Learning curve

My son sent air plants with sea anemone holders for Christmas.  The care of them terrifies me.

In the last five years, I have convinced myself that I have no business nurturing life.  I have a porch full of succulents but those grow in California like — well, like weeds.  I barely do anything.  I glance at them as I come and go, thinking, I wonder if these need attention.  I ignore the lime tree until June and then dump water on it every Friday without so much as touching the soil.  Last year I got seven limes.  The fifty-cent ice plant that I bought at Lowe’s my first spring here practically needs its own zip code.  But I had nothing to do with any of that.

I’m not sure what my son was thinking.  I can’t ask him.  I have a general policy that when someone gives me a gift, my only response will be a heartfelt expression of gratitude.  Even when I receive something which I later re-gift, I say nothing to the original giver except “thank you”.

The Etsy company which sold the air plants included a phone number to text for instructions.  I tried it straight-away with no response.  I might as well have been using a rotary phone.  I went onto Etsy to watch the video supposedly posted.   I couldn’t find it.  YouTube had quite a few offerings.  I watched four or five but my confidence stayed at zero.

The card in the box cautioned not to expose the little spidery plants to direct sunlight.  “They will enjoy a two-hour soaking after their trip!”  I did that.  I ordered the right kind of food and stared at the little packet, a thin square inch which looked like a dime bag of cocaine, cost $8.50, and boasted that it held a full year’s supply.  I spilled half the contents tearing it open.  I sprinkled a pinch into a cup of water in the new glass spritzer which I ordered from Amazon.  I move the plants from counter to table to step, depending on the slant of the sunlight through the large east-facing window.  I put the little shells on a pretty pottery tray and fluffed the leaves.  Occasionally I stare at the base of each one to see if anything has died.

I don’t know that I did a good job raising my son.  Thankfully, he turned out well in spite of me.    I don’t want to let him down again though.  These air plants will survive.  I consider them my chance for redemption.

It’s the twentieth day of the seventy-third month of My Year Without Complaining.  Life continues.

As long as you’ve gotten this far, I invite you to read my other post of today HERE.

2 thoughts on “Learning curve

  1. Katrina

    I’m a Christian and I wholeheartedly agree with your post. I guess I have a broader definition of Christianity.

    Reply
    1. ccorleyjd365 Post author

      Maybe because of your upbringing? I hear this all the time from Christians. Thank you for the encouragement.

      Reply

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