Millicent Bloomed

The resilience of nature is quite amazing – don’t you think? When I first moved to Cleveland and officially started my new job almost three years ago, it was the first time since 1994 that I had my own space at work with a door that locked. In the lands of prairie dogging this is a good thing. Only draw back? It is freezing in my corner of the world. On these recent days approaching 100 degrees Fahrenheit – my space heater has been cranking. (May karma forgive my carbon footprint) Did I mention no window? Home sweet Cave. Back then, I sheepishly asked the Plant Man if he might have something for me and my space. (His name is really Brian – but I call him “Plant Man” and he responds back with “Hey Food Lady”…) One of the interesting quirks of working in a food production plant is that all flora must be screened and tended to by a professional. Right on schedule, Plant Man brings me a lovely plant the very next week. Since then Plant and I have been spending time together. We chat, well I chat, he listens. I feared for his happiness though – you know, he was a PLANT and we were in a CAVE. A freezing cave with limited light… I listened during botany class and I was sore afraid. Week after week, Plant Man would come to water Plant. Amazingly, Plant began to grow bigger and bigger. Plant Man and I talked about this phenomenon a while back. He commented on the growth and I said, “He really seems to like it in here!” Plant man looked at me chuckling and said, “But no! He is a she! She will bloom.” I told him I couldn’t imagine that - her living where she was… Amazingly, last week, two days before my birthday, Millicent bloomed. I am still rather in awe of her. Despite everything against it, she bloomed. I had to give her a name at that point – it wouldn’t have been fair if I didn’t. After all, anyone with a child knows that no one knows your real name any more once you become a mother. So. Lesson for today? BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED. Until next time, Ian’s Mom

How do?

"How do?" "I'm finer than a frog hair and fitter than a fiddle!" That is an actual exchange I have heard more than one time in my family. My father would be the one giving the clever answer. I have now borrowed it from him. And now you know the story behind the name of my online journal. It is a good name, I think. Today is my birthday and seems a good day to start down this new path in my life. To be specific, this is my “second” twenty first birthday. I guess that means I’m coming of age yet again. I think I have discovered a lot the last two times through, but there is always more to learn and I am eager to get to it. I’m feeling pretty fine today myself. I’d like to use this space as a wide open gratitude journal. I am thankful for so many things. So many people. So many talents. Yes talents! We are taught from a young age not to be boastful – to the point of putting ourselves in a place where we are not allowed to show appreciation for our gifts. I would like to start taking some ownership. Hopefully, if you are taking the time to read this, you will support me in this endeavor. I’m certain that I will stray into the self deprecating humor area (it is just too easy and fun), but I will always try first to be positive. I hope to share many things with you, not the least of which will be some handmade artwork. I hope you enjoy it and that it will inspire you to create something of your own. The world we live in could not be more exquisite. I marvel at the Creator’s majesty on a daily basis. I will share some of the beauty I find with you here. Hopefully what you see will make you want to look for these things as well. With luck, they will make you feel finer than a frog hair too. Welcome and Enjoy!