I don’t want anything new in my life.
My wife Mary worries about me. She loves adding new people into her life and expanding hobbies and interests. In the past year she has become friends with six or eight women, taken up painting (which she is very good at), learned to cook at least a dozen new dishes, and researched the history of Charleston, South Carolina where her family goes back over two hundred years. She will say to me “You need to make at least two new friends this year, and learn to do a new activity for your spare time beside fretting about the state of democracy in the country.”
I tell her “I’m happy with the number of friends I have.” Last year before we went to Italy, I tried to learn Italian in the three months before we left and ended up with only basic greetings and words for certain pasta dishes and alcohol.” I have since said arrivederci to my Italian Dictionary Flashcards, convinced my brain can absorb no more. She was having none of it. So, I met the husband of one of her new friends at a party, and liked the guy. His name is John and he has spent his career as an international commodities broker specializing in aluminum, so we have a lot in common. We have lunch every couple of weeks.
So now, I must find a new activity to get Mary off my back completely. I have no interest in pickleball. I think my navigational skills with the speedboat we use is probably peaking, and as far as artwork goes, when my grandson Christian and I draw at his desk, his cats and trees look as good as mine. He is four.
Then one day I looked out in my backyard and for some reason envisioned a large flower garden.
I told Mary I was to become a gardener. For the past three months, almost daily I’m at Lowe’s, getting soil, at local garden nurseries buying plants and flowers, digging with my new tools, sitting on my foldable garden stool while I prune, going on-line to learn about soil, light, and manure. And I tell Mary everything I do. Everything.
I have planted twelve salvia flowers, three gaillardia, and a half dozen bright yellow flowers I have forgotten the name of.
And everyday I report to Mary the latest progress my garden has made. Plus, I bring her out to see the success’s and tell her of my hopes for adding more and more flowers as the years go on. I also show her the limbs I am going to trim to allow more sun on the garden. With pride, I tell my beautiful wife of fifteen years that I have named my garden “The Tie-Dye Garden” because all the colors run together with no apparent plan. I let her know of the angst I am having getting the watering right. I tell her of my dream to have a garden shed, if we can get it by the homeowners association.
And if a flower bunch doesn’t make it, I mention to her how I will try a different type of perennial better suited to my soil and light. When her friends come over I tell them all these things too. Because of the lifting of heavy bags of soil, manure, and all the digging, my left knee had become very sore and needed a cortisone shot. Recovery has been slow, and I keep Mary up to date on my knee’s progress several times a day.
I think I have succeeded. I believe Mary will never try to encourage me to try something new again.
Love the garden update! May we see photos?
Sorry about your sore knee and garden. I love you and Sheri on the radio. I love everything you talk about. So…entertaining.
I have a picture with both of you twice. And I have one of your super large shirt. Never stop entertaining us. But I don’t like cats. They are Too quiet and sneak up on me.
This was a fun read, Bob! Thank you
Lotsa luck, Bob!
Bob, Gardening is such a great pastime and good Eva wonderful rewards! If you love doing it, that’s great!
I love my plants and trees and devote a lot of time trimming, weeding and in the evenings sitting in the porch with a glass of wine and enjoying the beauty. Good for you!! I hope you love it as much as I do!
Bob, you are so funny! I don’t think you get enough credit for that. And I’m super happy to hear about your gardening. Yay! I was so sorry to hear you learned (like we all have) about deer . Since I have no pop ups or outside advertising on my gardening site and I share freely on all my platforms, I think it might be ok to share it with you here. I know my youtube videos will help you gain more knowledge and confidence. You can find me at The Gardening Tutor online. Also, my name is also Mary and I can tell immediately when my husband is dehydrated, ha! I have been a listener since 2000. Thank you all so much for making my life better everyday!
Hi Bob.
As a guy, people find it strange that I love flowers. I plant them as well.
I have the same goal as you. I want a nice big flower garden with no real design. Keep doing it and you will be super happy. There’s nothing like walking in your backyard and smelling all the different flowers. You also might want to consider a bee hive. Love the show. I always stick up for you.
Now this is the funniest ‘story’ I have read in a long time!!! After reading this, I will NOT bug my husband about meeting new people, nor, God forbid, start a project (fat chance of that even happening though) – took me 3 weeks to get the old sticker off our car and put the new one on!!
Love you and Mary’s relationship soooo much!!!
Poor Ol Bob
Bob, have Mary read the book, “Quiet” by Susan Cain. It should speak to her as a therapist. It’s okay NOT to want new things in your life!😊
PS – good luck in the garden. Nature is the best therapy!
I get you Bob! We are kindred beings 😀
That’s frickin brilliant! The only downside is if you absolutely truly hate it. Otherwise, what a spectacular win! Don’t forget to talk about next year’s plans etc over the winter.
Bob, I have been a gardener for years, such a rewarding hobby! You’ll see how some plants work and others don’t. It’s always changing from season to season and year to
year. Plants and caring for them are very rewarding. Have fun drinking wine and watching your garden bloom!.
Bob, I can just hear you saying all these words as I read them. : ) Well written! Now go tend to those plants and flowers.
Another barrier breached….
He-Shed
Just read about your retirement and I just wanted to say “thank you.”
Thank you for all the years of joy, comfort, inspiration and compassion over these many years. I’m retired now but for years, you and Sheri were always there. To make me laugh on those dreaded commutes to keep me laughing at the insanity of life’s challenges.
During the good and terrible, you were there to offer us hope, laughter and faith that no matter what, we Charlotteans could handle anything. And most of all, during the most horrific time, you virtually held our hands and helped us to “keep pounding.”
So thank you, Bob from the bottom of my heart for making my life better.