Monday, February 1, 2016

EVEN COCKLEBURS TEACH US



It is now 3:19PM. I thought I was getting a late start when I sat down here before Noon. I was late because I had an appointment to get my haircut at 9:45. Then I went to town to get the paper. When I got home I set up the dishes, stacked them in the sink, and covered them with hot sudsy water. Then I had to have something to eat. I sat down here, and read a few things, and just as I was going to type the first line, Jamie asked me if I would go to the Amish with her to get milk. Off and on, she needs to favor her shoulder which hasn't completely healed from the dislocation.

Our dog, Xina, who has been a light in my life these last few months, has been upset with me. I am her favorite person and her source of protection. Whenever somebody comes over she jumps in my lap until she feels safe. She goes with me, whenever I go out to do the chores. If I am going out and she can't go with, I need to tell her. She understands and if I go out, without speaking to her, she barks and cries pitifully.

That was until yesterday Morning. When we were coming back from the chicken coop, I noticed she had about three cockleburs in her tail. I knew they bothered her, because every other step she tried to catch then in her teeth. I wanted to get them out before they became further embedded. I grabbed her, she of course tucked her tail underneath. When I uncurled her tail she cried bloody murder and even snapped at me. I think she was more frightened than hurt. I can't believe anything I was doing was painful. The whole thing lasted about five seconds and I wasn't very successful in removing the burs.

She wouldn't have anything to do with me for hours. She took refuge in Jamie's lap and she has never wanted to sit in her lap before. She didn't want to be in the same room with me and wouldn't even eat a delicacy that I put down for her. It was as if, I betrayed her trust, and that was it. I did, what I knew to do, to repair the breech. I held her in my lap for awhile; she shivered and eventually calmed down. When I let her down, because I had to get up, she went back to being skittish. Her behavior was so dramatic that I feared our relationship was permanently damaged. By the late evening chores, after dark when I close up the chicken coop, she was a little better. With urging she went out with me. Normally, she anticipates my move, and is waiting at the door before I get there.

This Morning our relationship was better but she was still unsure. As the day progresses, she seems to be going back to her old self. I think I will get my dog back. A lot of fuss over three cockleburs. There must be a lesson here somewhere.

I got my amaryllis potted yesterday. I have five that may be blooming size, three for sure. I, also, have a nursery pot of five offspring bulbs. I have been raising amaryllis for forty years and when I get too many I give some away. I don't want more than four or five, but I don't like letting the little bulbets go unplanted. About June first, I take them out of the pots and plant them in the garden. They need to be tended carefully, the big ones and the little ones. The big ones need to maintain their size or increase slightly. The little ones need to grow to blooming size. Every year I vow to take better care of them over the Summer. Sometimes I don't see them again until I dig them in the Fall. There has to be a lesson here too; but we have been doing this dance for forty years. The amaryllis forgive me and brighten up the house in February with giant blooms.

Have a good Evening!

Love and Peace, Gregg

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