Celebrating Old

I don't know exactly when it happened. It was more than a day ago, a month ago or even a year ago. Somewhere out of the blue I got old. There were signs here and there that it was happening, but for the longest time I choose to ignore them. "Oh, you're not old" my friends would say like it was an ailment or a disease. Something that would never happen to me. So, if I am not old, what am I supposed to say? Maybe I should say I am vintage. Seems to work for Danish furniture making it worth twice the price, not to mention those items on Fab.com that go for ten times what they cost at the garage sale they were found at. I could say I am mid-century like my house. It certainly makes my 50s tract home sound elegant. I guess I could say I'm retro. That's kind of cool. A boy I once worked with told me he loved my sweater because it looked so retro. Sadly, it really was. My sweater was five years older than he was. I know one thing I don't want to call myself - young. There is nothing more obnoxious than someone saying, "Happy Birthday. You are 48 years young." No, I'm not. That's a stupid expression and I am not young.

Maybe I can just say I'm old. There! I said it. I am old. What's wrong with that?! Old really should be a good thing not something to be ashamed of. I've worked really hard to get to this age and I am taking all the credit for it. Instead of hiding my head in shame about my age, why don't I celebrate it? What's wrong with celebrating old?! So that's that. I am no longer going to worry about my age I am going to celebrate it. I am going to celebrate old!

One Year - 750 Words A Day!

Yesterday I did something I never thought I would do - I reached 365 days of continuous writing on 750words.com!  One year!  I have learned a lot from this exercise.  One thing is that if I stick my mind to something I can achieve it. I also learned that a little work on something each day can actually have an impact.

I am someone that likes to do things pretty quickly and move on to the next thing. I have always been quick to learn things so this has served me well.  However, there are some things in live that you just can't do quickly.  I can't create a beautiful garden in a weekend. I can't train a bird in a day. I can't change myself just by thinking about it for a week.  Yep, I learned all that and so much more from 15 short minutes a day.

I am going to try to keep this in mind with everything I do. One little step at a time.

Another First! Our First Rose

When Joey and I moved into our place in Daly City there was a lot of work to be done both inside and out. We concentrated on the inside because, well, we were going to be in there more and also neither of us liked gardening.  One thing was certain to me, however, those rose bushes had to go!

We have a very simple, small area in the front. I wouldn't even call it a yard really.  It's mostly paved in with ten areas for plants.  Four on each site and two near the door.

Aurora has planted roses in each place except for one huge bougainvillea which really needed trimming.  In fact they all needed trimming. Since I was planning to pull them all out, I decided to keep them this year and replace them next year. I know nothing about roses, but noticed the neighbors that had them had cut theirs way down. I decided I would do the same. It couldn't hurt anything. If it didn't work I was going to pull them anyway and if it did, well, we would see.  This is what they ended up looking like.

(By the way, you can ignore the elegant weed garden next door.)

After about a month I started seeing a little growth on my bushes and yesterday I got my first full rose!  How exciting!  I didn't end up killing any of my bushes.  They are thriving!  I was getting attached to these little bushes.  When I saw our first rose yesterday, I was in love.

Thinking that Aurora planted these bushes 20 years ago and now I am taking care of them is really special to me. They aren't going anywhere and neither am I!

Our First Japanese Maple

Most kids dream of Christmas trees.  Not me. I have dreamt of Japanese Maples for as long as I can remember.  I have always loved their vibrant colors and delicate leaves. The first time I really remember wanting one was when I went to Oregon to visit my grandmother and her neighbor had one.  I knew that if I ever had a yard I would have one.

When I moved to Japan I didn't get a maple or a yard, but I got the privilege of living very close to Kyoto and being able to see the maples in four different season.  One fall we took a boat ride down the river and the hills were ablaze with red maples. I will never forget that day.

I took that image back with me to San Francisco.  Once thing was clear, though.  While my love for Japanese Maples was strong as ever the chance of me having my own yard was pretty slim.  That was until last June when Joey and I got our our in Daly City. Suddenly it was completely possible for me to get the tree of my dreams.  I began in earnest to find my tree. 

A short internet search show me a nursery right near my office that claimed to have a huge selection of Japanese Maples. Off I went to Carlmont Nursery in Belmont. From the front it looks like a store in a strip mall. An nice strip mall, but a strip mall none-the-less.  I drove around to the back to find the entrance and still nothing special.  Then I entered. Oh my goodness!  Japanese Maple heaven. The only place I have seen more is in Japan!  Every color, every shape, every kind imaginable. It didn't take me long, though to find the one I wanted.  It was like it called out to me.  I found a beautiful Skeeter's Broom and fell in love.  A week later they delivered it to my door and planted it in a barrel for me. I love her!

I really never thought I would own one. I guess this taught me to never give up on your dreams!