Monday, September 25, 2023

Hanging In There


Every time I pick zinnias now I am sure that it will be the last bunch of the summer and yet, I got some pretty ones today. I did pull a few of the plants that were brown and dried. They for sure are done. On to the towering inferno burn pile they went. Funny how the lavender, pink, and purple ones are the first to bloom and the yellows, oranges, and reds are the last. I'm already seeing volunteer shoots coming up in the garden, seeded from the third or fourth generation of volunteers that have grown there. They are almost all lavender and pink. 

I took a walk this morning. I did not enjoy it. It's just not as easy as it used to be. I have been thinking about this so much. I know that I am out of shape. Badly. And I know I have too much weight on this old body. And hell, I'm not twenty-nine or forty-nine or fifty-nine. I am sixty-nine. I tell myself this and then I think of the women my age who run marathons and do Iron Man competitions, who bike across the country through deserts and mountains. I feel pathetic. And my joints just hurt. And so do my muscles. This, too, has to be blamed at least partly on the weight. I know that. But it's not all that. After yesterday's short weeding session, my hips screamed at me today and my knees weren't happy either. It took me a long time after my walk to get my ass back outside and I did a little more weeding, not right where I was yesterday but inside the fence in the area to the right of the gate. I did pull all the crocosmia there this very year, I think and when I say "all" I am lying. I may have pulled all of it that was sticking up out of the ground but that's probably about a twentieth of what's going on under the ground where those bulbs form and sprout. I'm also pulling Chinese Rice Paper Plant which both Glen and I have worked so hard to eradicate but, like the crocosmia, it's never a one-and-done. We've cut down the number of plants significantly but if I don't get in there and pull what's come up this summer, it'll all be back by spring, fighting for dirt space with the crocosmia. There's another plant I'm seeing a lot of and it's called Creeping Cucumber. It's a very thin vine with almost sticky leaves and tiny fruits that look like miniature watermelons. I've seen it before but all of a sudden- it's everywhere in the front part of the yard. 

Anyway, getting down on my knees to weed this afternoon was a special sort of torture and after about half an hour my left knee started screaming so I hauled myself up and came on back in the house. 

Here's another Harvey story. And I have to tell you that what I've been calling him is not "Old Man Lord" but "No Man Lord" because for a long time he had a sign on a cross he'd built in his yard that said that. No Man Lord. I assume he meant that no man is Lord, but only Jesus. The Lord. But his real name is Harvey.
I do not know what's come over him but today when I walked past his yard, he not only waved, he talked to me. Again! 
He said something and I'm not sure what it was, but it sounded friendly. So I asked him what had happened to his fence, I think I've talked before about how his yard can change radically from one day to another. He does a lot of what I would call art installations although I am certain he does not think of them that way, many of them religiously based. Okay. All of them. He may spell out religious messages with flattened aluminum cans and one time he used slices of bread. He has a bible that's about as big a bible as I've ever seen and he sits under his tree and reads it sometimes. 
But today, his fence was entirely gone and he told me that he was getting rid of everything he did not need. And giving it to...I missed that part. The church? God? I don't know. But this is a man who lives in an old RV with a tarp on it with no electricity and the only running water comes from a spigot down by the road. What could he possibly have that he doesn't need? 
A fence. I guess he doesn't need a fence. 
But then he said something to me that I could not believe. I had to ask him to repeat it. What he said was that it's like when he sees me coming, there is a light above me. 
Oh, bless him. I told him that I felt the same way about him. And all these years, I've never had the slightest indication that he was anything but annoyed with me. How many times have I passed him sitting under his tree and even greeted him to complete silence and no reaction on his part. 
Well. He's a mystery. And perhaps he's bi-polar. Who knows? 
People are hard to figure out sometimes. But I felt humbled this morning. I felt graced. 

