It's About Thyme

I grew up on a farm, worked it with Stan, and the entire Fullmer side of my family have been farmers. In short, I have a lot of experience and family history working the land. So, it is with great trepidation and embarrassment that I tell the following story. It begins a few weeks ago when I got home from work one day and Ang noted how good a day it had been because she’d gotten so much done, including weeding the planter in the backyard. Now, fast-forward two weeks to today. I was out mowing the grass, and noted that there was a giant weed out on the far side of the backyard in the planter. I had seen this kind of weed before, and didn’t want it getting into the grass because it is impossible to get out once it invades. As I looked at it, I shook my head. The thing was as big as a small shrub. I couldn’t believe Ang had missed it. Anyway, I stopped mowing the grass, and took time to pull the weed--this was my first mistake. I didn’t want to leave it where its seeds would end up in the grass, so I immediately took it around and put it in the trash can.  This was my second mistake.  Fast-forward four hours. I came back from running some errands and Ang gave me the look of death as I walked in the house. If you are a woman, you have given this look, and if you are a man, you have most definitely received it countless times. I couldn’t imagine what I’d done, so I asked. This was my third mistake.  They say good things come in three's.  Not in this case.

At this point in the story I should acknowledge that I have, shall we say, “priors.” Several years ago, in our old house, we had a little watermelon patch in our backyard. One day I went out to weed, and by the time I was done, our watermelon patch was also done. I am still living that one down.

Back to the present day. Ang expressed her displeasure (understatement of the century) in taking a bag of trash out and finding that her prized thyme plant, which she’d been nursing along for two years, in the trash can. She further stressed that I’d better find a way to replace that plant in short order. I’d better get to Star Nursery-soon. I guess if nothing else, the silver lining from this whole experience is that I have likely been relieved of weeding duty for the remainder of my mortal existence.