For those of you who don't know me, I am a huge old movie fan. My mother, who was also a movie fan, got me hooked when I was a teenager. We would watch Jimmy Cagney, Tyrone Power and Barbara Stanwick in all kinds of old classics. My maternal grandmother thought that Tyrone Power was the "bees knees" and would have done anything to meet him.
One of my favorites was a movie called "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn." It was really a sad story about a man who lived in his dreams--he was always one break away from the big time. He drank too much and didn't work a lot. His wife loved him dearly, but she had to work hard to make up for his short comings--like paying the rent to keep a roof over their heads. They had two children, Francie, a bright young lady who does well in school and likes to write stories and Neely, her younger brother, who, from what his mother has seen so far, will end up like his father. The concept of the movie is all about hope and what you will do for love and it is truly a wonderful film.
To me, everything Tony plants in our yard is about hope and love. Today, he planted a banana tree. It's a beautiful, tall, stalk that will grow and add diversity to our yard. Tony makes our yard beautiful because he loves it here and he loves me. We sit in the patio and look out at all of the plants that are blooming and doing well. He trims the roses for me when I think they are too high. He plants new flowers in the back to bring out the fall colors so they look nice when we are sitting in the screened in patio. He makes beauty out of nature and I enjoy it every day.
I find that when I come home from work is when I enjoy it most. Maybe it's because I haven't worked in a while, or maybe it's because of the work I am doing, but when I leave, I find myself in high gear. My mind races about things I did...they are important things....did I do them correctly, did I remember to do all of the things I needed to do....did I remember to clock out? The days are a blur. Today, on the way home from a very busy day, I was driving home on Rt 17. I looked at the speedometer and realized I was going 90 miles an hour...the rate my mind was racing. When I got home, I felt like I was talking fast and doing things at a high rate of speed. I was in overdrive.
Tony and I talked about ways to slow down...mentally and on the highway. I need to sit quietly on the patio and look at the yard. I need to put medication on my legs and sit with warm towels. I need to take off my "work badge" and just be me.
Today, a tree grows in Leland....and Tony made it so. We hope to enjoy it for many more years and it was planted with love. Just like the movie!
Our banana tree
A longer shot...soon, it will be tall like the trees behind it
The fall flowers Tony planted to make the yard look nice
No comments:
Post a Comment