No, sir, I have not."
He then explained the thesis of the book, which involved outer planets.
"I will look it up, sir. But now I must go."
At this point, the man took the money and thanked me. Then with a lowered head, he muttered, "You will forget the title of the book."
And I did.
I think of this man often and if I ever see him again, I will ask his name and the title of the book.
~ ~ ~ ~
The second surprise is my pumpkin patch. With leaves of 10-12 inches in size, it has outgrown my 4' by 8' raised bed. I didn't know that pumpkin vines grow six inches a day. Now I don't know what to do, as the vines have crawled over the siding and onto the rocks. Tucked under the leaves are the blossoms -- and the bees.
Poet Colleen Chesebro asks contributors to reflect on the season. My poem is a simple Tanka (5-7-5-7-7 syllables). And my seasonal words are honeybees and pumpkin blossoms. In the photos below, you can see the density of the leaves and the beauty of the blossoms (only visible when you separate the leaves).
I hope you have a wonderful week, dear friends. And if you've had an encounter such as the one above, I'd love to know. Also, if you have any advice about pumpkin patches, please share. 🌞
RSS Feed