Just as I was entering the season of harvest I arrived to check on the garden and saw three of the Zucchini plants decimated and prostrate, yellow and brown and full of bugs. June bugs! Hundreds of them.
I didn’t get any good pictures of the bugs because when I saw what was going on I quickly began to pull the plants out of the soil and get them out of the garden. I was ill. Hundreds and hundreds of them were busy making their home there in my garden. Eating and mating and laying eggs to provide for their next generation. I remember why they are called June bugs now. The plants and the fruit was ruined. My intention and vision for that pace was taken over and used for another’s purpose. They did not ask or say thank you or even kiss my ass. They had their own purposes and set about to accomplish them. After I calmed down during the clearing of the mess I remembered seeing some small signs of them last week which i did not attend to. By not acting then I in effect gave my leave for them to do as they willed in my garden. With no deterrent from me I guess they felt they were entitled to whatever suited their needs. There are some people like that. Those who seem to just take what they want as though their needs, wants, whims, should be addressed simply because they are. The problem is that many times they intrude into others’ gardens to satisfy them. If they are not deterred there is a risk the garden will be ruined. I was raised in the Christian faith and from childhood was taught that I should be kind. I agree with that. The problem is that many times that sentiment is not correctly interpreted. It is taught as though the command is to “be yea nice.” But kindness and niceness are very different things. Nice always says “yes” even when a “no” is required. It can be sweet and gentle but it can also be weak and allow predators in with the sheep. Kindness is based on a true response to a given situation. Kindness seeks the yes but can if need respond with an unequivocal hell no. It was not the June bugs fault that they wanted my garden. It was beautiful and lush and rich. An ideal place for them to reproduce. It was my fault for allowing them to get a foothold and then not acting after they did. I saw a short video which may be instructive.
I am guessing the boy went home and perhaps rethought his life’s path. What ever was the result I am guessing he did not attempt to put down roots in the big boys garden anymore. I think there are times in a person’s life when god’s will for them is a swift ass whipping. I think that it is most likely the only hope for stupid. I am not promoting violence but force is the only thing a bully understands. It may just save their life later on. A skinned knee and a knot on the head won’t damage a boy, but being allowed to continue down a predatory path may just lose their soul. Even Jesus gave some folks a good country ass whipping with a whip he made himself. He was clear, decisive, and used appropriate force. I don’t think the money changers harbored any doubt about his intention and willingness in that matter.
Are there people in your life who have been allowed to bully, and take, and intimidate, and set up shop in your temple? God’s will for them and you is that they do not inhabit your garden. They need to cultivate their own. And it is incumbent upon us to tend and protect what was entrusted to us. No, or even hell no, is also kindness.
Lesson remembered. So I looked around and found that there was a Yellow Squash and one Zucchini that I doctored and trimmed and may yet salvage.
I planted a young Zucchini and two purple Russian Heirloom tomatoes in the empty space. The young Zucchini will probably last through the late summer into fall and the tomatoes are something I have never grown before. So, it’s all good. I planted watermelons in the large container and they should be pretty spilling down onto the hay in a month or so.
The cool thing about all of this is that in spite of the little setbacks the garden continues on producing its fruit. Perhaps not my original intention but this may even be better. I was going to have way too much Zucchini anyway and the Cucamelons in this container were stunted because the plant in front blocked the sun. Now they have full sun everyday and can grow. Plus I can have some watermelon to go with the cantaloupe.
Just remember that bugs nor bully’s give a shit about you. If there is going to be a shit given about your garden or your temple it will need to be you who gives it. Cause if you don’t no one will. And remember that grace sometimes comes in the form of a knot on the head. Be redneck Groovy! 🙂
Guest writer. My favorite poet and thrift store buddy. My baby wrote this. She hates that I don’t use punctuation. Some of you have not seen this yet. It was written by my 15 year old daughter. My kids are so cool.
Alone – For ages, no one there to hold you when your are sad
You are different
People don’t understand you
Do they even try
My brain is different
Though many think I am
Outgoing
Funny
Weird
It is all but a mask
I think that if I am loud and energetic
People will want to be around me
That they will like me
I do this so I don’t have to be alone
The funny part is
I think I want company
That I want a liking to radiate and surround me like smoke
But then, I think of it further and I decide
I do not want it
I decide that it does not make me feel accompanied
But in fact more alone
It makes me feel a sense of aloneness
No one I have met is quite like me
What I mean by this is that I like to write, and listen to classical pianists play
Sometimes the notes I hear rush from the piano
Stealing tears from my eyes
Sadly I do not know what causes the wet drops that birth from my eyes
Believe me, I wish I did
Is it that their playing is so beautiful that I ooze jealousy
Or is it that I relate with the music
Maybe it is that with each note I hear a different emotion erupting from my soul
A new thought, memory, daydream
No one feels this way as far as I am aware
And it saddens me greatly
I like to think that I am normal, just like everyone else
But I can not lie, especially to my self
I like to look at my paintings
I have tried to paint, but alas, I am no good
Even though I am handicapped by the actual action of painting I can still gaze upon the beauty of Van Gogh
Who at this very moment is my favorite artist
The way his paintings mesh so perfectly together, and not one stroke looks out of place
His attention to detail is impeccable
And inspires me daily
Not only are his paintings appealing to me
So is his darkness
He was a sad man, suicidal
But through his darkness a light was shone, his art
He took his darkness and poured it out on to a bare canvas making light
When I think of Van Gogh I feel not alone
I feel like we are, in some odd way, alike
Although I have not found my light like he, his paintings
I have faith I will one day
I am like Van Gogh
We are alone together
I like photographs of my family, of my friends, of strangers
I prefer old photos
As I feel they have more history behind them
But new ones are OK I suppose
Pictures of happy people, feelings of love and warmth
Pictures of people laughing, I love them all
But sad ones I would have to say are my favorites
I feel happy gets old
But sad – When you see a sad picture you get the opportunity to ask yourself why, what happened
I find that interesting
I feel not alone when I see those photos
The sad looking pictures are like me
We relate
I am like the photos
We are alone
Together
Scary movies also intrigue me
The characters in them are also scared and confused