That was for sure the high point of my day. Tomorrow is my annual physical with my beloved Dr. Zorn. And you know how I am about that. Strangely, I am not as panicked as I usually am which is almost as disturbing as the panic would be. I am not feeling exactly laissez faire about it. It's more that I'm feeling like I've skipped the panic part and gone straight to the dissociation part which usually doesn't kick in until I'm on my way to the appointment. 
Whatever. 
After I got my blood work done, I was invited via e-mail to view the results which was about as attractive a proposition to me as being invited to attend a death metal concert in an underground bunker. You know what? I'd definitely choose that over looking at the results of my lab work. 

Enough of that. If I discover that I'm dying, I'll let you know tomorrow. Meanwhile, here are two pictures of the Weatherford brothers. The first one came to the group text with the message, "The boys wanted dyed hair and tattoos on their day off so I obliged." Hank replied, "Hooligans, I say!" 


The second one said, "I couldn't be in the house with these two any longer so we're at Shell Point and they're catching jellyfish."


All these years I've spent near and in the water and I have always thought that all jellyfish will sting you. 
I guess not. 

I'm going to go heat up that good soup. The man had it for lunch but he says he is quite happy to have it again tonight. 
He's a sweetheart. 

Love...Ms. Moon

36 comments:

  1. Yesterday and today’s reflections on Harvey remind me of an encounter I had last week. I was heading to the supermarket entrance when I heard a man call out, “Is that Margaret?” It was a man I know from the library where I am a board member and long time volunteer and he a member of the maintainance/security staff who retired a few years ago. As we hugged we remarked on we’d forgotten how short I am and how tall he is. We had a nice, happy catching up before going our separate ways. I am an old - have almost a decade on you - white woman, from Connecticut but resident here on the deeply Southern Texas Gulf Coast for most of my adult life, and James is an old Black man, born here at a time when we might have developed mutual respect but sure as hell wouldn’t be embracing in public. I’m a deeply cynical (realistic?) person, but my meeting with James was an example of how things can and do change, sometimes even for the better. What a beautiful thing Harvey said to you today! Margaret

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    1. That was a very fine encounter and yes, things absolutely can and do change. Thank you for sharing that with me.

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  2. I hope you discuss those screaming hips and knees with your Dr. Zorn. You probably are not dying but your joints (not the kind you smoke) are asking for help!
    Bone 🦴 on bone 🦴 is excruciating! I have both knees replaced, so I speak from experience!

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  3. I hope there is some relief in store for you and the appointment goes well tomorrow. You and Harvey have reached a level of neighborliness which is a good thing. August and Levon look like they are having fun. They are so fortunate and I am sure Uncle Hank is a great source of fun for them.

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    1. Uncle Hank is absolutely a great source of fun for all the kids. They love him.
      Harvey could change on a dime tomorrow. But this is very nice for now.

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  4. Harvey is so happy you found him, after all these years he's been sitting out there watching you go by.

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    1. Oh, but I've waved and said "Hello!" so many times. I have no idea what has turned his thoughts around.

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  5. Harvey may well be bipolar......or just a man who has chosen to be mostly alone with his own thoughts.....but today..... I'm so glad you actually had an interaction with him! Yes! the light he sees over you! The high point of your day! Inner karma (or whatever you want to call it) can be fully realized to those that are open to feeling it. Screaming hips and knees.....and all else..... I get it (sadly) I understand your anxiety for your Doc visit tomorrow but its doubtful you are dying though it may feel that way as you drive to appointment.
    Susan M

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    1. I tell you what, Susan- I did feel like I was dying when I was driving to the appointment. And yet- here I am.
      Again.
      I do have to wonder if Harvey is in a bit of a mania phase. I mean, he DID take down his entire fence.

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  6. Carry that light with you when you go to the doctor's. All will be well. I feel it in my waters.

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    1. You are the second person I heard say that today and I had never heard it before as I can recall! A man on Call the Midwife said it- I feel it in my waters. And I thought, huh. What does that mean? So odd and yet cool to hear it twice in one day.

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  7. Harvey sees your light, what a wonderful thing. My husband sees souls, but he doesn't like to. I think it would be cool, although maybe it's overwhelming.
    We have weeds like that here, you never want them in your garden. Hope your appointment goes well tomorrow. Sending hugs.

