Greetings dearest readers! It has been a good, long while! Life has happened since my last blog (and I'll be posting something later about it), but for this moment, I want to relate to you an adventure I had this morning. Since moving to my new place (I have moved twice since June 6), I have found myself being surrounded by plants that I couldn't have before, because I was in an apartment.
Today's sojourn began about 0740 this morning with me (not paying attention to the time) and heading out to the Farmer's Market. My intention was to buy some good, local produce and some good, local honey (Bonne Femme has lovely honey). So, I wound my way through the deserted streets of the city to the ATM for cash (a whole 4 blocks!!) and then back to the Market that doesn't open until 0800. Still I wasn't paying too much attention to the time.
When I arrived, there were a few people milling around, but it was mostly vendors setting up. So, I wandered. When I tried to make my first purchase, I was told it wasn't open for another 20 minutes or so, so I wandered some more. I took in the colors, the smell of coffee wafting invitingly across the lot, the scrape of tents on asphalt as more booths sprang up from the backs of trucks, wares and fresh produce sitting patiently in boxes for their turn to be taken home. Greetings of "Good morning!" echoed as I passed by. The early rising vendors smiled happily at this early rising customer.
As it edged ever closer to 0800 the parking lot began to fill. Mothers with their young children filtered down to the market area. Young men with their reusable shopping bags marched purposefully toward the waiting shopkeepers. The low rumble of the early market quickly turned into a cacophony of greetings, squeals, and footfalls on the asphalt.
I immersed myself in this din of urban life, having already spotted my own pending purchases before opening. I went back to the booth of a little Asian man. My intention was to buy a small bag of mint from him to use in water and other things. As I stepped up to his booth, a bail plant shivered just the tiniest bit as it reached out and touched me energetically. "I want to go home with you," it said. As it spoke, so did one of the mint plants, the one farthest back from the edge of the table. "Please, take me home," the mint begged. It was obviously very stressed, too thin and 'leggy', leaves yellowing, and not happy at all! I bought them both.
Quite happy that I had two plants who were also happy, I moved on to the next booth with the intention to buy some soap. They didn't have the scent I usually buy, so I moved on again, but this time I was pulled to a booth I'd bypassed earlier. I was greeted by a plump, kind-faced grandmotherly lady, someone who (by the look of her plants) was very in tune with the land. As we exchanged greetings, I feel a gentle energetic push to my left arm. I look down and there is a lovely little sage plant. In a very mellow tone he says, "Take me home with you." So, I bought him. As I am giving the lady her money, I get zinged from across the table and look up to see a lemon balm quivering almost imperceptibly. I touch one of its leaves and it giggles as though I have tickled it. This joyous little plant declares the sage her friend and that they must go together. So, the lady tells me the lemon balm is another $3. As I pull my money out, though, she smiles and says, "Just give me another dollar and you can have it." I think she knew the sage and lemon balm were friends. So, $4 for a sage and a lemon balm who both cheer as I squeeze them into my own reusable shopping bag with my other plants.
On my way out, I bought a bottle of honey and some bees wax and I came home. Today I bought happiness. Today I saved a living being and kept two friends together. Sometimes I am so disconnected from even myself that I forget everything is connected. Then, on days like today, I get out of my own way and remember that we are all one.
Brightest of blessings, friends!!
Today's sojourn began about 0740 this morning with me (not paying attention to the time) and heading out to the Farmer's Market. My intention was to buy some good, local produce and some good, local honey (Bonne Femme has lovely honey). So, I wound my way through the deserted streets of the city to the ATM for cash (a whole 4 blocks!!) and then back to the Market that doesn't open until 0800. Still I wasn't paying too much attention to the time.
When I arrived, there were a few people milling around, but it was mostly vendors setting up. So, I wandered. When I tried to make my first purchase, I was told it wasn't open for another 20 minutes or so, so I wandered some more. I took in the colors, the smell of coffee wafting invitingly across the lot, the scrape of tents on asphalt as more booths sprang up from the backs of trucks, wares and fresh produce sitting patiently in boxes for their turn to be taken home. Greetings of "Good morning!" echoed as I passed by. The early rising vendors smiled happily at this early rising customer.
As it edged ever closer to 0800 the parking lot began to fill. Mothers with their young children filtered down to the market area. Young men with their reusable shopping bags marched purposefully toward the waiting shopkeepers. The low rumble of the early market quickly turned into a cacophony of greetings, squeals, and footfalls on the asphalt.
I immersed myself in this din of urban life, having already spotted my own pending purchases before opening. I went back to the booth of a little Asian man. My intention was to buy a small bag of mint from him to use in water and other things. As I stepped up to his booth, a bail plant shivered just the tiniest bit as it reached out and touched me energetically. "I want to go home with you," it said. As it spoke, so did one of the mint plants, the one farthest back from the edge of the table. "Please, take me home," the mint begged. It was obviously very stressed, too thin and 'leggy', leaves yellowing, and not happy at all! I bought them both.
Quite happy that I had two plants who were also happy, I moved on to the next booth with the intention to buy some soap. They didn't have the scent I usually buy, so I moved on again, but this time I was pulled to a booth I'd bypassed earlier. I was greeted by a plump, kind-faced grandmotherly lady, someone who (by the look of her plants) was very in tune with the land. As we exchanged greetings, I feel a gentle energetic push to my left arm. I look down and there is a lovely little sage plant. In a very mellow tone he says, "Take me home with you." So, I bought him. As I am giving the lady her money, I get zinged from across the table and look up to see a lemon balm quivering almost imperceptibly. I touch one of its leaves and it giggles as though I have tickled it. This joyous little plant declares the sage her friend and that they must go together. So, the lady tells me the lemon balm is another $3. As I pull my money out, though, she smiles and says, "Just give me another dollar and you can have it." I think she knew the sage and lemon balm were friends. So, $4 for a sage and a lemon balm who both cheer as I squeeze them into my own reusable shopping bag with my other plants.
On my way out, I bought a bottle of honey and some bees wax and I came home. Today I bought happiness. Today I saved a living being and kept two friends together. Sometimes I am so disconnected from even myself that I forget everything is connected. Then, on days like today, I get out of my own way and remember that we are all one.
Brightest of blessings, friends!!
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