Gardens of weedin

It rained all day Tuesday and the weather man predicts rainy evenings until Saturday. The first thing that came to my mind when I heard that was Saturday morning is going to be perfect weeding weather. I am going to get up and head to the yard to get every weed out of all my flower beds and the vegetable garden. Then it hit me. I have become my mother just like she said I would. She would put her face inches from mine and wag her finger in my face and say, "you better watch out, one day you are going to become your mother." Then she would laugh and laugh. Now, not only am I looking forward to hours of weeding, but I'm also watching the weather. Good grief. She was right!

I didn't have a lot of 'jobs' when I was growing up. I was the family sock folder and put my clothes away and cleaned my room when I was told. Sometimes she would make a list of jobs and I would dutifully complete them. But there was one job that I absolutely hated: weeding. I remember when I was younger, after a rain, she would be out in the yard just weeding away. When I would see her out there I would try to make myself scarce, but several times she caught me. She would take me to my assigned garden and I would report to her when I thought I was finished. Then she would walk over with me and say, "yes, it is coming along nicely," in the same tone she used when I thought I was finished cleaning my room. I really hated weeding. No matter how long I would sit there, I couldn't clear all the weeds out of my assigned area and I hated being stooped over in the hot sun.

I remember the last time I pulled weeds with my mom. It was the spring after she was diagnosed with cancer and we were aimlessly walking through the yard. Her spring flowers were in full bloom and, as we walked around, we would stop and pull a stray weed here and there. We were just chatting about the spring and the gardens when she stopped and said, "when I die and dad sells the house, please dig up at least some of my bulbs and plant them at your new house." I can remember exactly where we were standing and how the crisp breeze was carrying the smells of all those spring flowers through the air. I was shocked at how matter of fact she made her request and I stumbled through some kind of response as we moved to the next garden. Eventhough I had been to countless doctors appointments with her, the thought of her not being there to see another spring bloom had not sunk in.

My dad still lives in the house and I chicken out each time I think about moving those bulbs but, when the time comes, I will make a garden and move as many bulbs as I can.

This Saturday morning I will spend a few hours weeding until ALL those pesky weeds are gone and it will make me smile because she will be laughing at me since I will actually enjoy it. I have become my mother....and I kind of like it!