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My friend Joan’s stories been such a joy to read from day one; with each story I learn more about her as a woman, a parent, a survivor and a friend. She writes with an honesty and humor that I find refreshing. Recently she wrote a sweet story of how one word has epitomized each stage of motherhood for her. She carries on, following her path even when the turns ahead are not yet clear.
Sometimes we all just keep going out of faith that our efforts will pay off in the end. I planted these flowers at the end of last season. The grocery store was giving them away, because it had reached the time of year when no one in their right mind would still plant pansies, even though they can overwinter in this zone; it depends on the year. I took three flats worth and felt very lucky to have shopped there that day. I am a sucker for unwanted plants; I think it is an odd personality trait. I will take any unwanted plant and find it a home, on my property or at school. This soft spot for unwanted things is a compelling reason for me to not volunteer at an animal shelter… it would be disastrous for our household! Also, I should not work at Goodwill. Or the library book sale.
I knelt on the cold ground and tucked in the sad little flowers. They bloomed a bit late last fall, but the snow soon came and frankly they all looked like goners. I silently berated myself for once again spending time on irrational pursuits instead of the dozens of unfinished projects I have around here.
Spring came, and some didn’t make it. But some did. Each time I walk out my front door, these beauties say to me,
“Voila! Violas!”
They bring me more joy than many of the expensive plants that I just expect will come up each year. They say to me, “Just carry on, and some things will work out, and others won’t, but there will be beauty if you look down at where you are.”
Like Joan, I find that stories bubble up from underground. There are so many stories waiting for the right time to pop out and surprise someone. The ideas are there for the taking; they just need a place to grow for a while before they bloom. They just need me to set aside my logical pursuits and let them be.
jane, candid 
Love this post. It’s like a short story, the way you bring us to the conclusion which is all about the stories just taking root in our mind. Nice job. I’m inspired!
Jane,
You have outdone yourself! This post is the perfect combination of self exploration and inspiration. Delightfully relatable and enlightening a the same time. Bravo writer girl!
Jaime
“they just need a place to grow for a while before they bloom” What wisdom there is in that little phrase, my Friend. I love Jane, candid. She is blogalicious!
Thanks for sharing the story of your adopted plants. You were meant to shop there that day, late last year, and give them a proper home. It does not surprise me that the majority survived. You were born with a green thumb! You were also blessed with a writing hand that enables you to pen fabulous, witty, insightful stories that entertain us. Keep up the great work, both indoors and out!
Joan, thanks to you — you inspired me yesterday.
Wow! Those are beautiful! I know what you mean about the urge to give unwanted flowers a home. When my parents’ were selling their house, the people who bought it had extensive plans to re-landscape the front yard. Everything was going to go. There were some iris that had been transplanted to my parents’ house from my grandparents’ and I couldn’t stand the thought of these flowers no longer being in the family – and even worse, being destroyed just because they were in the way of the “improvements” the new owners had planned. So I transplanted them 300 miles to my yard! And now they have multiplied ten-fold and are taking over my yard. But there’s nothing better this time of year than a yard full of aromatic iris!