Wednesday, May 1, 2013

And we're off


Derby comes every year in Louisville on the first Saturday in May. Most Kentuckians(and all of Louisville) turn their attention to The Run for the Roses. I've done my share of yelling, "go baby go" as the field of horses run down the stretch toward the finish line and the winner's circle. I have viewed this race from various positions(sorry Leonard) including Millionaire Row. I have never been in the infield and I strongly suggest I never will. This year, my number one son and darling Andrea summoned us to the city of brotherly love to introduce some of their friends to the fine art of southern hospitality and horse racing and bourbon. So, we're off. For me, any reason to travel is good enough. All seasons, all weather...I love to plan, pack and leave or just leave in a flurry, the dust billowing behind me. The days leading up to our departure were filled with stuff. Good stuff. I have a garden! A real garden. Phil, my new friend and benefactor has kindly allowed me to till his yard into a fantastic plot filled with possibilities. We gather by the yellow shed to chew the fat, pick up rocks and lay out neat rows. We talk about what will grow in those neat rows. Friends stop by...an outdoor living room takes shape by the shed. Neighbors lean over fences and walk by(often) to check the progress. We laugh, we plant, we bask, we reminisce. As the garden germinates, a sense of community develops. There is a deep sense of purpose associated with producing food. I was surprised when oodles of people wanted to share the chores associated with preparing a garden. When I was a youngster, long rows of beans were synonymous with hell. As I became older and wiser, I found the zen of gardening.... This brings me full circle. I awakened this morning at 6:00am. Six! Second comings do not get me out of bed at that unholy hour. What would rouse me? The twittering of birds? The promise of a campfire by a lake in West Virginia? The call of a few last plantings in my garden? Yes. Yes. And, yes. The next two weeks will drift by as we explore the Chesapeake Bay and the Blue Ridge Parkway. We will condense our routine to match the day ahead. Nothing more. Except I will worry about the sweet little garden I left behind.