~to the nurturers~

~from along life's way~

 I realized yesterday just how much the concept of nurturing has become a part of the person I am.  I was cutting up the peels of yet another banana in order to feed the newly transplanted rose bushes that are now in the front flower bed.  It felt good to walk out with the day's potassium offering to the final rose bush, one that had been patiently waiting its turn to receive some.  I have to admit that I actually spoke to it as I nestled the blackened bits of the banana's skin alongside of the roots.
"There you go!  I hope this helps you to grow."
For some strange reason, I had already taken home the 9 plants that were in my classroom at Liberty shortly before spring break.  Perhaps it was because I realized that it would be easier to take care of them here instead of driving back to Ponca City two or three times during our break.  As it turns out now, our "break" from the school building itself is much longer than we would have anticipated.  Had I not taken those beautiful plants home, they would have died without water and care in our classroom.  They are special plants, in particular the two philodendrons.  One belonged to my sister Sherry and the other to Mike's sweet Aunt Margaret.  Both of those dear women are now gone from the earth and I've tried my best to make sure their plants are well cared for. 

There are some things in this life that I cannot do.
But helping things to grow and thrive is something that I'm actually pretty good at.

 My last month as an educator is at hand.  I wanted it to end much differently than it is now ending, but didn't we all?  So in these final days of being responsible for nurturing my last group of students, even if it is done so in a virtual manner, I intend to give it all that I have left in me.  My teacher's swan song is being played out from the screen of my computer but the lesson, no matter how delivered, will always be the same.

 40 years has been a good run.
I'll take these final moments in whatever way there is at hand and I will be glad in it.




~to the nurturers~
Thank you for helping to keep this thing called life alive and well.

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