Here's something that made me feel about 6 inches tall, and convinced me that I need to work on my temper.
It was about 9000 degrees yesterday in Southern Indiana, at about 3000% humidity. It was a hot one, even if I slightly overestimate the actual numbers.
I push-mowed a part of the yard, over by the small orchard that we don't maintain, and was drenched in sweat after about 45 minutes. After I finished mowing the steep bank by the road, I flopped down in a lawn chair in the shade and was replenishing my fluids with Gatorade when Son walked up.
I've spent the spring and summer nurturing some flowers and plants in front of the house (pictures of sunflowers forthcoming just to brighten this dreary blog up). I've never done anything like this before, making the excuse that I am often instant death to foliage, greenery and other plant life. But I decided to give it an honest effort this year, and lo and behold, I'm having a little bit of success.
That said: Near where I was sitting was a small plot of peppers, about four plants. Son, of course, was happy to be outside in spite of the stifling heat, and was running around haphazardly near me. I projected that in about three steps, he would have his little feet in my peppers, destroying them. 1 - 2 -
"Son! Stop! NO! Not in the peppers! STOP!"
- 3.
Shit.
I cursed and tossed my Gatorade bottle about 40 feet into the driveway. And then I cursed again, yelling something about "how many times do I have to tell you to stay out of my plants" and whatnot.
Very quietly, and very dutifully, Son walked around the peppers and toward the driveway, where he picked up the Gatorade bottle, which still had a couple of swigs left in it. He carried it back to where I was sitting, handed it to me and said, "Don't do that again. Got dirt on it."
If that doesn't make you at least get something in your eye, then you have no heart.
Ultimately, they're just plants. This is something that I am prone to forget, and need to remind myself of.
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Please note: My policy at Bramble Tamble is to not use real names for private citizens. I hope you will adhere to this policy; hell, it's my only rule here. (But you can use your own real name if you'd like. Cause I'm magnanimous like that.)