Planting a Seed

Most of us never stop to think about the miracle that is the circle of life, given that we‘re usually preoccupied with more pressing and interesting things. We’re born, we live, we die. And in between, we plant seeds. So the entire process continues ad infinitum. An apple seed, for example. Not much larger than a match head, over time it can become a tree, towering over one’s home. And, it produces apples, which produce more seeds, which produce more apples.

We also plant metaphoric seeds; seeds of hope, of fear, of resentment, of mistrust. Often we plant these seeds without even realizing it. Until the seeds take root and begin to grow, and we are forced to become a witness to the fruit of our actions. And the vines from the things we plant climb the trellises of our personal metaphorical gardens, and intertwine with those around us.

So, we should tend our metaphorical gardens. We should uproot the things we find growing there which are the result of thoughtless and hurtful words and actions. The things that are detrimental to ourselves and others. And we should determine the extent to which these things have propagated and attempt to repair the damage our careless gardening has caused.

We should also take the time to find the good things our metaphorical gardens have engendered. We should insure those things are nurtured and cultivated, so they flourish and overtake our gardens until there is no room left for the bad things.

We should weed our gardens every day. Because whether we realize it or not, we are planting seeds. Every day.

Nation Awakens to Mysterious Aberration Called “Spring”

Washington, D.C. Millions of Americans, from Corvallis, Oregon to Owls Head, Maine awoke to a strange aberration this morning, many stumbling out of their homes, squinting and shielding their faces from an eerie glow. Emergency phone lines were jammed beyond capacity as callers reported a huge orb on the horizon, described as bright yellow in some parts of the country, to reddish-orange in others. Equally disturbing were reports of greenish vegetation where previously there was only snow and ice.

A White House spokesman addressed the nation in a hastily convened news conference, calling for calm while the government gathers data on this anomaly, and assured citizens that the military, along with Homeland Security, were “on top of” the situation.

“My igloo is gone,” lamented 11 year old Jordan Pheifer, of Danbury, Connecticut. “I was playing in it yesterday, and now it’s all gone”, he continued, before running inside where he was consoled by his Mother. Mrs. Pheifer confirmed that there was in fact an igloo in the family‘s backyard, measuring some 12 feet in diameter with walls a foot thick. “We built it back in early January. How could it have just vanished overnight?”

With much of the nation subjected to record snowfall amounts over the previous months, the sight of the huge glowing orb - which NOAA meteorologist Thad Peterssen confirmed was actually a star called “the sun” - caused considerable confusion, fear, and in at least a few cases - injury.

“I was working up near Emory, just off (interstate highway) eighty”, reported highway maintenance worker Mike Lamont. “Right after lunch, I noticed a prickly sensation on my face and forearms. Then Jake, my supervisor, said I was looking kind of pinkish. That was all I needed to hear.” Mr. Lamont was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment, where it was determined that he was suffering from a mild case of something called a “sunburn”.

“It’s been a rough Winter for most for the country, and it appears many Americans have totally forgotten there are other seasons”, continued meteorologist Peterssen. He then noted that the phenomenon the nation was observing was simply the first day of a season called “Spring”.

Free Balloons for the Kiddies!

Grand Opening Celebration! Never before heard of values! Come early for the best bargains! Pony rides! Meet the morning crew from EZ Rock 95.7! Door prizes galore! No reasonable offer refused! Hamster races! No interest for a full year with approved credit! The Squigleys perform their kid-friendly show at noon! No credit? - no problem! Face painting and balloon animals! Let Melvin the Magnificent guess your weight and shoe size! We will not be undersold! Three blocks west of Darnell’s Radiator Repair! Former ‘DWTS’ hair-stylist Logan Bottswirmer demonstrates the French Twist! Have your photo taken with life-sized Dale Earnhardt Jr. cut-out! Bean-bag Toss competition for all age groups! Visit the Cyber Petting Zoo! Try your luck on the Wheel of Cheese! No salesman will visit! Slappy the Wonder Frog will perform from 2:00 until 4:00! Free oven mitt to first 100 visitors! On Route 33, one half mile from Pine Cone Road! Miss Apple Festival 2006 will autograph copies of her book, “I Swear I Thought Africa Was a Country”! Caricature’s by Cleo! We match all competitors prices! Across from The Skate Barn! Tarot card readings! Three - count em’ - three Elvis impersonators! The boss sez “sell ‘em”! Overpaid CEO Dunk Tank! 99 cent hot dogs! Rain or shine! Bikini car wash by the Juggies Girls! Tap your feet to the banjo stylings of Red “Curly” Butterworth! Pizza on a stick! No rain checks. Three quarters of a mile south of Eakin’s Army Surplus! Safe-Kidz Sara’s Sock Puppet Review at 1:30! Hablamos Espanol! Shake hands with Lee Rudd (former roadie and bus driver for the Oak Ridge Boys)! Half-off coupons from The Fudge Hut! Prices too low to mention! Extra security on premises! Yoga demonstrations by Mystee of Cloud Nine Yoga! J93 Tee-shirt Bazooka Brigade “Blast Away” every half-hour on the hour! 90 days, same as cash! Don’t miss it!