I’m feeling a little self-conscious about what I wrote and want to delete it all. It’s that impulsive, Tasmanian Devil side of me—something I need to be careful not to act on.
So, as I was saying…
My inability to wrap my head around taxes has led me here—to a breather from the fear that I can’t figure it out and that if I don’t, I’m an idiot. Taxes are my real-life boogeyman, the masked figure lurking in the cracks of my mind.
But as I rock in the rocking cha—I mean, mecedora—I sit in admiration of the newly leafing oak trees. Like oversized, torsoed skeleton soldiers, they endured the winter—its tropical storms and uncharacteristically cold nights. Is it possible to feel the air heavier from the leaves’ oxygen production? How can it not be?
After months of believing we had defective or ungrateful birds in the area, I climbed a ladder to check the bird feeder and found the holes were blocked by a plastic piece. It’s still filled with the tastiest no-shell Kroger bird seed, and if I weren’t so obsessed with domesticating wild bird to my yard, I’d probably put it into my next sourdough bread loaf.
I’m feeling a bit giddy about my Spanish listening and reading skills. I rarely allow myself a moment to feel proud of how far I’ve come—so here’s to you, Jaclynn!
Also, what I do is plants. And today, the coveted plant—the terminator of pollinators—was in stock.
My sister-in-law’s text came last night: “Keith said Warner Robins Lowe’s has lantana.” That her cousin had seen them with his own eyes, I knew the word-of-mouth advertisement was as good as gold.
So this morning, just after sunrise, I shot like an arrow on a solo plant mission. The months of lead-up had me barreling through the downpour, wandering aisle by aisle, buzzing with the energy of a kid on the verge of a cool water slide on a blistering hot day. I saw only one and felt blinded by joy and panic. Were there others?
There were! Of the six lantanas left, I was able to snuggle five perfectly into my cart. That next person sure is lucky I didn’t have more room.
Not on the shopping list was a tall, lemur-tailed plant called a bottlebrush, along with iridescently purple, non-sun-loving plants. But you can’t turn down a plant calling your name. Well, I can’t, at least.
Love,
Jaclynn
Going On 40 