Or not so young grasshopper, as the case may be. Today is my birthday, and I think, officially, I no longer qualify for the term.
But I’m still sometimes as impatient as a youngster, and if the DSL woes have demonstrated anything, it’s that patience is a virtue I do need to cultivate. We had more connection issues over the weekend, if you can believe it. I finally started to get seriously annoyed.
This morning, I switched my purse over for the summer. I typically do a seasonal bag change, and I’m pretty lazy about completely emptying the old season’s purse, so there’s always a little surprise when I come back around to it again. I pulled out a purse from last spring, a dark blue, embroidered silk bag large enough to fit notebook and camera and a water bottle, perfect for long walks at the park or the lake or the Botanical Gardens. As I was emptying it, I discovered a cache of Chinese fortune-cookie fortunes, which I collect.
Of the five I discovered, four were wonderful — especially if I take them (lightly) as personal messages from the Universe on my birthday. There was one, though, that was a not-too-subtle reminder about my progress, and it had me rolling my eyes and muttering under my breath about just how much more patient I’m supposed to get.
Geez.
In spite of my mounting annoyance with the phone company, however, I had a lovely time this weekend. I actually watched the sun set over a nearby lake, now full to the brim with clear, sparkling water — the same lake that was so dry during the record drought that when F. and I first met we sometimes walked in the dry bottom and collected some of the copious litter we found there.
This time around, we were with a visitor from Europe who looked politely skeptical of some of our descriptions of the area as it was then. That drought made such crazy alterations to the landscape that I could never even have imagined the reality — and yet, listening to F. explain about the boat dock where we stood, gently rocking on the current, how it settled so far down on the dry lake bottom and caused the ramp to angle so steeply that we could not even risk climbing down that way, I realized that, to those who did not witness the dramatic changes, we both must sound like very accomplished yarn-spinners.
Remembering it aloud made me even more profoundly grateful for the return of the rains. I never want to go through such a thing again, and my heart goes out to all of those around the world suffering a drought now.
Once upon a time... this was all dry land.
We also saw a beaver swim to a swampy shore, only about 12 feet away, and begin to attack a fallen limb with those amazing teeth. When first we saw the disturbance in the glassy water, coming toward us in the dim and failing light beneath the canopy, I assumed it was a juvenile alligator — which, it turns out, is an alarming and unwelcome assumption to Europeans. (Oops!)
And I introduced him (the visitor, not F.) to the pleasures of mimosas (Albizzia julibrissin) in bloom. Although to be fair, the feathery “flowers” (they are actually all stamen and no petal) were not his primary interest. He seemed more fascinated by the fact that the leaves had buttoned themselves up tightly with the advent of the twilight and would not reopen until the sun returned with the dawn.
It is pretty cool, when you stop and think about it. It’s good to see ordinary, everyday things, trees so common they fade into the background for me, through the eyes of a stranger.
Somehow, I managed all that without my camera (I know, shock!), but I went back at lunch today as a special birthday treat. Ignoring the day job and household chores in favor of some close encounters with the Earth — what could be a nicer way to celebrate a new year?
However, you’ll need to be patient a little while longer for me to go through those photos and put together a post on the mimosa, maybe later this week. Meanwhile, here’s a taste:
Now you can probably see why I considered titling this post “Mother Nature does fiber optics, too!”
Namasté, y’all.
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Happy birthday, Meredith! What a lovely way to treat yourself. How thrilling to see a beaver at work. I’m afraid nearly all creatures swimming towards us in our bodies of water are alligators–we’re really quite infested with the creatures. My sympathies on the continued connection problems, and lack of patience–I have recently discovered a marked lack of patience in myself. And here I thought I was so enlightened. Ha!
Kathy´s last blog ..Sweet Summers
Thank you, Kathy. In Georgia’s waters, which I’m more used to, a disturbance at surface level, swimming stealthily like that, is usually an alligator, too. It didn’t worry me much.
I only reach enlightenment in individual moments of startling clarity — so far.
Happy Happy Birthday, Youngish Grasshopper! : )
I think when people don’t witness events for themselves, it really is incomprehensible to them. We see that throughout history. Isn’t that interesting?
It’s neat to view a beloved area through a visitor’s eyes.And it’s wonderful to see nature through your eyes, Meredith. I look forward to your mimosa post.
And you have to admit that the universe is reinforcing that ” be patient” lesson for you – lol! I hope they know you’re listening and ease up on the internet connection woes.
Talon´s last blog ..The Summer Sisters
You’re so right about the evidence for this phenomenon in history, Talon. I hadn’t thought of it that way. Thanks for the new perspective — and the birthday wishes. Your kind and encouraging words continue to mean a lot to me.
As for the reinforcement, it’s becoming almost comical now, for sure!
Happy Birthday to you! A little birdie (from Blotanical) told me to say that.
I know mimosa is a pest to many, but I still love the blossoms. My parents had 2 in their yard when I was growing up, and I still remember the smell and tickle on my nose when I sniffed them. Great photo!
villager´s last blog ..Harvest Monday: June Bounty
Oh, cool, Villager. I do like the Blotanical reminders about birthdays. Nice service; isn’t it?
I’ve only known one person who purposely allowed a mimosa some room in his yard — but regretted it every season when the new babies would spring up, millions of tiny saplings spreading out in a great ring across his lawn.
Speaking as another Gemini (June 1st), patience has never been one of my best traits. It must be fate that I happened to log into Blotanical (it’s been months!) — Happy Birthday!
Rowena, happy belated b-day to you, too, then! Yes, we Geminis have lots of great qualities — but patience doesn’t generally make it onto the list.
