Van Understands

So I showed up at the food pantry garden yesterday morning at 8:02.  I had asked my friend Van Malone if he could meet me there at 8 AM to till the Plant a Row that we are adding.  Earlier in the week, my friend David had worked with the food pantry clients, mostly a man named, ever so metaphorically, Angel, to clear the grass and move the border frame. When I got there, Van was already tilling (see short video here), and I realized, you don't show up late when a gardener is involved!  Van got home at 11:30 PM last night from Washington, DC and I apologized for asking him to come so early.  And he replied, "Gardeners can't wait to get up and get to work." 

And that got me thinking about the magazine-whose-name-must-not-be-named-just-yet.  The November issue is coming out probably in about two or three weeks, I would guess, and yes, this magazine is everywhere magazines are sold in the United States. I'm kinda', sorta' in it, maybe just a little sidebar, I'm not sure, but I'm pretty sure that the article makes mention of the fact that I get up at 4 AM every day (a fact checker had called me about this).  

Van's words, that "gardeners can't wait to get up and get to work" hit home for me, because that's exactly how I feel.  And not just about gardening, but about all the projects I have going on, both passion projects and my paid client projects.  And, yes, I'm tired later in the day.  And, yes, I often nap, even if it's just for ten minutes in the hammock.  And, yes, I fall asleep at the drop of a hat at night.  And, yes, I was two minutes late to meet Van because I was working on one of these other projects.  And, yes, this all makes me sound crazy, I know.  

But Van understands.  And if you find those things that make you excited to get up each day, too, you'll understand as well.  Almost nothing feels better than going to bed already looking forward to tomorrow.  Almost nothing feels better than the blank slate of morning, brimming with opportunities.

Oh, I just heard the birds.  They're finally up.  The sun will be rising soon.  People will be gathering.  The expanded food pantry garden will be mulched by a youth group.  Fruit trees are being planted at another garden.  I'm baking Meal Muffins for my mom (they have proven to be helpful for anyone going through cancer treatment, or taking care of someone in need, such as a new baby, and being short on time or lacking energy to prepare nutritious meals).  (And, by the way, thanks for the emails about my mom--she's almost done with treatment and is doing well--want to see my fave story about my mom?  See here.)  I'm volunteering at one of the schools.  I'm making food for my daughters, of course.  And I'm trying to talk baseball and football with my husband and sounding ill-informed about both (but he finds it touching when I try).  In other words, I'm ready, Day!  Bring it on.

See pages 30-31 in my book for the famous Meal Muffins recipe.

Van Understands