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    1. Oh my. I would like to hear about your husband's ability to see souls. I mean really, really.

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  8. Harvey sounds like a mystic. And what they used to call an outsider artist, making art for religious reasons, using whatever's at hand, mostly African American men, usually living alone. I think he's been appreciating you all along and sensing your respect.

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    1. Yes. That was exactly what I was thinking- an outsider artist. We have one in Tallahassee, a woman named Mary Proctor who got some national attention with her work. Actually, she is known more for her folk art. Give her a google if you're interested.
      I hope that Harvey has been able to tell that I respect him. Because I do.

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  9. If Harvey is bipolar, I am going to guess he has been lonely. You gave him a kind word yesterday. Today he decided he doesn't need a fence. Kind of cool, Ms Moon.

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    1. Harvey has quite a few friends and I think some family living next door. At times there can be three or four other men, sitting with him under his tree, shooting the breeze. So he's not completely alone.

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  10. It's true, not all jellyfish will sting, but I still wouldn't be game enough to catch any with bare hands. I love their tattoos!
    Harvey no longer needs a fence and I yearn to have one.

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    1. We want a fence too!
      Jessie said these jellyfish didn't look like the regular ones we see and there were some other children catching them in their hands and not getting stung which is how she figured out that they were safe.

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  11. 37paddington: Harvey expressed what we feel, that light you carry. What a beautiful thing to tell a person though. I understand why you were moved. Most people warm themselves in your light and don’t think to mention it. I love that Harvey did.

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    1. It really was the sweetest thing for Harvey to tell me! I honestly never expected to hear him say anything like that to me. All these years and he's barely said a word to me. He is an interesting man indeed.

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  12. Way past time to employ someone to do the heavy garden work, I did this year and its been a game changer. I now do the gardening I enjoy and someone else gets a job so winners all round.

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  13. If you really want to get depressed about your hips and knees, google Miss Ernestine Shepherd!!!! Or maybe don't!

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    1. Oh god. I just don't think I can face googling her. Maybe later.

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  14. got rid of his fence because he didn't need it. I wonder who did need the fence. maybe Harvey would move out of your way when he saw you coming so he wouldn't get hit by the light coming down and smiting you. ha ha, just kidding. it's a good light, sort of a floating aura.

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    1. Ha! Good point, Ellen! He was protecting himself!

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  15. Those kids don't know how good they have it! Or maybe they do. I love Levon's tattooed watch!

    That's an interesting story about No Man Lord. How wonderful that he sees you as illumined! Kind of like Our Lady of Guadalupe.

    I don't know what to say about the achiness but maybe it's something to mention to Dr. Zorn. Maybe he has some ideas for managing your joint pain?

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    1. "Our Lady of. Guadalupe." I doubt it. One just never knows what Harvey will be up to next. He fascinates me.
      Did talk to Zorn about the pain some.

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  16. I couldn't weed now even if I wanted to as my back hurts. So I have to be lazy and take it easy and ice it and take Tylenol. Getting old stinks, Mary. Be careful of your knees and your back! I like the suggestion that you hire someone to do that awful weeding work.
    You do have a light that you share with us and I appreciate it!

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    1. Getting old super stinks, Ellen.
      I would like to think that we all have lights that we share. Don't you think?

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  17. I think everyone sees you with a light over you, Mary Moon

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    1. Well, I do not know about that but it's nice for you to say it. Thank you.

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  18. I had a neighbor that lived right next door for years. When she first moved in I introduced myself one day when we were both outside at the same time. Our relationship was only a wave if I was out front and she was leaving in her car. We both left for work at the same time, very often one of us was right behind the other and our routes were the same roads for over half of it until we hit our last corner where she went one way and I another. After a couple of years one day when we met at the corner her passing by me she gave me a big wave as she passed. After that day she started walking over to my yard if she came out of her house and was outside and having an actual conversaions with me. I have no idea what changed but after that we talked many times until she moved away.

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    1. Sometimes I think we just let things like really getting acquainted go so long that we don't know how to fix it. I'm glad you and your neighbor managed to get past that.

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.