I’ve sadly had to let most of my Blotanical activity die down for the season. But I’m sure I’ll be back in the autumn.
A most happy birthday to you Meredith ! I hope that your special day is full of fun and flowers xxx
Anna´s last blog ..End Of Month View ~ May 2010
Aw, Anna, thank you for that lovely birthday wish. I can confirm that it was full of both!
I knew it was your birthday. That same little angel that spoke to Villager told me. I left you a greeting on my blog this morning
Annie’s Granny´s last blog ..June 7, 2010: Harvest Monday
Granny, I was so touched by that birthday greeting and the sweet slice of cake surrounded by edible flowers. Adorable! You have my gratitude.
Hey! My grandmother had one of those in her front garden. Those flowers were wonderful for inventive kids games
Merrilee´s last blog ..Nowhere but here: integral settings
Merrilee, in my reading/research for the post, it says the mimosa is a native of Asia. It may have migrated to your place just as it did here. I’d love to hear about some of those children’s games, actually. I may e-mail you about it!
Oops, and I also meant to say, “Happy Birthday” and I believe you about the dry lake – happens every summer over here.
Looks like I need to learn patience too, before hitting the Submit button
Merrilee´s last blog ..Nowhere but here: integral settings
Thank you for the wish! I can’t imagine going through that every summer. That must be one hot, dry climactic cycle.
Happy Birthday Meredith! I love the Mimosa flower…can’t wait to see the rest!
Curbstone Valley Farm´s last blog ..Corallorhiza maculata
Thanks, Clare. I’ll get it done ASAP.
Happy, happy birthday Meredith~The scent of mimosa flowers is a signal that summer is really here~and even though the temps say other wise there hasn’t been a mimosa sighting yet so it’s not summer in my garden! gail
Gail´s last blog ..Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
Gail, the scent is lovely; isn’t it? Summer seems to have arrived right on time here.
Thanks for the birthday wishes, too!
Hey I hope I’m not too late to wish you a wonderful birthday. Don’t worry I won’t sing.
I love the grasshopper shot.
I’m going to let my partner read the fortune-cookie. You need patience when looking for the perfect new job!
LL Cool Joe´s last blog ..I don’t like Oysters, not that anyones asking
Joe, you’re definitely not too late! Thank you for that. And I’m so glad you like the shot. I was trying to find a reason to use it.
My partner is also looking for a job, for when he completes the doctorate this winter — but he’s the soul of patience compared to me. Ah, well, we all have our strengths.
Yes, yes happy birthday.
I had two fortune cookies one day and I wondered which one was my true lucky numbers.
I’m glad you had a good day away from DSL Me and them had to part company.
Ellis W. Moore´s last blog ..Poem #7
Thanks, Ellis. I never pay attention to those numbers, since I don’t play lotto. But maybe I should consider it, in our newly straightened financial circumstances, with my freelance work drying up….
Sorry you and DSL had to part ways. Was it bad service that caused the rift, I wonder?
Yes service and when I called neather one of us could understand the other. I use cable now.
desk49´s last blog ..Poem #7
Happy Birthday, Meredith! I wonder if the trick about patience is learning when patience is important and when it is inappropriate. I don’t want to be patient about important issues like global warming that we need to do something about NOW, but I’ll enjoy life much more if I’m patient about things like traffic jams and construction delays. (In Maine, the road construction season and the tourist season overlap about 95%.) I’m glad you were able to take some time to live in the moment for your special day.
Jean´s last blog ..June is Busting Out All Over
Hmm, Jean… but I must add, as a former activist who got somewhat burnt out eventually, that if you expect everything to happen NOW — even in your efforts for the very best of causes — you will not last for the long fight. I’m just now drawing enough strength and breath and energy to consider re-entering the fray; you know?
Thanks so much for the kind birthday wishes!
Namasté, my friend. And a most wondrous happy birthday. xo
Lynn´s last blog ..A flower a day, moving Southern and awake
Aw, Lynn, thank you. I loved that wish, accompanied by a hug and a kiss!
Happy Birthday dear Meredith and many happy returns of the day !! I hope there’s cake involved
Alligators and leaves that go to sleep at night – the world is a scary and wonderous place. I love the Mimosa, never seen one before and I have fallen in love.
Up on top of the bog marshes near the Giant’s Causeway here, we have a ‘vanishing lake’ (offical title) that disappears completely and returns at seemily it’s own will – nothing to do with weather, now that is odd, but we’re very proud of it, haha.
Namaste petal x
carrie´s last blog ..Hello darlings! I’m home.
Isn’t it, though, Carrie? This Earth will never stop amazing me, I hope, no matter what age I get to. Thanks for those kind b-day wishes. I didn’t get any cake — but I did make salmon with capers and red onion from the garden for dinner, followed by a triple-chocolate ice-cream cone.
That vanishing lake sounds awesome! Maybe you’ll take some pictures sometime so I can experience it vicariously here across the ocean?
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday deeeear Meredith,
Happy Birthday to you!
It looks like you had a wonderful day of ‘living’.
Remember too: “He who hesitates is lost.”
Diana´s last blog ..Morning Rainbow
Aw, Diana, thank you for that. No one sang to me yesterday — which was a first for me. You are so sweet!
When proverbs and maxims for living are at opposite poles and yet both seem to contain equal truth, I begin to wonder what kind of world this is.
Happy Birthday! Love the last photo!
Jackie´s last blog ..The apple tree quandry
Thanks, Jackie. I liked that shot, too! It looks like an explosion of summer to me.